Winter project

[Lucasind]

..Some of you may remember the 83 wing,and trailer that I acquired in the spring of 2013, after spending a bit of time on it, concluded that the piston rings were rusted to the cylinder walls, was told that the bike "ran" but had been sitting outside for a couple of years. I pulled the plugs and soaked the cylinders with everything known to man to loosen up stuck rings.,then periodically would rock the bike back and forth in 4th or 5th gear ,try to break her loose. I even towed the bike around the block gently engaging and disengaging the clutch NO LUCK ! Now that winter has set in , I decided to push the bike into the heated garage for further investigation.Just like the inside of a damp cave, the cylinders collected alot of what you see in the photos ! Anyone care to guess what the inside of the tank and floatbowls look like ? After seeing this I realized all the cylinder soaking and bike rocking would have ever broke the pistons loose ! I also found a 4mm screw jammed between the #3 intake valve and seat, bending the valve and damaging the seat.How did that get in there I have spent a few weeks on her now working on it nights and weekends.disassembled all of the valves from both heads because they too were all stuck in the guides. Iv'e got her back together now and have good compression on all 4 cylinders. I intend on starting her up and running her for a few minutes without the cooling system on the engine to see where I'm at Alot of cold weather to go yet this winter,and alot more time to coax life out of this 30 year old machine !I think this bike had been sitting outside more like 10 years than 2 !! I will keep you all posted as work progresses ...............tony

[Bruce in OK]

Nice start to a long process, Tony. My experience with such projects haven't been very good. They usually end up with more gremlins and fixes than I have patience or money for. I've had my best luck with bikes that have (at least) been stored in a barn or shed. Bikes left outdoors have too much corrosion in the electrics or, as you've found, in the internals to make it worthwhile for my time. I hope things work out for you. Keep us posted. I do enjoy living vicariously through others in such endeavors.

[Lucasind]

...I'm just a glutten 4 punish I guess ! You know how it goes, when "the guys" tell you "this piece of $#%t will never run again" that becomes a personal challenge ,....this bike has only 19k on the clock, I think I'll get to ride it next summer, and if someone sees me riding it ,and offers me a few bucks for it, it will get a new home ......................tony

[ekap1200]

Sounds like a fun project, Gee do the carb's look like this photo. Anything can be brought back to life, all you need is allot of cash and time. If I was a retired man with time on my hands I would enjoy challenges as such. But looking at your photo's you may not break even on these repairs. I have purchased running auto's for what the rebuild kits, two floats, and my time, run for the rebuild on these carb's shown. How is the trailer that came with the deal ? For the 500.00 you paid for both I think you done well, so far. We are all hoping the best on you restore, and hope it doesn't turn into a FIAT ( fix it again Tony )
keep the posts and photos coming. Gene Kap.

[Lucasind]

Thanks for the reply Gene ! I especially love the FIAT crack !! About the carbs though.... I remember not so long ago the carb kits ( aftermarket ) being around $ 17.99 each times 4,, about eighty bucks. That dosen't sting the ol' wallet too bad, but then something lately has happened, to where these kits are around $50.00 per, OUCH ! your talkin about a small bag with a few rubber bands, and a dimes worth of brass !! Same with the gasket sets, the prices are insane ! I think there must be a force in motion that insists that we all go buy new bikes, and just let our old favorites DIE ! I refuse to yield ! I had the trailer at the rally last summer when I met you, but you and I stayed at different hotels, so you did not have the chance to see it , thats a plus about next summers rally, we will all be in the same place..You can see a couple of photos of it if you go to the "trailer" section of the forum. There you will find a post by( OKIE 34) the pics are in that thread. oh yeah.... about the cost/time of these ol restorations, I think of all the people I see spending way too much time in front of the boob tube or elbows on a bartop, I like spending my time in the garage , where I've been 4 the last 4 decades !..................tony

[cushman eagle]

That FIAT reply sounds like what I am experiencing with my cushman

[ekap1200]

Thanks for the reply Gene ! I especially love the FIAT crack !! About the carbs though.... I remember not so long ago the carb kits ( aftermarket ) being around $ 17.99 each times 4,, about eighty bucks. That dosen't sting the ol' wallet too bad, but then something lately has happened, to where these kits are around $50.00 per, OUCH ! your talkin about a small bag with a few rubber bands, and a dimes worth of brass !! Same with the gasket sets, the prices are insane ! I think there must be a force in motion that insists that we all go buy new bikes, and just let our old favorites DIE ! I refuse to yield ! I had the trailer at the rally last summer when I met you, but you and I stayed at different hotels, so you did not have the chance to see it , thats a plus about next summers rally, we will all be in the same place..You can see a couple of photos of it if you go to the "trailer" section of the forum. There you will find a post by( OKIE 34) the pics are in that thread. oh yeah.... about the cost/time of these ol restorations, I think of all the people I see spending way too much time in front of the boob tube or elbows on a bartop, I like spending my time in the garage , where I've been 4 the last 4 decades !..................tony

yup, what I said, 200.00 running auto's. I'm showing my age now. I know what the fuel tank looks like. I hope all the shafts, gears and sliding clutch's are not all rusted. That crap will want to go thru the oil pump. It's a classic, Does it have real metal fenders and side covers. She don't look bad in the photo. Hope it had fairly good anti-freeze in it and the rad core isn't a bit thin. On spending time in the garage; My man cave keeps me busy, I just spent a month in the shop playing santa's little carpenter, metal worker, painter, and other titles related to the shop. It was fun but burned me out doing the full time day job also. I can pretty much spend the winter out in the shop as long as I make enough money in it to heat and power up the place. As for your carb kits well' what ya goin to do, they got them' you need them. good luck keep the wrench's turnin. And we will see you in the Smokies Gene Kap

[Lucasind]

That FIAT reply sounds like what I am experiencing with my cushman

...... was wondering if cushman eagle has had the time to investigate what happened to cause the crack in the engine's clylinder, what did you find out ? ?

[cushman eagle]

Yes,I did find out that boring the block to sleeve it made it too thin to hold up.I called to Dennis Carpenter,who furnishes the sleeve,and they have had a couple similar responces.They have an idea that some blocks had a core shift during casting that made the bore slightly to one side of the casting and boring it to sleeve it made the one side too thin to accept that much boring[.125 bore to install the sleeve].I was one of the lucky ones.

[Lucasind]

....sorry to hear that ! I guess that makes ur block a goner. I bored,, bored /sleeved many cylinders during the 10 years I worked at kawasaki of toledo, never had an experience like that. that's why I asked, never too old to learn ...been thinking about it, thanks 4 settling my/our curiosity.......tony

[cushman eagle]

Yes,block is gone I will have to wait to see as the year progresses, what I can afford to do to repair the bike I am half way into winter maintenance on my VXII [which comes before the Cushman]

[ekap1200]

Yes,block is gone I will have to wait to see as the year progresses, what I can afford to do to repair the bike I am half way into winter maintenance on my VXII [which comes before the Cushman]

Hope you find a block at a steal of a price...
I wish I could say that I'm half way into winter maintenance. I have not even started yet. Until 2014 arrived we were still going on rides here in southern NJ. I have bartered for a new front tire with the metal art I do, and just landed a barter deal for a new rear tire for 2 small HD signs. Which I wouldn't have needed but for several rear wheel lockups I encountered last year both of which were at around 80 mph. So there are two noticeable flat spots on this poor E3 I won in Utah. So 2 new avon tyres will be first on my list with brk. fluid change and pads. Worst of my PM is a worn out bowl drain screw on #1 carb. I drain them allot and the socket head just plain wore out.
Gene Kap

[Lucasind]

.......O.K. Gene Kap, sorry , I have to ask, What caused you to lock up ur rear wheel not once , but twice at 80 in one riding season ? (car pulled out ? ) oh by the way, I have AVONs on my 03 voy 12, 5000 plus miles on them, no complaints to report, any (minor) handling issues that I experience, I attribute to not having up-dated to progressives front & rear yet as well as not having the fork brace yet either , hope to address this 2014 season..........tony ...cold &snow sucks

[ekap1200]

.......O.K. Gene Kap, sorry , I have to ask, What caused you to lock up ur rear wheel not once , but twice at 80 in one riding season ? (car pulled out ? ) oh by the way, I have AVONs on my 03 voy 12, 5000 plus miles on them, no complaints to report, any (minor) handling issues that I experience, I attribute to not having up-dated to progressives front & rear yet as well as not having the fork brace yet either , hope to address this 2014 season..........tony ...cold &snow sucks

Yup-per dup-per. you guessed it.... Cager's We have an abundance of idiots here in the northeast that for some unknown reason were issued a drivers licence..... I call them all 007's ( licence to kill ). And they are everywhere up here, doing make-up , on the phone, eating , daydreaming , I have had quite a few near death issues up here and only one down by Ashville, which was by far the closest , and with my trailer behind me. I am glad my trailer is only as wide as my mirrors and not overly heavy.
By the way they don't make the Avon Venom anymore for my bike, so I'll let ya'll know how the new Avon's hold up... I have had the newer front Avon tire, in the shop for a month or two but haven't un-wraped it. I think its now called the Avon-cobra. My decision for the Avon's is that the max load is more than the E3 Dunlop and it is a very well balanced tire. Not that the E3 is a bad tire, when I first done a tire swap I used the E3's for the first 35 thousand miles or so. I just think the Avon's are my better choice. Gene Kap.

PS you will like the progressive springs in the front end and if you go for the rear progressives it will seem like a new ride. I'm not quite sold on the fork brace though, and still think Ma - Kaw didn't go the extra mile with the front ends on this heavy of a bike...

[suzib6sw]

Tony.. Good luck with the Wing.. i had an '86 GL1200 (registered in the UK in 89) before I came over here..
Dont forget the Stator.. Check under the left side panel and look for the large multi pole connector from the stator to the rectifier.. They tend to melt, char and arc..
The stator looses one of the 3 coils.. there should be plenty of after market alternatives too but its an engine out..
change the timing belts religiously at 60K.. Else you will have valves kissing pistons very shortly afterwards..

If its a 12, check the linked braking to the rear brake.. the rear caliper has a habit of seizing on and wearing the pads out very quickly..

Thinking about it, I believe they didnt start making the 12 till '84?

The 12 was a nice bike but i could never get over the lack of ground clearance hopping from my Bandit 600 onto the GW and throwing it about , or trying to ..

Pete

[Lucasind]

....Thanks for the well wishes Pete, I too am a long time wing owner, I've owned my (black) 1980 1100 for decades. ,but this (red) 1983 is proving to be a "deal" I could have lived without , The more I look the more I find WRONG Then add the sub zero temps, with this arctic BLAST I have'nt been doing much "garage work" this winter. It takes alot of heat to bring the garage up to a workable temp, and as we all know ..... heat costs $ $ $ . I will check things off of "the list" as they are repaired, until I have a rideable bike or ..... I could always donate it to one of the many H-D clubs in my area, for the annual sledge -hammer swing fund raiser ..................................tony

[Lucasind]

This is a pic of my 1980 GL 1100 the first year from the 1000cc days. Complete with custom black milk crate travel trunk

[Lucasind]

....O.K. I think were going from dec.25th on this post of the winter project,...... who knew TOLEDO would make national news as far as the worst place to be this winter on this day mar.24th. (no wonder I did'nt get a heck of alot done ) on this project this winter ! .....anyway.....

behind the snow pile you can see the DEMOTION of the goldwing's status of garage space.......indoor space is at a premium in the winter

I ordered the gasket kit for the 1100 engine, and waited .... and waited.....then I was told it was back-ordered...... At this point I went to Ebay and found a snowmobile shop in northern WI. that had 10 of them in stock , and got it for less than the dealer with my discount.... YES ....progress

The large envelope containing the gasket set was finally delivered, Brad got off work saturday early, I asked him If he wanted to help w/the Wing..... he said NO... .....wrong answer I chucked up a fine grade wire wheel into the drill and put him to work cleaning gasket surfaces.... (even low skilled jobs have to get done) .......

Things are looking a bit better now , as compared to the previous pics !



As we all know... the BIG 3 to make a engine run ,are Timed spark , Compression , and GOOD fuel , this saturday , I'm gonna put fuel to her and see what happens ...... Will keep ya posted on this "great deal" I bought a year ago .........more later...............tony

[suzib6sw]

....
As we all know... the BIG 3 to make a engine run ,are Timed spark , Compression , and GOOD fuel , this saturday , I'm gonna put fuel to her and see what happens ...... Will keep ya posted on this "great deal" I bought a year ago .........more later...............tony

Good luck tony.. make sure those belts are on right Valves and pistons dont play well together..
Cheers..
Pete

[Mr Jensee]

You people who can do that stuff have the patience of a Saint. It looks good and hopefully will be a great bike when you are done. My hat's off to you.