Recent content by Arnold

A light oil? Would ATF qualify for oiling the K&N filter? It seems to have so many applications nowadays and it is affordable. Arnold :yes:

My 1980 GL1100 standard came with what I think is a K&N air filter. The PO rode on dirt roads and it was quite oily and dusty. If one is not willing to spend big bucks on official K&N cleaner and oil, what are some substitutes that will do the same job? Or would I be better off with a paper...

Thanks for the advice. It will be easier to replace the water pump than head gaskets (plus I won't have to remove the timing belts again). Arnold :clapping:

I removed the radiator to access the timing belts, and when I drained the antifreeze, there was about an ounce of oil that drained last. My radiator cap was oily also. How bad is this? I drained the oil and found no coolant mixed in it. Arnold :shock:

Welcome Ori, I had a 1981 Interstate last year, my first Goldwing, and I enjoyed it a lot. I sold it to make way for another fixer upper, so now I have a 1980 Standard GL1100, but it has a Vetter Windjammer fairing. Given the political tension in your part of the world, it must be very...

From what you tell me, it sounds like I got to the belts just in time. My new Gates belts departed Salt Lake City this morning at 4am so maybe I will have them here in Boise by tomorrow (unless UPS doesn't deliver on Saturday). Amazon.com had the Gates belts for just $14 each. They also...

Thanks for the tips. I lightly greased (silicone grease) the floating surfaces behind the rear brake pads and the rotor doesn't get as hot anymore. I decided to change out the timing belts because the bike had 90K on it before I replaced the speedo cable. I am using LittleBeaver's method...

This past week I removed the old fork seals leaving the tubes in the triple clamps while disassembing the bottoms, then reassembling. I pulled the tubes out of the triple clamps in order to press the seals into place with the 1.5" PVC pipe. Then, I reinstalled the tubes in the triple clamps...

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate the quick answers I have been getting from this site. Since I didn't get a service manual with the bike, you guys are the next best thing (even better, I think, because of shortcuts). While riding in the dark recently, I noticed one of my...

I replaced both rear shock seals and replaced the ATF fluid by using a squeeze bottle through the air hose orifice. About 11 ounces in each side. Then I added about 18 lbs of air pressure. Took it for a ride from Boise up to Lucky Peak which is the reservoir in the foothills. Nice fall...

Thanks for the advice. I cleaned up the front calipers and pads, then ran an orbital sander around the disks while turning the wheel. It made a nice sheen. When I got to the back caliper, I discovered the pads were way worn, with a little metal visible on one side. I replaced them with new...

What's the best way to take the glaze off the rotors? Sandpaper?

Thanks for your support. I need advice on how to make the bike stop faster. I squeeze the front brake hard and stomp on the rear brake, but it doesn't stop very fast. What can I do to shorten my stopping distance?

I bought this GL1100 on Craigslist for half a grand. PO had crashed it the morning of the sale, so was anxious to sell. I repaired the cracked windshield with clear epoxy, and the windjammer fairing with black ABS cement from Lowes hardware store. The original black paint was well worn, so I...

I started it up at 6:40am this morning. The temperature was 28 degrees, so there was a lot of steam coming from the pipes. Unlike smoke, the steam dissipated cleanly. Definitely not as much smoke hanging around in a stinking cloud. My hands were hurting from the cold when I got to work 20...