Steve81GL1100
Active member
Well, I did tell you all I'd be asking lots of questions....
I'm starting to formulate a plan for my newly-acquired 1981 GL 1100:
1) Clean up both heads inside and out; 2) lap the valves to ensure they seat well; 3) reassemble with all new gaskets throughout; 4) rebuild the carbs; 5) replace timing belts; 6)rebuild water pump; 7) rebuild all 3 brake calipers; 8) replace all coolant lines, fuel lines, vacuum lines, and flexible brake lines with new; 9) ....?
Budget and time will force me to take this slowly and also do a few things differently than I might otherwise. One of those is cleaning up the heads. Under different circumstances I'd send them off to my engine guy to hot-tank and give the once-over. Since I don't want to pay him hundreds of dollars to do that, and the heads shouldn't need any serious valve work, I need to find a way to get the heads cleaned up myself. I don't want to use anything really abrasive. I know scotchbrite pads will take the carbon deposits off of things like piston crowns, but it'll be difficult to get into areas like under the valves. So what I'm wondering is, has anyone done this? And what did you use? I was thinking something like Easy Off oven cleaner might work, but I'd like someone else's opinion to support my thoughts.
I'd attach a pic of the head that's off so you can all see how coked up it is, but last time I checked I still can't add pics. I'll try to get one or two loaded into my gallery tonight.
Thanks
Steve
I'm starting to formulate a plan for my newly-acquired 1981 GL 1100:
1) Clean up both heads inside and out; 2) lap the valves to ensure they seat well; 3) reassemble with all new gaskets throughout; 4) rebuild the carbs; 5) replace timing belts; 6)rebuild water pump; 7) rebuild all 3 brake calipers; 8) replace all coolant lines, fuel lines, vacuum lines, and flexible brake lines with new; 9) ....?
Budget and time will force me to take this slowly and also do a few things differently than I might otherwise. One of those is cleaning up the heads. Under different circumstances I'd send them off to my engine guy to hot-tank and give the once-over. Since I don't want to pay him hundreds of dollars to do that, and the heads shouldn't need any serious valve work, I need to find a way to get the heads cleaned up myself. I don't want to use anything really abrasive. I know scotchbrite pads will take the carbon deposits off of things like piston crowns, but it'll be difficult to get into areas like under the valves. So what I'm wondering is, has anyone done this? And what did you use? I was thinking something like Easy Off oven cleaner might work, but I'd like someone else's opinion to support my thoughts.
I'd attach a pic of the head that's off so you can all see how coked up it is, but last time I checked I still can't add pics. I'll try to get one or two loaded into my gallery tonight.
Thanks
Steve