In over my head or not????

[snowlover]

I am a shadetree mechanic that has brought a couple of old Honda's back to life. A magna and a Nighthawk, then sold them, but I currently have a desire for a Wing for some occasinal longer rides than my KLR is comfortable for.

Enter a 1977 Wing with 23k miles. Currently not running, owner suspected a head gasket leak 8 years ago, bought the gasket set, then never worked on it. Going to look @ it in 30 minutes. Any advice, warnings? If it ends up being more than I can handle, are parts worth anything? It says "windjammer - Vetter full dress, stock"

 

[dan filipi]

Will need tires, battery, probably wheel cylinders rebuilt and possibly new brake hoses. Flush as a minimum.
All new fluids and rubber parts especially if stored outdoors.

Hard to tell by the picture but if it's been outside and rained on there could be water in the engine so watch for that.

Would be good if you can try to crank it over either by hand or by the starter although even if frozen many 4 cylinders have been brought back to life.

Let us know the outcome.

 

[Emil]

If the tool kit is still with it, it should have the kick start lever in it. I don't believe they did away with it until 1978.

 

[joedrum]

the 77 1000 wing is a nice bike .....but its all in how you look at it .....the 77 has street cams that make alot of power at higher rpm....i like them.....if i were you and the bike is a good deal id jump on it ....theres a lot of things that make the 1000s user friendly and completely different than other wings

and here on the forum you can get good guildence on how to go about things.....

one of the first things you can do is see if the motor is free ....id take the plugs out of it squirt some pb blaster in them or some other spay lubricant....put it on the center stand and put it in 5th gear and turn the motor with the rear wheel slow and easy .....it may be stuck so maybe a little back and forth motion to work it free always easy....it may have a slipede timing belt so when its free move slowly to hear for valve hitting the piston .....if all comes out well and is free and not hitting anything keep spraying pb blaster and work the motor by hand to clean up cylinders....

this is a good start...

 

[mcgovern61]

If it has been sitting in that garage instead of sitting outside, you have a real ggod chance of bringing her back to life! But..... the price has to be real low if the owner suspects head gaskets and it may hve been sitting with antifreeze in the cylinders all this time. That is a full Vetter package! The chrome on the front fender looks good (at least in the picture) which also seems to indicate that the bike has been in garage. We can help you get her going pretty quick! But it is going to take time, patience and some parts money.

Assuming tires, belts, plugs, gaskets and o-rings, battery, carb rebuild and you doing the labor, you might be looking at about $600-$700 in parts.

Either way, welcome to the site! :clapping:

Gerry

 

[snowlover]

OK. Thanks for the quick reply's. I don't think I am worthy. One ex. manifold has been off for at least 8 years, who knows what has crawled inside. It was left outside for quite a while before the current owner bought it as a project. It appears that it has never crashed or tipped over on the bars, but everything has quite a bit of rust. It will clean up ok, but a few spots are deep. Not sure I have ever seen a fuel tank so rusty. How diffcult to remove and restore?

On a positive note, all parts are there. All luggage and matching vetter fairing appear in good condition. Includes a brand new windshield. If I was a wing lover or knew the motors better, it would maybe be in my garage, but I think it will cost too much to be a restored runner.

Bottom line, I am willing to do some TLC to get a big road bike, but this one is a little to much special work. I will keep watching for a little newer one needing TLC that starts and runs.

Any advice on early to mid 80's models to look for or stay away from?

 

[lew1701]

I am about to finish a restoration on the same year wing. It was also in pretty rough shape when I got it (most of it was in boxes). After alot of reading (the flat engine was very new to me) and advice from some very smart guys here at CGW it was on the road in no time. It was probably the most enjoyable restoration I've ever done, and I've done a few. I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss that '77, they are pretty tough old bikes.

 

[mcgovern61]

My '82 was given to me after sitting outside for 12 years. It had a blown engine and was in pretty bad shape. Went to Ebay and found a wrecked parts bike for $400 that did run. My girls and I stripped the '82 down to the frame and just cleaned it up and put it back together. Took the best parts of both bikes and made one bike. My then 16 year old daughter swapped out the engines with me and my then 10 year old daughter helped with the painting and pinstriping. Two weeks ago, I just returned from a 2800 mile roundtrip from New Jersey to Ohio (with a side trip to Indiana).

 

[snowlover]

That is a great story. The Wing is only icing on the cake. The real treat is the experience with your daughters. :clapping: :clapping:

I have a case of Wing fever. Going to look @ a 83 Interstate with 38k miles, "runs great" at lunch today. He is asking $1,100. Something has got to be wrong. We will see.

 

[mcgovern61]

That is a good price for a running '83! The '83 has a lot of great improvements built in!

 

[snowlover]

Have to start a new thread in the right place. Told the guy I brought $700 cold cash. He said, give me $800, its yours, peeled off $100 to hold it until this evening after a bank run. Details to be in the new member intro thread I will start.

 

[britman]

You paid 800 for a good running 83 if thats the pic of it you got steal of the day