Old man bought an old wing

[oldman Tim]

I am Oldman Tim, 65 yoa, I bought a 1978 GL1000 in Feb. of 2022.
It still isn't running proper as of yet.
One shadetree guy did work on it, then I found a real mechanic who likes working on the vintage bikes.
The problem is, the bike has gremlins.
The seller wasn't much on history, other than he got it from his father in law. The seller rode it for several years and parked it for four years.
Anyway, it's really pretty! It has the Vetter fairing, bags and trunk.
I will try to post pics real so.

 

[pidjones]

Welcome. If you have any mechanical skills at all, you should find that knowledge gained on this and other oldwing forums will be very helpful in leading you to fix it yourself. GL1000s are a bit special with their own needs, but once right you can ride them coast-to-coast with confidence. BTW, 65 isn't that old for a 'winger, and 18 isn't that young.

 

[claydbal]

you are old. your bike is old. lol. there are no gremlins, only ****** mechanics. as mentioned above, get a manual, study this and other forums, peruse the sections that offer free DIY or instructional info. YOU can do it! and you can do it cheap enought that you can ride lots of happy miles on the OLD MANS bike!
peace

 

[julimike54]

Welcome to The Forum and enjoy!

 

[Rednaxs60]

Welcome to the forum. You'll enjoy your new purchase once it is on the road. You mention gremlins. Most times this is for the PO doing work and splicing into the existing OEM wiring harness. I'd recommend removing every non-OEM component - just like it came from the factory, and start from a clean slate. Once you get he bike on the road and want to add some amenities, install a separate accessory fuse block that is switched ON/OFF with an automotive relay. Check all your connectors, dirty connectors are the bane of everyone existence especially when it comes to grounds.

Good luck with your new bike, enjoy.

 

[Denver]

Welcome

 

[Workinman]

And change the belts!

 

[Motörhead]

Welcome!

 

[oldman Tim]

Thank you all for the greetings. Sorry I haven't replied sooner.
Here is what's been going on. Got the bike back from the second mechanic, back in late Dec.or early Jan. sometimes it ran on all 4 cylinders and most of the times it didn't. I cleaned out the "stop/run/stop" and start buttons with contact cleaner. Runs on all 4 all the time now. Yes the belts were changed by the first mechanic, as well as tires and tubes, fork seals, spark plugs, oil change, rewired the R/R to the newer R/R combo, and he did some other re-wire that he saw was needed.
The second mechanic installed the new coils, rebuilt the carbs with Randakks carb kits. He had it running real good but when he went inside to get his riding gear the bike stopped running and won't restart. He was loosing money working on mine without the success he was looking for. I understand that, if nothing is going out the door and being paid for then nothing can come in to make money off of. I really understand!
But something still was't right.
I talked to a mechanic whose father has taken care of several other motos for me over the years, his father told me to find another mechanic if I ever bought a GW, the son wasn't real thrilled about working on it when I told him I had bought the '78. Although, the son has agreed to work on the carbs, yes, one more guy getting into the carbs. But, I told him what was going on and he quickly said, yeap, the floats aren't right.
He said to order new floats, as the old ones are more than likely heavy with soaked up gas. New ones ordered today from Dime City. Hopefully by July I will be riding that old bike on the Skyline Drive for some quiet time several times a week.
Thank you to all on this forum for all the posts I have been reading and the excellent advice. I'm such a good mechanic that I can screw up anything. The knowledge on this forum is fantastic.
Thank you

Old man Tim

One day I'm going to figure out how to get pictures from my phone to my lap top and then to this forum.
She's pretty!

 

[oldman Tim]

 

[oldman Tim]

 

[oldman Tim]

Sorry to take up 3 spaces but, I'm not real computer savy.
First pic is in our driveway and the second was taken on one of her trips to the first overlook of the Skyline Drive.
After I work on, I mean mess with, either of my bikes I take them up the Drive. Usually as far as the 5 MM. Not much traffic and there is some good grades, turns and straight stretchs to try out any improvements.
My '89 PC800 stopped and won't restart AT the 5 MM last year and I had to coast all the back to the entrance station.

 

[Motörhead]

Where is this Skyline Drive?

 

[oldman Tim]

Sorry about that.
The Drive starts in Front Royal, VA USA and the other end is in Lynhurst, VA USA. The Blue Ridge Parkway connects with the the Drive at Lynhurst, VA.
Nice easy ride on both roadways.

 

[Motörhead]

Sorry about that.
The Drive starts in Front Royal, VA USA and the other end is in Lynhurst, VA USA. The Blue Ridge Parkway connects with the the Drive at Lynhurst, VA.
Nice easy ride on both roadways.

In August 2000 I rode the full Blue Ridge Parkway on a Yamaha FJ1200 two up with my teenage daughter, an unforgettable experience.

 

[oldman Tim]

Last Sept. I left home with the intent of traveling the Drive and the Blue Ridge PW but, hurricane IAN was coming up the from the South and I decided to turn around, while I visiting relatives in Yadkinville, NC. This year I am hoping I can finish both roadways and then go from Cherokee to Maggie Valley and visit Wheels Through Time.
I've tried to talk my youngest son, who is 41 years old, into doing this years ride with me. He has a 2003 Shadow ACE but, he has no interest in such a trip.
Glad your daughter got to go with you!

If the good Lord allows, I want to conquer The Dragon in 2024.

 

[julimike54]

That whole Cherokee/Maggie Valley area is a purty place to ride....