Rabbit hole aka 1983 GL1100 Interstate "refresh" a bike that sat over four years.

[glennpaw]

Hey Hi Hello
I used to ride and work on two CX500's. A nice bikes but I felt under powered so I
sold them.
Please advise part vendors to refresh the newest project, a 1983 GL1100 Interstate with 36K
Currently runs but backfires and won't idle w/o chock and throttle at all rpms.
First going to clean carbs and fuel systems. Got Mike Nixon's rebuild pamphlet. Then address the other systems.
Please advise . . .

 

[kerryb]

I like to start with the parts cross-reference list on Goldwingdocs.com. Another method is to google the factory part number and see what deals come up. Parts Giant is good for some stuff. Be sure to get your accelerator pump nozzles clean when you do the carbs.

 

[glennpaw]

I like to start with the parts cross-reference list on Goldwingdocs.com. Another method is to google the factory part number and see what deals come up. Parts Giant is good for some stuff. Be sure to get your accelerator pump nozzles clean when you do the carbs.

Thank you for your insights and advise.

 

[zman]

Carbs are clogged. Be sure and clean the idle circuits well and be sure all 4 accelerator pumps are working. Best to test the floats and accelerator pump on a bench before installing using a 4-5 foot high feed tank to mimic the 3 pounds of fuel pressure and work the throttle a bunch to prime and test the accelerator pump to be sure all 4 barrels are squirting.

 

[glennpaw]

Thank you for your insight and sage advice.
Honda service shops are too busy and won't touch anything "SO OLD". It's a 1983 Interstate.
Last time I needed to my CX500 Honda carb cleaned and serviced i used Larry G in Sacramento.
Larry's vision health is not up to the task currently.
So rookie me is circling my bench skills and tools. Work area is an unheated storage unit. The single
electrical outlet has a 15-minute timer attached too.
Not ideal but I could make it work. Probably will remove carb(s) and work on them in the living room.
ZMAN thank you again for the information to further my progress.

 

[kerryb]

I got these aluminum restaurant baking pans at a flea market. They are my go to tool for cleaning carbs.

 

[RussSutherland]

I am about to start the same journey as you. I inherited a '83 gl1100 interstate trike. It was not in perfect condition when my wife's uncle parked it. It has sat for 10 years. Carbs are definitely getting some time on the bench. I was also thinking timing belts. They have sat in the same position for 10 years and I read somewhere that the 1100 is an interference motor so don't want to eat any valves from a belt break. Going to get a cheap Amazon bore scope on look inside the cylinders to check them out. I put a little mystery oil in the plug holes and turned the motor over a few times. Then put plugs back in. Turned over and seems to have compression. Lots of work before I try to start it.

 

[dave1135]

Big thing on carbs, especially that old and sitting that long, I'd get good quality carb kits. Randakks carb kits, they are expensive but worth it. I had got a cheap eBay kit, and half the parts were for a gl1200. By the time I ordered the missing/incorrect parts, I could have bought the randakks kits. You'll also need o rings for the carb to plenum and plenum seal and o rings for it, I'm pretty sure the randakks kits include the o rings that go from the carb to plenum. Also be very careful removing the low speed idle adjustment jets, the shaft below the limiter caps are very thin and snap off easy. Heat the factory caps with a torch then pull straight off. Count number of turns then install new jets exact same number. Each jet gets a o ring, washer, and spring, in that order. Get a good carb synchronizer set and adjust carbs after engine is warmed up. #3 carb is your base to set the others to. Get all carbs close as possible, adjust idle and you should be golden. Also, I only run premium fuel in mine, it's higher octane and does not have ethanol like unleaded, which causes problems if the bike sits a bit and during winter. I run a mower repair shop, I've seen what ethanol does to carbs over the winter

 

[kerryb]

If the bike sat for 10 years, you must do the belts, and plan on rebuilding a few brake seals, at the very least, clean out the crud in the brake reservoirs and slave cylinders.

 

[RussSutherland]

Dave, thanks for the card info. You do get what you pay for so I will look for the randakks

Kerry, Thanks for the brake info. The front and rear brakes are locked up so I will be doing a full brake service. With not knowing what brakes are on the trike kit, I hope there are some part numbers left on the slave or pads so I can identify them. Will probably start with identifying the axle and hope that narrows down the search.

 

[kerryb]

Just a note on cleaning carbs. You do not need an ultrasonic cleaner, just carb dip from NAPA or Berryman’s ( also at napa). I leave a disassembled carb in the dip for 24 hrs and then use water, compressed air, & brake cleaner to make sure all the passages are open. I have returned several ‘83’s to service.

 

[RussSutherland]

Any recommendations on a good carb synchronizer?