Re start of an old project.

[JohnB1953]

It has been awhile since I bought this 1981 GL1100 /Triwing trike. It was a light roll over but has about 60,000 miles on it. It had sat a while (outside) b/4 I got to it. I did get it to run last fall but will need much work. Fast forward to this week. I found a 1981 GL1100 with 50,000 miles. Price was in the ball park so I went to see it. Bike started and runs sweet. Has about normal wear for year and mileage. But you can tell it has been taken care of. So I bought it. The new plan is to swap the trike kit on it and run it this summer for shake down before a tear down this winter for a paint job. I will have to replace the belts before I run it just to be on the safe side. I am planning to flush all fluids just for good measure. I will post photos along the way for those who would like to see the end result. Not sure when I can start as I have a VW trike that gets a motor overhaul this spring first, and have an older 1969 Honda CL450 bobber project to try to finish and sell. But it things work here are a few pics to start the ball rolling. The plan for the leftovers would be a naked GL1100 tied to a sidecar with an Old School look. John

 

[dan filipi]

You've got some fun projects going on.
Looking forward to following along!

 

[joedrum]

yes very nice projects to work on

 

[Ansimp]

+1 those will definetly keep you off the street for awhile :good: :salute:

 

[tom foreman]

ya,very cool build. :music:

 

[AApple]

opcorn:
Wish I had that kind of ambition! :yes:

 

[JohnB1953]

Well I got the GL1100 home today and in the shop. One think I have to remove the swing arm to install the Triwing trike kit and I see that it takes a special socket so I will have to start soaking the nuts and build a socket cause I will never pay 46 +shipping for 1 socket. And I need to devise some type of a stand to hold the bike up while swapping parts . So I have a little prework to get done b/4 I get to dive in. Later John

 

[Ansimp]

:good: :salute:

 

[joedrum]

opcorn:

 

[slabghost]

Come along or chain lift will hold the bike up nicely.

 

[JohnB1953]

OK Am done for the weekend as have family time tomorrow so I thought I would post an update.Started taking the Triwing kit of the wrecked 81 and that went well .Took a little time and made a socket to get the jam nut off the left side swing arm on the replacement 81. That went real well and the socket fit and worked good. Will need it when I transfer the take off parts from the replacement 81.I am hoping to add a sidecar to that one but that is down the road aways. Now all things went ok on the replacement 81 until I got to taking the swing arm off .My question is why in the hell did they put that c clip on the end of the shaft? Once it is together where is it going to go? That was by far the worse part of the job. On the trike there wasn't a c clip on that shaft and not sure if there should be and not sure if I should get one and put it on. Any ideas on that one guys?

 

[slabghost]

1100 used the clip on the driveshaft to keep it from falling off. Maybe the trike kit eliminated the need?

 

[joedrum]

looks like your doing good

 

[JohnB1953]

I get the general Idea that the c-clip would keep it from coming off but for that to happen the swing arm would have to loose both bolts and come off and at that point I think the shaft falling off wouldn't be an issue. It is just one of those things that make you wonder why it is really there. It also raises the question should I go buy one and install it on the trike when I put it together. :thanks:

 

[joedrum]

it can and will fall off ...i know personally on 1000 bikes ...im rather sure 1100s will too

 

[JohnB1953]

Wow really I guess I find it hard to believe that it moves that far that it would fall out but now that has me thinking should I use one on the trike. They don't use a boot on the back either they just modify the drive shaft to fit the rear end and run it open. Maybe there isn't that much movement with the trike kit that the clip isn't needed. I would email Triwing but they don't seem that interested in responding with information on an older rig, or there just isn't that much info out there on the older outfits.

 

[JohnB1953]

Had some time today so I took all the parts from the new GL donor and installed them on the old trike gl to make it a roller. Then moved it out to the storage shed. It will be a future project. If I have my way it will be a naked tug for an old style sidecar. Then it was on to installing the trike kit to the new donor bike. Tomorrow I have to install the driveshaft and exhaust. Then clean the shop as it is on to some upholstery projects that I am behind on. But things are looking good!

 

[Ansimp]

:good: :clapping: :salute:

 

[mcgovern61]

opcorn: opcorn:

 

[JohnB1953]

Thanks mcgovern61 by the way I see your first bike was a 81 GN 400 I have one of those in the shed also was taken apart owner to build a bobber and he lost interest so I got it cheep. I have a soft spot in my heart for singles. I hope to get that on the road someday too.