[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=108958#p108958:3m2gva4q said:
dan filipi » Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:30 pm[/url]":3m2gva4q]
I would like to see how this manifold performs with a Weber 32/32 and the 2 to 1 riser/adapter.
Hi, I have a 77 Wing that has had the typical carburetor issues. After getting a pilot jet chewed up and stuck in one of the carb bodies, I decided to go a different direction. I began searching for a repair when we found the single carb conversion looked at all the different setups. The one I liked the look of the best, as it has a smooth look and smooth transition to the intake runners, was the one HOTT had posted pictures of.. Also I did not have to make or modify anything. It just plugs into the stock intake manifolds, hook up your cables and fuel line.
I recently had talked to Ric (HOTT) about his single carb conversion for my 77 GL1000. He took a 32DFT Weber carb, the stock bell crank, and throttle cable holder I supplied and sent him, HOTT machined the bell crank to fit the throttle shaft of the Weber. Ric (Hott) also made an air filter base plate to fit the 32DFT as no one had a filter setup to work on our bikes. He sent me his manifold he built, which has a threaded pipe tube welded to the bottom if you decide to heat the manifold (witch even in S fla is needed) He sent back the modded carb, a carb to manifold adapter, and air filter to me to try on my GL1000.
I installed it, which did not require any special tools. You could use the 1.75" thick filter if you like, but the 2.5" filter fit fine and still allows the factory tool tray to fit perfectly. I cranked the bike up and it started immediately and within a minute it was idling fine. The bike is now
very throttle responsive off idle and it settles down to idle very quick, unlike the stock carbs that sometimes hang at a higher idle before coming down.
The weather was in the low to mid 40s on my first ride. The first few miles ran very well, but as I got a little further into the ride I got a mid range hesitation when rolling the throttle on… I pulled over to look at the bike and when I put my hand on the manifold it was ice cold, my fingers would almost stick to it. When I got home I pulled up to the garage and the bike was idling, but not as smooth. Kinda like it was loading up some. I pulled out a hair dryer and turned it on aiming it at the manifold.. Within about a minute the bike smoothed out perfectly. I then decided I was gonna need some warmth on the manifold to run in the really cold weather. Now my bike is a naked wing and this problem may not be an issue with fairing bikes. I also did not remove the heat shield between the radiator and stock carb rack, allowing radiator heat, which I think may have helped the icing issue also.
I was looking at the bike thinking about removing the water feed tubes and drilling, tapping them for fittings but was not really fond of doing all that work. So I decided to go with oil. I got an oil filter adapter that had the oil cooler line fittings on it. This way I got a two for one deal. I got an easy spin on type oil filter. and with a simple run of rubber tubing. I also have heat to the manifold. So if I ever decided to go back to original and restore the bike, I could could remove it all and bolt on the stock parts again.
Note: Hook up the hoses by using fuel injection hose clamps. They are much better than standard fuel hose clamps.
Since trying HOTTs manifold, I really don't see switching back happening. What I really like is there is only one carb to deal with, so synchronizing is not required. Also, now I do not get the occasional primary chain clunking. If you need to rejet or do basic work, the top of the carb comes right off and you do not have to remove it from the bike.
I filled up the filter with oil, spun it on, and fired it up. I topped off the little oil I lost from the filter change, I warmed the GL up a little and then we took of for a ride. My friend Dave rode the Wing and I followed on my ZRX1100. We got out on a long wooded back road, after about 20 minutes of riding. Dave did a 5th gear roll on from 65mph. At 95 it was still pulling hard, with lots more available but he figured not knowing the bike well that was plenty fast enough. There was no stumbling or any glitches at all. We rode about 80 miles and the bike was flawless, very responsive the sound of the second barrel kicking in is incredible the bike has no running or fuel issues what so ever. Don’t know the mileage with this set up as it was so fun to ride we forgot to get a reading. I can just say this is what the old GL was meant to be, a brute stong sport bike instead of a so-so tired old plow horse. I know some will nay say the single carb setup, for this reason or that...
I won’t mind though, cuz I will be busy having a great time out on the wing enjoying the back twisty roads!
A special thanks to HOTT for the machining magic and making this pretty much a plug and play.
Happy Motoring!
