Engine Advice Please

[Bummer15]

I recently bought an 81 GL1100 for a project. It was not running when I bought it due to an 8 year storage. The bike has 40,000 miles on it and cosmetically in great shape. Compressions on all 4 cylinders were good when tested cold so I went for it knowing I would rebuild carbs, upgrade the stator, fork seals and so on. After pulling the exhaust pipes and intake tubes I found the valves don't look great. Here is where I need some expert advice. The intake valves are covered in carbon. Two of the exhaust valves have this gold tint to them and are filthy as well. I understand the carbon but this gold tint on the exhaust valves is a mystery to me. Question: With only 40K on this motor, do I run it "as is" or should I start pulling the heads? I'm hoping that with some Sea-Foam and strong highway miles the carbon will take care of itself? Any advice is appreciated!

Intake Valve @ 40K miles

Exhaust Valve @ 40K miles

[AZgl1800]

some one has been running High Test, 91 octane or higher gas in that bike.
very detrimental to Goldwings.

If the compression is decent, just use regular 87 octane fuel with something to clean up the dirty carbon deposits. It will eventually clean up.

I think that I would use MMO, "Marvel Mystery Oil" added to the gas tank, for a long time at their recommended amount.

[rickf1985]

The gold is actually a light brown I think you will find and it is ash which is usually from burning oil. But I have seen it a lot in engines where people add additives thinking they are helping the engine out when in fact they are harming it. The ONLY additive I will use or recommend id Marvel and that is based on personal experience from some rather extensive testing on a fleet of antique cars I was commissioned to do many years ago. The fact of the matter is that today's gasoline's have alcohol in them and on top of that a package of detergents that do a very good job of cleaning the engine. It is when you add more stuff to it that things go bad.

[Bummer15]

I really appreciate the input! The compressions are good so I'll just get it back together as planned and skip the engine teardown. Thanks much!!

[pocketchange]

Squirt (a little) MMO into the cylinders and turn it over a few times. Let the MMO sit for a few hours or a day or so.
Startron (fuel additive) and fresh gas, check the carbs and see how it runs... 1st.
Stay Positive... pc

[JOLLY]

I would ride it and not worry about it.

[newday777]

These motors are built robust and will probably run but..... After sitting the length of time as yours has, these 4 cylinder wings blow head gaskets after bringing them back to life.
Your best option, pull the heads(be sure to set belt timing to #1 TDC FIRST!!!), clean inspect the heads, flatten the heads and motor surfaces on a 8x11 sheet of 1/4" glass with 220 wet/dry emery paper, lap the valves by hand, new valve guide seals, reassemble using Honda head gaskets and orings.

HOW TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14868

[Old Fogey]

These motors are built robust and will probably run but..... After sitting the length of time as yours has, these 4 cylinder wings blow head gaskets after bringing them back to life.
Your best option, pull the heads(be sure to set belt timing to #1 TDC FIRST!!!), clean inspect the heads, flatten the heads and motor surfaces on a 8x11 sheet of 1/4" glass with 220 wet/dry emery paper, lap the valves by hand, new valve guide seals, reassemble using Honda head gaskets and orings.

HOW TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14868

I'm a huge believer in 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it until it is!'
First off, CHANGE THE BELTS!!! Can't emphasise that enough. Belts that have been sitting for a long time take a set that can have them jumping teeth. These are interference engines; if a belt lets go or jumps you are in trouble.

As for the head gaskets, run the bike as is. If the gaskets go, THEN change them. It's an easy enough job on these engines but not something you want to do unnecessarily. Oh, and I haven't used Honda gaskets in the last 15 years. Currently on my 6th GL1000 engine rebuild with an 1100 on the bench. I don't get problems with good aftermarket gaskets like Athena or Vesrah because the correct procedure is followed every time. The biggest source of failure is not Moly greasing the threads and under the heads of the head bolts, meaning that the torque figure you think you have is nowhere near what it should be.