First Goldwing! 1977 GL1000

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Thu May 21, 2015 11:43 pm

Greetings, All!

I am a brand new poster and am excited to report that I just bought my FIRST Goldwing. It is a true barn find; a one-owner, original title, 1977 GL1000 with 19,000 original miles! It is complete with all plastics and I am excited about getting her back on the road. I just purchased it today and haven't even cleaned it up yet. I definitely have some work cut out for me. Everything is there except the battery. The bike motor is seized due to sitting and I have a homemade concoction in the spark plug holes marinating to free it up. After I get it free...Any advice on particular things to check for a newbie before trying to start this beast? Any help or specific tips would be greatly appreciated! Glad to be on the forum.

virgilmobile · Post by **virgilmobile** » Fri May 22, 2015 10:17 pm

Absolutely do not attempt to start the engine...at least not till you can get it to turn free by hand.Either with a wrench or in 5th gear and roll the wheel.
Take your time...Pull the front covers off to expose the timing belts..Hand turn the engine ONLY...
The timing belts,if there old,are subject to breaking...This is a engine that can be badly damaged if a belt breaks while cranking or running.
Once you verify the engine will have decent compression,change the oil and put on a new set of belts then turn it by hand a few times to check the valve timing..... then spin it with the starter...

spiralout · Post by **spiralout** » Fri May 22, 2015 10:55 pm

Good read here

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:20 am

Great advice and information, spiralout and virgilmobile! I am hoping to get a little time to try to free it up this long weekend. I will keep y'all posted on my progress. Virgil, I appreciate your reminder to take my time. My mind gets so excited, I have to remind myself that the end product will be much better if I do it carefully without rushing.

dtrider · Post by **dtrider** » Sun May 24, 2015 9:22 am

Make frequent posts about your progress. For some of us that are more mechanically inept, it's nice to be able to live vicariously through the exploits of others.

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:53 pm

I have worked on the bike a couple days and got the windjammer and luggage rack removed, as I like the naked look better. I have tried to rock the bike free without luck just yet. Got the timing covers off and tried to turn the crank to no avail. I am being patient and have applied PB blaster in the spark plug holes after every time I try to rock it free. Hopefully it will do it's job and it will free up soon!

virgilmobile · Post by **virgilmobile** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:10 pm

If your rocking it,use 5th gear.

virgilmobile · Post by **virgilmobile** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:12 pm

By the way,the absolutely best penetrating oil is 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone.
Proven better than any spray.

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:42 pm

I have been in 5th gear when rocking. Just started the PB Blaster yesterday. Before that, a concoction of MMO, ATF, and a solvent I got from a machinist friend. I need to get some acetone to throw in the mix as well! Thanks for the tips!

rudolphwolven · Post by **rudolphwolven** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:26 am

Hi,
Congratulations with your excellent purchase. Very nice that low mileage.......excellent starting point for a long 2nd life!
Take your time to give the engine a chance to become free.........do not hurry, the penetrating proces is slow; pour in as much as possible in each cylinder enabling the entire piston circumference to be penetrated.
Remember each time you try to get the engine free without arguably success somewhere/somehow a couple of percentages in eliminating the freezing possibly were achieved.........
Good luck, i am convinced that patience will reward you.
wkr, Ruud

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 12:46 pm

Thanks, Ruud!

I had my first glimmer of hope on Saturday after soaking and rocking it for a week. It clicked free and rolled about 4-6 feet before sticking again in some more corrosion in the cylinders. I rocked it again yesterday to no avail. I am not naturally a patient person, but am trying my best to take my time and let the chemicals work their way into the rust. Thanks for the encouragement! I will keep the updates coming.

sfruechte · Post by **sfruechte** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 11:28 pm

Have you tried the kick starter?

rudolphwolven · Post by **rudolphwolven** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:30 pm

sfruechte wrote:Have you tried the kick starter?

A '77 has no kick starter......nevertheless, as far as I know starting it with a kickstarter is not so easy..........

Best regards, Ruud

spiralout · Post by **spiralout** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:25 pm

rudolphwolven wrote:
sfruechte wrote:Have you tried the kick starter?
A '77 has no kick starter......nevertheless, as far as I know starting it with a kickstarter is not so easy..........

Best regards, Ruud

Sure it does. I can start the '77 motor in my '80 by pushing the kickstart with my hand. I'm pretty sure sfruechte meant trying to turn it over with the kick instead of rocking it, though.

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:01 am

I have attempted to kick it over with the auxiliary kick starter, but it hasn't budged yet. I rocked it last night off an on for about an hour and then filled up the cylinders with solvent before putting it up for the night.

rudolphwolven · Post by **rudolphwolven** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:15 am

Keep good faith........carry on.......time is on your side.......patience not.......it took many, many years to become freezed; therefore the process cannot been reversed in a couple of days........good luck!
wkr, Ruud

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:39 pm

Quick update- I am still trying to rock the motor free. I have tried various solvents and would like to think there is microscopic progress, but don't have any visible signs of the engine freeing up. One of the cylinders has a valve that is open, which doesn't allow me to fill it with solvent- it just spills out the exhaust port. Any tricks to getting that piston saturated?

sfruechte · Post by **sfruechte** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:54 pm

You might slow it down by stuffing a rag part way in there or leaning it on its side so it has to run up hill to get out.

JMF1982 · Post by **JMF1982** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:35 am

Let it be known that yesterday, July 13, 2015, at 9:24pm CST...The motor broke free. Now the fun will really begin!

rudolphwolven · Post by **rudolphwolven** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:06 am

WOW........CONGRATULATIONS...........I knew that you could be succesfull.

Regards, Ruud

Ncscooter · Post by **Ncscooter** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:55 pm

Welcome! Change the belts. You are probably aware that your compression will most likely be poopy until the rings reseat. The carbs will need to be rebuilt. Goodness gracious, I'm excited for you!

Old Fogey · Post by **Old Fogey** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 8:02 pm

Just read your story. Well done with the patience!
Now, before you do much more, get yourself a Honda or a Haynes workshop manual. You ARE going to need it.

As well as this great source of information and advice, I encourage you to join NGW as well (http://www.ngwclub.com).

Their Shop Talk page has a load of useful info (http://www.ngwclub.com/shoptalk/). Start at the top with the advice to new owners.

You will find a pile of Technical info (and parts) on my own site too. Just click the banner below.

First Goldwing! 1977 GL1000

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