Just got this 77’ running . Had the carbs rebuilt by pistol pete. I thought it was running pretty good , but noticed sometimes the rpms would hang around 3000 . Seemed worse after i got it hot. I read somewhere about tightening up the carb boots. And low and behold that was it. Rpms drop right down , idles at a lower rpm . Its a lot snappier now too. It pulls harder.
So thanks for the tip.
Billy
Hanging rpms fixed
- landisr
- Posts: 787
- Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:18 pm
- Location: Gilbert, AZ
- Motorcycle: 1976 GL1000
1976 GL1000LTD
1994 GL1500A
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
Thanks for the follow up, Billyz. 
Ron in AZ
Ron in AZ
I'm not so sure about an inner child, but I have an inner idiot that surfaces every now and then.. 

- 77Goldwing
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:57 pm
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
I'm minimally technical but not sure what you mean by "tightening up the carb boots". Could you explain a little more or add a picture. My '77 idles a little higher than I like (about 1000-1200). I have lubed the linkage as best I can, but I sometimes find that when I reach down and push it down, it will drop the idle by ~200. (Snappier would be good, too.)
1977 Goldwing GL1000
Vetter SS fairing/lowers
Custom saddle seat
Purchased 6/30/1978, 1585 miles
1973 CB450/K6 (sold) (1976-Schenectady NY to Guadalajara MX and back)
1972 CB100 (sold)
Vetter SS fairing/lowers
Custom saddle seat
Purchased 6/30/1978, 1585 miles
1973 CB450/K6 (sold) (1976-Schenectady NY to Guadalajara MX and back)
1972 CB100 (sold)
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1711
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
There's two throttle cables to the handgrip connected in a loop. A "Pull" cable, and a "Push" cable. If they're adjusted too snugly it can cause the throttle to bind a little bit. There's adjustment points both at the stainless elbows at the handgrip and at the other end where the cables connect to the carburetor linkage.
If you back off one of those adjusters just a little this will add a slight amount of free-play to the throttle at the hand grip, you might find the idle returns easily to where it belongs without pushing the linkage.
The carb boots he was referring to are the rubber connections to the carburetors on each of the four intake elbows. There's a clamp holding the boot to the carburetor.
If you back off one of those adjusters just a little this will add a slight amount of free-play to the throttle at the hand grip, you might find the idle returns easily to where it belongs without pushing the linkage.
The carb boots he was referring to are the rubber connections to the carburetors on each of the four intake elbows. There's a clamp holding the boot to the carburetor.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
Thanks you said it better than i could have.
- 77Goldwing
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:57 pm
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
Thanks for the explanation. The bike is in covered storage in the rear of my garage (I'm in MI) but I now know what you are talking about and will check throttle linkage and boots in the spring.
Re: Hanging rpms fixed
One of the throttle cables has an adjustment under / along side of the airfilter container. You have to remove the aircleaner assembly to get to it.