1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
-
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:33 am
- Location: Tremonton, Utah
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000
1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
I have been working on my 1978 honda goldwing
Final finished putting new gaskets throughout the engine and resurfaced the heads. Reseated the valves put it back together and did a compression test.
Cylinders 1 & 3 years 150
Cylinder 2 120
Cylinder 4 30
Please help I have no idea what I have done wrong
Final finished putting new gaskets throughout the engine and resurfaced the heads. Reseated the valves put it back together and did a compression test.
Cylinders 1 & 3 years 150
Cylinder 2 120
Cylinder 4 30
Please help I have no idea what I have done wrong
- winguyjo
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:26 pm
- Location: b.c. Canada
- Motorcycle: wing1 : 1982 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing2 : 1980 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD.
wing3 : 81gl1100i frame/82gl1100a engine/81cb900 bits. resurrection complete. naked. SOLD.
wing4 : 1977 gl1000 black w/ blue pinstripes; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing5 : 1977 gl1000 black w/gold pinstripes; nearly roadworthy when purchased, NOW RIDING.
wing6 : 1975 gl1000 blue; SOLD
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
ouch, that's gotta hurt after doing all that work. you say you "re-seated" the valves ... can i assume that means you lapped them ? if so, have you checked the valve lash ? if so,
my next move would be to find out where the compression is going on number 4. a leakdown test will tell.
my next move would be to find out where the compression is going on number 4. a leakdown test will tell.
-
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:33 am
- Location: Tremonton, Utah
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
I did lap them, I am a little green when it comes to leakdown tests. How is thqt done.
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
- Rambozo
- Posts: 526
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
- Location: Disneyland
- Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
Bring the cylinder up to TDC, pump air into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. There is a tool with a gauge that will tell you the actual leakage, but even without that, you can locate where the air is coming out to identify the problem area. Listen at the intake, to check the intake valve, the exhaust to check the exhaust valve, the crankcase to check the rings, the radiator to check for gasket or block/head failures.
- winguyjo
- Posts: 413
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:26 pm
- Location: b.c. Canada
- Motorcycle: wing1 : 1982 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing2 : 1980 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD.
wing3 : 81gl1100i frame/82gl1100a engine/81cb900 bits. resurrection complete. naked. SOLD.
wing4 : 1977 gl1000 black w/ blue pinstripes; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing5 : 1977 gl1000 black w/gold pinstripes; nearly roadworthy when purchased, NOW RIDING.
wing6 : 1975 gl1000 blue; SOLD
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
if you have any trouble running a leakdown test, youtube is an excellent resource. the tool itself will cost you some $$ but if working on internal combustions is going to be your hobby, it's a well worth the investment. on youtube you can even learn how to put one together from bits and pieces if you have a decent hoard going on
.

-
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:33 am
- Location: Tremonton, Utah
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
Thank you for your help
- landisr
- Posts: 787
- Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:18 pm
- Location: Gilbert, AZ
- Motorcycle: 1976 GL1000
1976 GL1000LTD
1994 GL1500A
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
Auto Zone or O Reillys might have them to 'loan'.
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.. 

- landisr
- Posts: 787
- Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:18 pm
- Location: Gilbert, AZ
- Motorcycle: 1976 GL1000
1976 GL1000LTD
1994 GL1500A
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
Auto Zone or O Reillys might have them to 'loan'.
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.. 

- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1737
- 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: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
Easy enough to make one if you or a buddy has a welder, I took an old sparkplug, smashed the porcelain guts out of it and welded the metal sparkplug shell to the end of a short piece of pipe. then welded an air hose chuck fitting to the other end.
When you bring a cylinder up to TDC, if it won't hold any pressure at all you probably have the "wrong" TDC (between intake/exhaust strokes). Rotate the crank one full rev and bring up to TDC again, this should be top of the compression/power stroke.♫ 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
- Rambozo
- Posts: 526
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
- Location: Disneyland
- Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Re: 1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help
You can also often use the hose from your compression tester. Just remove the schrader valve in the end, so air can flow the other way.