1982 GL1100 timing belt problem


Information and questions on GL1100 Goldwings (1980-1983)
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larsontom
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Motorcycle: 1982 GL1100A Aspencade

1982 GL1100 timing belt problem

Post by larsontom »



...other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? Boy did I step into it with this one. I bought a 1982 GL1100 with 30k on it, that had been sitting for ten years. Rebuilt the carbs, replaced the fuel pump, water pump, fuel line and filter and petcock with OEM.
For no good reason I bought timing belts on ebay (made in USA) Had trouble getting them on, very tight even with adj. all the way off.Adjusted left side OK with end wrench per OEM manual. Had trouble with right one. Got it running and put on set of vacume gauges to sync carbs. all 4 reading very low. indicating Late valve timing. Put engine at TDC #1 pulled the covers, all marks line up perfectly. Left belt is tight, right belt is loose.Spun motor 360 degree's to TDC #2, to tighten right belt, only now it's tight and left belt is loose.
And NO I DON'T drink or use drugs.So it appears one of 3 things has happened 1) I've gone round the bend completely and need to make a tin foil hat 2) BOTH timing belts are way out of specs 3) the crank pulley is out of round. # 2 and 3 seem unlikely. Any input would be greatly appreciated


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dingdong
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Re: 1982 GL1100 timing belt problem

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Re: 1982 GL1100 timing belt problem

Post by WingAdmin »

larsontom wrote: Sun May 16, 2021 9:50 pm ...other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? Boy did I step into it with this one. I bought a 1982 GL1100 with 30k on it, that had been sitting for ten years. Rebuilt the carbs, replaced the fuel pump, water pump, fuel line and filter and petcock with OEM.
For no good reason I bought timing belts on ebay (made in USA) Had trouble getting them on, very tight even with adj. all the way off.Adjusted left side OK with end wrench per OEM manual. Had trouble with right one. Got it running and put on set of vacume gauges to sync carbs. all 4 reading very low. indicating Late valve timing. Put engine at TDC #1 pulled the covers, all marks line up perfectly. Left belt is tight, right belt is loose.Spun motor 360 degree's to TDC #2, to tighten right belt, only now it's tight and left belt is loose.
And NO I DON'T drink or use drugs.So it appears one of 3 things has happened 1) I've gone round the bend completely and need to make a tin foil hat 2) BOTH timing belts are way out of specs 3) the crank pulley is out of round. # 2 and 3 seem unlikely. Any input would be greatly appreciated
Depending on where in the cycle the engine is, valve springs will be putting tension on the belts - either one or the other, or in some positions, both. As well, again depending on the position of the engine, the belt can be tight on the top side or bottom.
indianakid
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Re: 1982 GL1100 timing belt problem

Post by indianakid »

OK..... most vacuum gauges are placarded for automotive use where normal vacuum at idle is 20 inches. On a GL with one carb per cylinder the normal vacuum at idle is ~10 inches. So if that is what you are seeing then all is OK. As far as timing belt looseness let the engine fully warm up to operating temperature and check them as they will tighten up. And as mentioned in a prior post the valve springs will impart a rotation to the cam causing the slack to be on the straight side of the belt requiring you to manually rotate the cam to over come the spring pressure to put the slack on the adjuster side (caution: if a wrench is used on the cam bolt it may loosen the bolt) or as you stated rotate 360 and then adjust.


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