The adventure begins...

[Randy1965]

Need to say thanks first been lurking around here about a month and you guy's are great...
Recently I bought a 84 Interstate GL1200 at a estate auction...So not much intel on the bike..I was at the auction because the guy that passed away was a big Ford Model A fan an owned 2 model A's. I have a Model A myself and was there eyeing parts for my car....Anyway's as usual the stuff I'm looking to bid on was one the last things in line....The guy had a shop full of stuff and in the back corner was Goldwing all I noticed about it was the saddle bags and gas tank were off and everything else was loose on the bike...Wasn't what I was after that day so I did not take much notice to it...When the auctioneer got to it he tried to get the bidding started on it and nobody would place a bid....He tried a second time and still no bids...well in a effort to speed it up so I could get my stuff and go I asked what's wrong with it...He said he all he knew was it had a fuel problem took it apart and never put it back together...Auctioneer tried again and still no bids and he looked at me and asked what you give me for it?...Without thinking I said $ 200.00...He said going once....twice ....sold...lol...That's how I ended up here...Ended up getting the other stuff I wanted and paid my way out...While checking out I met the owners son and got the title and asked him about the bike...He said his dad bought it new in 84 didn't ride it much and in the mid 90"s it quit in the mid 90's with a fuel problem and he took it apart but never got it fixed its sat right there since....I left and got a trailer and came back kicking myself all the way home and back for buying...I didn't need anymore projects..lol...When I got back to the bike all the caliper's were stuck so the bike wouldn't roll..so I thought this is not starting well with this but managed to bleed the lines and get it unstuck and rolled it outside for the first time in 25 years give or take....I did notice the bike was going to clean up really good tho under 1/4 inch of dust...I reached to instrument panel and wiped and odometer read 1673 mile.... Yes 1673...When I went to get the trailer all I could think about was what had I done and how I'd get rid of it..lol....but if that's speedo is right now I'm thinking I'll give this a shot so I loaded it up picked up the box of plastics and nuts and bolts sitting next to it and headed home...So on the way home I made a plan how assess it and go from there...When I got home I grabbed a plug wrench my marvel mystery oil and a battery...pulled the plugs shot the oil in the cylinders and went in and ate dinner letting it soak came back out hooked the battery up and low and behold it spun over good...so I thought I would go a step further...rigged up a gravity feed gas can cleaned the plugs and installed and gave it a try...after cranking over a few it busted off and I ran about quart thru of gas thru it...It smoked for a couple of minutes and cleared up and even idled on its own....then I knew it was a keeper...I know this is getting long winded so I'll shortin it up I just wanted you to know where I was at with when I got it....

That was a month ago and here is where I am at now..
Got a service manual
Removed the carb's cleaned and new kits and reinstalled
Figured out what his original problem was it was the fuel pump relay replaced it and the fuel pump with OEM
Boiled out the gas tank got it clean as a pin...was not that bad to start with and reinstalled
Cleaned and flushed all the brake lines and master cylinders along with the clutch...Bought kits and rebuilt all but the slave on the clutch...
Replaced the 35 year old back tire and reinstalled the wheel, tire, and final drive...that was the hardest thing so far...serviced it while it was off with clean fluid and molly paste....That was a real bear getting that thing back on and lined up....
Flushed the radiator and replaced thermostat.
changed the oil added sea foam during the change.
Installed a new battery added new fuel and started cranking it daily and let it run at idol with light revving till it gets up to warm up temp been doing that for a week.
It seems to run great engine sounds really good so I think I'm well on my way...

Here's a couple of problems so far that I've found I'm looking for input on..
Clutch is bled well and flushed well and the handle feels good I can also hear it in the case trying to release the clutch but the clutch itself seems stuck? That's the only part of the hydraulics I have not rebuilt is the slave cylinder but I have the kit...but I don't think that's it
I have yet to hear the fan on the front kick in but maybe it's not been hot enough yet for that and it is cool here now...
Biggest problem is its a giant puzzle..lol...I have it all figured out except from the fuel tank back..I didn't take it apart so knowing what kinda bolt goes here and screw there and what order everthing goes back together...so I get to point I don't know and have to research...look here...you tube.... I hate putting something together I didn't take apart..lol
Tomorrow I'm going work on figuring out rear shock install which bolts go there rear fender and racks except the rear bags.. maybe bleed all the brakes and the mess with the clutch....My biggest question is anything else you guy's can think of that I'm missing...any and all reply's are welcome...Funny thing is I have not rode a bike in 30 years..lol...Thanks in advance and sorry it was so long of a post....
Randy

[DenverWinger]

Welcome, and congrats on a great Barn Find - You stole it!

Here's what you do for the clutch - if the handle feels good the plates are likely stuck together.

With bike on center stand, get it running - in gear. Hold the clutch in, get engine up to around 3000 RPM, give the throttle a bunch of gas and stomp on the rear brake at the same time. That will usually unstick the clutch plates. Might take multiple attempts.

Pictures!! (or it didn't happen).....

[Randy1965]

I'm working on the pic thing...lol...like everthing else got a figure it out... .....And I'll try that once I get the brakes bled out tomorow.....Thanks for the help...

[Randy1965]

Here she is right after I loaded her at the auction...as promise

Trailer queen

d

Trailer queen

[winguyjo]

GREAT score ! looks like you have a 2 car carport and a 2 car garage ? you will be needing a lot of that space for future goldwings.

[Andy Cote]

Welcome to the forum. Great bike you found.

I would not run it again without changing the timing belts. They sat in one position for a long time and a failure would be catastrophic.

Before diving into the full reassembly, I would check the voltage at the battery; both at idle and at 2000 RPM. If it currently is charging okay, read up on all the info about the stator charging system and the dreaded three yellow wires (many posts on this). Decide if you are going to keep the OEM system and if so, do all the improvements to those three wires. Alternatively, consider if you would rather convert to an automotive alternator (poor boy conversion). This is one thing that could cause problems in the future.

BTW, I've been to many auctions and almost always come home with something I didn't plan on and shaking my head about the ridiculous prices for the things I did want.

[Randy1965]

Thanks Winguyjo I think I did pretty well...By the way that's not my house..Thats the house across the street from the Auction one town east of me where I got it...lol..I don't have a carport altho I need one..lol...I have a 30x50 shop and it's about full..lol..I needed this like I needed a hole in my head..lol

Thanks Andy for the welcome....And your right about the belt...It's next on the list for sure I haven't ordered it yet but no doubt its due. In fact everything made out of rubber on this bike is due brake lines to vacuum lines to seals everywhere. Thanks for the heads up on the Stator/Charging issues I'll check that out. I'm just going to try to tackle one thing at a time and go thru it other wise it get's a little overwhelming...Right now I'm 3/4 done with brakes and today was one of those day's that nothing worked...lol.....Couldn't locate the shock bolts in my bin of bolts to start with...Then went on to bleeding the brakes the front brake master cylinder and caliper pumped up fine...The rear was a different story...I can't get any fluid to the front caliper or the rear for that matter...I don't have a bleeder but I have never needed one before but might go get one tomorrow. I tried for at least a hour and a half today to get fluid to the front caliper but didn't get a drop. I'm thinking something is not right with my rebuild of my master cylinder. I finally gave up on it went and cleaned up a bunch of plastic and chrome and packed it up for the day...Some day's are diamonds but some day's are just gold...lol. Tomorrow AM I'm heading to the parts store for a few thing and coming back and try it again...probably take the MC off and check it over...
Thanks for the reply's guys..

[WingAdmin]

You got some sweet deal on that bike!

Honestly, truly, do not start that bike again until you have changed the timing belts. I'm surprised they haven't already broken after sitting for that long without the engine running. It would be a real shame to have your practically new engine grenade because a hard, old timing belt let go.

[Randy1965]

Thanks Wingman for the reply....I found the timing belts at Napa online at my local store...so they are being picked up with some other things today...Battery is off the bike so no starting till that gets done guy's...I'm still finishing these brakes first....Then on to the belts...any tips on the timing belts you guy's have would be helpful on it I have read the "how to" in the service manual seems pretty straight forward?

[DenverWinger]

Mostly straightforward...

Installing the belt on the left side cam is easy, the cam stays right where you want it with timing marks lined up.

But the right side cam is stubborn, there's a valve starting to open at TDC and the valve spring pushes the cam sprocket about two belt cogs CCW from the timing mark. You can turn it back but it fights.

For the right side belt, I simply let the cam go the two belt cogs CCW from the mark where it wants, and use a wrench on the crank bolt and turn the crank a corresponding two cogs in the same direction, that way you don't have to fight the valve spring while getting that belt on. After the belt is on, you can turn the crank back to TDC (the T1 mark) and confirm the timing mark on the cam gear lines up correctly.

Another thing, with the crank on the T1 mark, the timing marks on the Cam gears seldom line up "Exact", they are usually "off" just a little. If you have the belts installed to where moving them a belt-cog in either direction would make the timing marks line up worse, then you have them correct.

[Randy1965]

Thanks Denverwinger...that's helpful...it doesn't sound to bad and shouldn't take to long....but that's what I said about the brakes...lol....I am stumped on this one...Today I bought a air bleeder and still no fluid to the front caliper...Checked the bleeder and it pumped a cup full of fluid out in a second..so it wasn't that...I took the master cylinder back off and disassembled then checked my work and it looked good...bench primed it and it shot fluid 10 ft straight up...did it again out of the second hole same story shot 10 ft.....the only thing was the umbrella seal on the spring turned inside out on removal..put it back on basically bench bled it on the bike by cracking the lines and using a syringe pushed fluid out while I tightened the lines...then I hooked the bleeder and still nothing...unhooked the bleeder and tried pumping and bleeding and still nothing....I had to stop there and get ready for boss...lol....but before I quit i tried one more old trick with soapy water at the caliper to see if I was getting anything there...and I wasn't also sprayed down the master cylinder and check for bubbles there for a air leak...nope on both of those...so I'm stumped other than trying to blow compressed air thru the lines will be my next check...after that I don't know...lol...any suggestions???...I'm curious about the valve on the bottom of MC...Oh and got to the part store and they only had one belt...seem like the story of my life this week...lol..

[joe-fred]

Sounds like you have an air bubble, on those Wings the master cylinder goes upwards to the hose and air locks there. Vice grip the hose closed near the master, this should make the lever only travel a little before locking . Now crack the banjo bolt at the master while applying brake pressure, this should get rid of the air bubble. Now the system will bleed normally.

[Randy1965]

Thanks Joe-Fred...I actually used that trick on the front Master cylinders for the clutch and the front left brake and it worked like a charm...The one that I can't seem to get is the rear master cylinder connected to the brake pedal. But I think I know why now...I traced the metal line from the Master up to a union in front of the air box and took it apart blew compressed air back to the Master and it was clear but from the union to the front right caliper was blocked....collapsed cause NO air would go thru...So I order a complete stainless steel line set and will try that tomorrow....I did change the timing belts this week still have to put the covers back on but wanted to polish them first and the radiator being being off helps a little in routing the brake lines anyway....if I'm lucky I might get my first ride on this bike this weekend..

[Randy1965]

I had a good weekend working on the bike....I got brakes!!!..lol.... Its amazing how easy they primed with the piston in right...lol... I had it in upside down.... Finished up cleaning up the timing covers and put them back on...also the radiator has been installed and filled with fresh antifreeze.... fired it up and let it warm up...Even got the stuck clutch unstuck...So I bolted up the shocks and took my first ride in 30 years today!!!....Ran like a top...I am pumped forgot what that felt like.... and it was a nice day here for a ride temp in the mid 70's...Took her out on county roads for a 20 miles and no issues that I've found yet....Here's a couple of pics I took today!

[Andy Cote]

Good on ya.

Rear fender and light don't look original from here.

[julimike54]

Congrats on getting it on the road again!