GL1500 on board compressor not pumping air

[spkersh]

Need suggestions. Went to local Honda shop here in Sierra Vista, AZ, no help. Only offered to order a new air compressor. I have a 2000 GL1500 SE. I follow instructions, put on center stand, turn ignition on, press the button to increase the air to the rear shock, will not increase. Read out shows about 22 lbs and will not go up. It will decrease, unfortunately. When I press the buttons (P check and increase), the switch does engage and the compressor does come on, but will not pump air.

I do not hear any air leaks. everytime I check the pressure, it seems to hold steady at about 22-23 lbs. I took the seat off, looks at though air line is only connected to the right side shock. Switch is on the right side, compressor is on left side, just behind the shock. can see little clear window, appears to be dry, no oil at all. Every compressor I know of requires some sort of oil, or will burn up. Do not see any signs of leaking. Honda shop did not seem to know what I was talking about.

SO,
- where can I add oil? Does anyone know if it takes oil? what kind of oil can I use? can I pull the snap ring where the clear window is and add oil there?
- will go back and check tightness on all the bolts connecting the air hoses, but according to read out, it is not leaking.
- saw how-to link to disassemble and dry out the beads, will try that, but where I am in AZ, very dry, don't think much moisture to stop it up.

Anyone have suggestions?

[WingAdmin]

I think the first thing I would do is to disconnect the air hoses from the compressor, then run the compressor and see if it is actually producing any pressure (soapy water on the outlet and on your finger, put your finger on the outlet, see if bubbles appear and/or you can feel pressure.

[Carl334]

One of these manuals here has compleate trouble shooting guide for this problem and more.

[93Wing]

Is the bike in neautral? My 93 won't work with the bike in gear (a safety thing).
Check your fuses also, it may just have a bad fuse but don't go putting oil anywhere in there. The site window should be so you can sheck the desecant that is there to pull the water out of the air.

[Old Wing Man]

Did you verify that the air hose (the one used to air up tires) is not hooked up. I believe I read in the owner's manual that the compressor wont air up the on board shocks if the air hose is attached.

[gordonv]

Need suggestions. Went to local Honda shop here in Sierra Vista, AZ, no help. Only offered to order a new air compressor. I have a 2000 GL1500 SE. I follow instructions, put on center stand, turn ignition on, press the button to increase the air to the rear shock, will not increase. Read out shows about 22 lbs and will not go up. It will decrease, unfortunately. When I press the buttons (P check and increase), the switch does engage and the compressor does come on, but will not pump air.

Anyone have suggestions?

OK, lets just clarify. The compressor IS working (making noise) but the SHOCK air pressure reading is not going up. It's been a while since I looked at fixing my bike, as nothing was working when I bought my bike. In my case, it was the switches. Took them apart and cleaned the contacts (lost a few also, bought a spare), and all seems well, except how-to work the tire hose.

I believe the switches go through the relays on the LH (?) side to activate the different solenoids. Some or all are the same, I would swap a few and retest.

You're saying you press the increase button, the motor runs, but the display does not increase? I would check the relays and solenoids.

Like mentioned, maybe the tire air hose is connected? If not, I would connect it, and see if that works. Pump is operating, so you have air, just what is happening with it is unknown. It has to be going somewhere, so don't keep it running, or you may end up busting something.

Question to everyone. Can you get a zero pounds of air on your shock pressure display, never tried? If not, I would think the shock is leaking, not the hose.

[spiralout]

Did you verify that the air hose (the one used to air up tires) is not hooked up. I believe I read in the owner's manual that the compressor wont air up the on board shocks if the air hose is attached.

Need suggestions. Went to local Honda shop here in Sierra Vista, AZ, no help. Only offered to order a new air compressor. I have a 2000 GL1500 SE. I follow instructions, put on center stand, turn ignition on, press the button to increase the air to the rear shock, will not increase. Read out shows about 22 lbs and will not go up. It will decrease, unfortunately. When I press the buttons (P check and increase), the switch does engage and the compressor does come on, but will not pump air.

Anyone have suggestions?

OK, lets just clarify. The compressor IS working (making noise) but the SHOCK air pressure reading is not going up. It's been a while since I looked at fixing my bike, as nothing was working when I bought my bike. In my case, it was the switches. Took them apart and cleaned the contacts (lost a few also, bought a spare), and all seems well, except how-to work the tire hose.

I believe the switches go through the relays on the LH (?) side to activate the different solenoids. Some or all are the same, I would swap a few and retest.

You're saying you press the increase button, the motor runs, but the display does not increase? I would check the relays and solenoids.

Like mentioned, maybe the tire air hose is connected? If not, I would connect it, and see if that works. Pump is operating, so you have air, just what is happening with it is unknown. It has to be going somewhere, so don't keep it running, or you may end up busting something.

Question to everyone. Can you get a zero pounds of air on your shock pressure display, never tried? If not, I would think the shock is leaking, not the hose.

OP started this thread 4 years ago. It was his one and only post.

[gordonv]

Wow, I didn't look back further than the latest post to see it was 4 years old.

My question still is valid though, anyone know if your air pressure reading display will show zero pounds of air? I'll need to try mine out the next time I play with it.

[silverado6x6]

Wow, I didn't look back further than the latest post to see it was 4 years old.

My question still is valid though, anyone know if your air pressure reading display will show zero pounds of air? I'll need to try mine out the next time I play with it.

It's that time of the year my friend, many of us are stranded at home, on the puter, maybe bored after doing the umpteenth cleaning or maintenance on our bikes, you hop on a forum, anything just to get social.
I wonder if the op still even owns the bike anymore, but look at it this way, hundreds search for info on problems, so your replies are not wasted by any means , and it gives others like me a small laugh, I've done it too.

[virgilmobile]

Don't know if this helps...but my 88 worked ok till just this summer.
From zero,on the centerstand,it would increase the pressure to almost 10 psi.
On the side stand...no increase.
I removed the compressor...complete disassembly..vanes sticking...dirty nasty inside....polished and cleaned everything....a very light spray of lube to get things moving(there is no oil to change)... It now works fine.

[gordonv]

So the compressor can come apart for all that, or did you have to force it?

[virgilmobile]

Disassembly was not hard.A few screws.Just getting it off the bike was the hardest.Its burried into the frame behind the left saddle bag,Soooo,off comes a bunch of plastic.
I did start to finish in 4 hours.
Mine would run but had almost no pressure or volume.

[urbanmadness]

yup, had to do the same thing to my '82. Brain dead simple, just a pain. At least my compressor was under the false tank.

[sunprowl@1]

Even though this is a very old post was a wealth of information to help me diag my problem on 1988 G/W a little different but still will be a little knowledge I didn't have.

My problem if I pump the shock to say 30 PSI it will go flat in 30 seconds you watch the loss on the dash drop 1 second at a time.
My bike is a trike so with no air you can see it sit really low on right side I am able to see the way it is running heavy on the right side of the tire also. So with reading this I am able to feel more confident about getting out the squirt bottle of soapy water and finding the leak.

Going back 3 or 4 years on old thread, thank again to all for the help.

another Newbie

sunprowl@1

[OldbikerJames]

I know this post is 5 years old now but I just bought a 90 GL1500SE and not really sure how to use the air compressor. I push the button, says 4 lbs in rear shocks but wont increase. Pump runs but nothing happens. I'll check lines for leaks tomorrow. Thanks for all the info on this post.

[MikeB]

Make sure there is not a hose extension attached to hose in the right saddlebag. If there is, disconnect that extension and try to pump up the shock again. The schrader valve in the end of the supply hose must be closed so air pressure can build. With a hose attached to it, the schrader valve is open and allows air to pass.

[OldbikerJames]

Not sure the compressor is pumping any air. Wont pump up the shocks. Hooked up the hose in the right saddle bag but not getting any air from it either. Compressor runs but nothing happens. Any ideas? Thanks.

[MikeB]

Do you know the proedure for getting air out of the hose? It's in your owner's manaul. It is not as simple as you may think.

That hose needs to have nothing attached to it in order to air up the rear suspension.

[OldbikerJames]

Don't have the owners manual, just ordered the clymer repair manual for it. Just got the bike last Thursday. I may be doing something wrong. Bikes on center stand, key on, I press the left button, shows 4 on the dash, I hit increase and compressor comes on but doesn't increase the shocks. Nothing hooked to hose in saddle bag, cap on it. Bad compressor?

[MikeB]

Suspension Adjustment
1. Place the motorcycle on its center stand on a fInn, level surface. To prevent discharging the battery, make sure the audio system and other electrical accessories are off.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON, P, or ACC.
3. Push the P.CHECK button to display the current pressure (USA: reads in psi. Canada: reads in kg/em2).
4. While holding the P.CHECK button in, push the INCREASE or DECREASE button until the desired air pressure is reached.

[MikeB]

Don't have the owners manual, just ordered the clymer repair manual for it. Just got the bike last Thursday. I may be doing something wrong. Bikes on center stand, key on, I press the left button, shows 4 on the dash, I hit increase and compressor comes on but doesn't increase the shocks. Nothing hooked to hose in saddle bag, cap on it. Bad compressor?

The compressor also has an auxiliary outlet valve that can be used with an optional Honda or commercially-available air supply (extension) hose to inflate a tire or other inflatable item.

To use the air hose:
1. Tum the ignition switch to the P (park) position.
2. Open the right saddlebag.
3. Connect the air supply (extension) hose to the outlet valve.
4. Remove the tire valve cap and connect the air supply (extension) hose to the tire valve.
5. Push the OUTLET button on the air pressure control panel to supply air pressure. The air pressure reading will not appear
in the display.

NOTICE
Operating the air pump for more than five minutes can overheat its motor.

6. Remove the air supply (extension) hose from the tire and outlet valve. (The on-board air compressor will not increase rear suspension air pressure with the hose attached. Air will bleed off through the hose.)

[OldbikerJames]

If the compressor runs, it should be working right? Whats the thing on the other side of the bike that the hose runs to from the compressor? What does it do? Sorry, new to this. My other Goldwings where a 77 GL1000 and an 83 GL1100 Interstate, no air ride.

[MikeB]

I'm pretty sure it goes to the shock and the control valves.
This is the compressor.

I've never had to deal with it so I am not familar with all its parts.
This is probably what you are seeing in conjunction with the compresor and right air shock. It's the air distributor.

You really need to get a factory service manual. Anything else is really inadequate.

[OldbikerJames]

Pump wouldn't increase the shocks, now the pump wont even come on. Fuse looks good, I'm thinking maybe the relay. Might replace all the relays. It's a work in progress.

[Rambozo]

Did you check for voltage at the pump? It is a brush motor so it might just require a good cleaning. Also good idea to replace or bake out the desiccant in it, and replace the felt filter.