2015 Maintenance

[DonP.]

Starting some maintenance items on my 2015 abs GL1800 this weekend. Got my care package from Wingstuff and ready to dive in. Oil, filter, plugs, diff fluid and magnetic drain plugs are no problem. This will be my first shot at the air filter change so that's my major concern.
I watched a few how to videos and have the Honda shop manual but I cringe when I hear the plastic "snap" sound when popping parts apart! I don't want to brake any pieces doing this. Is breakage an issue or am I just being paranoid?
Also as far as the YouTube videos go I have only found good ones on the GL1800 prior to the 2012-17 models. Found Steve Saunders 1st gen GL1800 video quite good and the written step by step post informative but are there any particular issues I should be aware of on my 2015? Is there a vid somewhere?

Thanks in advance, great site here!

[Rednaxs60]

When I had mine, taking the plastic off was a bit disconcerting at first, but if you are gentle not a worry. Make sure you flush the brake and clutch fluid as well, absorbs a lot of water over time. Take pictures of your work.

Good luck. Cheers

[AZgl1800]

I sat down with www.partzilla.com and ordered up every one of the little plastic snaps, special sized screws and sunken washers.... sorted into a plastic fishing lure box, and then I tacked the plastics.

IMO, it was money well spent, as when a stripped screw was found, I just found one the same size out of the box, and put in a new one.

also ordered up the little Fahnestock clips, those things strip in a hurry when folks get heavy handed.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I sat down with www.partzilla.com and ordered up every one of the little plastic snaps, special sized screws and sunken washers.... sorted into a plastic fishing lure box, and then I tacked the plastics.

IMO, it was money well spent, as when a stripped screw was found, I just found one the same size out of the box, and put in a new one.

also ordered up the little Fahnestock clips, those things strip in a hurry when folks get heavy handed.

That's a very good idea. Honda's "plastic design" is extremely reliable if the correct fasters are always used. As a unit, it has strength.

[Viking]

Be attentive with the plastic right and left trim strips that cover up the screws to remove the top shelter. It is really easy to break off one of the tabs, and they are not replaceable. Cold is the worst enemy of taking them off, but you should be okay in Florida.

[tfdeputydawg]

Just a suggestion, return the K&N filter and get the OEM.
The claims of better performance with a K&N do not ring true. Over priced and not as good a filter as the OEM!
HiFlo=less filtering!

[AZgl1800]

Just a suggestion, return the K&N filter and get the OEM.
The claims of better performance with a K&N do not ring true. Over priced and not as good a filter as the OEM!
HiFlo=less filtering!

I missed that one....
in every single test that I have seen, K&N comes in DEAD LAST for filtration efficiency.

e.g., they always let more dirt through to be captured on the "pure white" filtering media in the test machines....

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm

http://www.duramax-diesel.com/spicer/index.htm

I used to have a link to an ISO test with a professional machine that the factories use....
but it is dead now.

[GoldWingrGreg]

The OEM filters are best. Also, there is no need for a magnetic drain plug, unless you have an 01-05 Wing, you will never capture anything, and the only time I've seen a magnet catch something was when 1 ADG was failing on an 01-05. I've repaired several ADG well over 50 transmission. Failing transmissions and ADGs will put cast iron metal flakes floating thru the oil with owners thinking that their magnet will capture something ... wrong !!! If you do choose to have a magnetic drain plug, get the one used for the final drive. Also, the best oil, hands down, to use in a GL1800 is Honda's GN4. There are too many reported issue when other use something else. For a 2015 Honda wants GN4 10w-30.

[DonP.]

Well that was fun. Did the oil, oil filter, plugs and diff fluid change Saturday. Today took my time getting all the plastic parts off. I watched the video of the blue 2012 GL1800 by Joel Lund and the step by step check list from "another forum". Really only took about an hour to get to the filter itself.

Once I got it out and looked at it, it didn't look all that bad. Turned it over and shook a lot of bugs and dirt out. Also saw the metal screen on the intake side of the filter. First time I've seen that on a bike filter. At that point I saw 1 stud was missing it's cap. Where did it go? Checked the air box but not there... Pulled one the the other ones off and it appeared to a soft plastic and glued on. Could it have fallen off in use and ingested? Anyone ever seen that???
I know a lot off you prefer the OEM filter but at this point I'm putting in the K&N.

Took some pics of teardown for buildup and filter issue. As long as you have space to layout all the parts safely as they come off it isn't that bad of a do it yourself job. Just got to put it all back together now...

Thanks for all the input and advice.

[AZgl1800]

as for the K&N, it is your bike....

but I have thrown 3 of them in the trash, will not use one....
by the time you service that thing, a new OEM filter can be installed and good for another 50,000 miles or more.

My OEM filter at 75,000 miles was not really all that dirty... it could have been blown out, and reused.
but I had a new one on hand, so put that in.

[M61A1MECH]

I know lots of guys that take the screen on the back side off their old filter and fashion them into guards and fit them over the inlet horns to prevent mice and what not from getting in there and making a nest in the air filter.

I found the first time I did my air filter to be a great learning experience and confidence builder for the when I wanted to tear into the bike to add accessories and lights, I have had that top shelter off a dozen times now since that first filter change 4 years ago.


Good job.