GL1000 engine cold on left side

[Akastus]

Hey everybody!

I have a 1976 Honda GL1000. When started up, it runs really rough. After running for a bit, ill turn it off, and feel the exhaust to see if all the cylinders are firing. What ive discovered is that the left half of the engine is still cold, but the right side is warm. Both sides have compression, and cleaning the carbs didnt seem to change anything. Im starting to think its an electrical problem. anyone have any thoughts?

Also, the spark plug wires on the left side arent running off the same coil, so i know its not that

 

[cxman]

my guess is you have a plugged fuel gallery and the carbs on the one side are not getting fuel

 

[xb33bsa]

+1, very astute, maybe he should try the drain screws to verify that the carbs are dry ?

 

[cxman]

the problem with the drain screws is that water droplets collect in the bowls the screws are steel and protrude

in the bowl of the carb right into the water droplet and corrode when you open them they usually never reseal

i replace them with brass screws from sirrius sonic in canada

not to mention they are hard to get to

a better way might be to simply turn the kill switch off pull the choke all the way out

and crank the motor ten or twelve turns when the engine is cold

i bet when you pull the plugs from the hot side they are wet and the cold side dry

 

[Bert Jan]

If you assume its an electrical issue, take the plugs out and apply the starter. do you have spark?
My guess is also gas.

 

[cxman]

its not electrical a gl fires on diff coils

so if one side is hot on both then the coils are firing

coils go 1-4 2-3

cylinders go 2 1
4 3

 

[Bozz]

Your compression check would seem to remove a slipped timing belt, wiped cam or head gasket from the list of concerns.
As CXman pointed out the coil set up would indicate it's not a spark or ignition timing issue. (you could swap the wires in the coil ports for grins though to eliminate the wires and caps from the list if you like)

That leaves fuel.


There is a lot of good info on the GL1000 carbs (and 1100 as well).
I suggest Randaks and NGW club for starters.

 

[Akastus]

Been super busy the last few days but finally got a chance to tinker with the bike

It was some sort of fuel metering diaphram that was screwing up. I figured it was electrical because i cleaned the carbs, guess it helps to truely narrow down the issue. haha!

Thanks for all the input guys!