'75 GL1000 - "Pete"

Pulled the left head today. There was just a bit of "mud" in the #4 cylinder, which wiped right out leaving nice looking walls. Turned the head valve side up and filled the areas with isopropyl alcohol - surprisingly, there was no leakage! So, cleaning and reassembly (once gaskets come in next week) will be all that is required. Might replace seals on this side, but will NOT be lapping the seats. There is a very thin coating of Stellite on GL1000 seats, and lapping might take it off causing rapid wear.
 
Spent over five hours today getting the head gasket cement off of the head and block. They even used whatever they used on the head gasket on the water elbow gasket. Stuff reminded me of a sealer that we were forbidden to use on steam flanges in the Navy called Copaltite. Along with being and atmosphere contaminant until cured, about the only way to remove it from a steam flange was to cut the flanges off and weld on new ones. So anyway, the head is ready for gasket and re-installation. I'll use the copper spray coating on the head gasket. Gaskets and dowels (one was buggered getting it out) are due mid-week.
 
Well, I have the new head gasket in hand. And ONE of the idler bearings. I had ordered two at the same time from Amazon, but one came USPS today and the other is setting ~10 miles away at the UPS hub. Bother. Anyway, re-tapped the block, ran the bolts over the wire wheel in the drill press. The idlers are mounted on 10mm x 25mm bolts that I turned the heads on to fit through the holes in the arms with ~2mm flange on the backs. Same as I did on the Hunley. Mounting the idlers using nyloc nuts. The new belts are just looped on right now, until after I get the left head mounted and take the crank back to TDC on #1.

Although the other idler gets in Monday, I doubt there will be any progress next week. Doctor's appointments and jury duty will keep me occupied.
 
The engine is assembled and setting up-side down on a dolly, rolled under the workbench. Other things boxed up. Looks like I'll need prostate surgery in May, then might as well get the AC joint strung together in July. That will pretty much lay me up until Fall at least.
 
pidjones said:
The engine is assembled and setting up-side down on a dolly, rolled under the workbench. Other things boxed up. Looks like I'll need prostate surgery in May, then might as well get the AC joint strung together in July. That will pretty much lay me up until Fall at least.
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Best of luck w/ everything. I can really identify w/ all that; I've got another cornea transplant needed sometime, a shoulder replacement that I keep putting off, probable vascular bypass surgeries behind the knees, and dental surgery that I'm just trying to ignore. Think I'll tell 'em to jack up my beard and replace the rest and be done w/ it all. (Sorry, didn't mean to thread-jack, your post just reminded me that all of us are gettin' older.)
 
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Both surgeries done. Will probably be this time next year doing rehab on both. Hope to resume light work (electrical harnesses, etc.) Early 2025. The shoulder (yesterday) requires you to be very careful to avoid set-back while still making progress in rehab.
 
I’ve heard shoulder surgeries are very sensitive for healing properly.,.best of luck and I’m looking forward to seeing the work on this. I got another Goldwing project so I’ll need your motivation lol.
 
Thanks, folks! Think I'm past most of the worst pain (except 3 days a week PT torture). Working on healing and range of motion for the first few months. In the garage, working on cleaning up the wiring harness.
 
cbrianroll said:
Good to see you are up and about.
Question, where do you get your engine parts?
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Accumulated over a decade, some from ebay, many vendors still selling (4into1, partsnmore). Pete is pretty complete, and I've already done the carbs. Pistons, rings, internal bearings are fairly unobtainium. Luckily, I've never needed to split a case on a GL1000 (except a junker that I knew was trashed).
 
I saw that 4into1 has gaskets and rings…didn’t dig to deep though, though I would ask the pros first lol. Pretty sure someone pulled the head on one motor as oil leaks out….
It sounds like the internals are pretty solid then on these then….thats a relief lol
 
cbrianroll look at NGWclub.com there is a huge parts reference list for Gl1000-GL1100-GL1200 on there. And If you do head gaskets go Honda OEM if you can as the aftermarket do not last apparently. All other gaskets can be Athena or other.
 
Yeah, head gaskets are pretty common replacements. I suggest filling the coolant system on an unknown with just water first. I've had a couple just pour out due to bad gaskets. An easy fix and I didn't loose all of that anti freeze.
 
Back at it! July 3rd the prostate was pulled. September 4th the AC joint was drilled and tied up. Been doing PT since. Today, ortho said I am free to lift carefully and work on the bike. Today, both the speedo and tach faces were renewed, plus the speedo lube thinned out for it to start working. Will need a bit more work on the handlebar switch wiring, but it is getting there. Of course, weather will preclude cleaning and painting the frame for months, but there is so much wiring to clean up and check out. Sure hope I can find everything again!
 
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