My recommendation for Honda GL1000 timing belts is simple: It you can’t verify their age – change them! Thereafter, my recommendation is to change them every 5 years or 25,000 miles…whichever comes sooner. Obviously, they should be inspected from time to time for any evidence of damage, oil contamination or deterioration which would warrant immediate replacement.
I find the factory recommended idle mixture screw setting specs to be very close to ideal. They are listed here for the Honda GL1000.
Idle FUEL Mixture Screw on Honda GL1000
I do usually richen them up an extra 1/8 to 1/4 turn (out) to compensate for the leaner modern “gasoline” which is diluted with ethanol in most US markets.
But sometimes, you just need an excuse to do some high performance tuning on your bike! 🙂
How many million mile motorcycles are there? Answer below. Read on!
Allan Zahrt with his Million Mile GL1000!
In the early seventies Honda launched without fanfare an ambitious project. Internally, Honda had a bold plan: to build the world’s best motorcycle. Not just the best Japanese motorcycle – the best motorcycle available anywhere in the world. Period! The eventual result of this project was revealed to the world at the Cologne, Germany International Motorcycle Show (INTERMOT) in October, 1974 as the GL1000.
Starter clutch overhaul is an easy, but rather time-consuming task. If you have a starter that won’t engage or disengage reliably, your starter clutch probably needs attention. “Howling” or “screeching” noises from the left, rear side of the engine are other symptoms pointing to starter clutch or starter sprocket issues that require overhaul.
Unfortunately the economics of engine rebuilding are very poor on these engines. Here’s some advice if you think you need a rebuild.
This Tech Tip is provided courtesy of Ray Proebstl of Munich, Bavaria, South Germany. Ray is a professional educator in the field of electronics. He is a long-time avid GoldWing enthusiast.
Here are the components of the GL1000 charging system.
Note from Randakk:
Randakk customer Hervey Boucher and his companion Martine are currently on a great journey from Quebec to South America on his 1976 Honda GL1000!
He has limited access to email and the Internet, but here are some interesting dispatches. Pictures at top …narrative at the bottom.
Like most battery/coil setups of this vintage, early GoldWings feature a “wasted spark” ignition design. This clever design was chosen by the engineers to save weight and space. Thus, only 2 coils are required to fire 4 spark plugs. All without a distributor as in most cars of this era.
This custom exhaust system is currently out of production. Contact – Hank Thibodeau for more details.
For my exclusive Master Carb Overhaul Kits and other items…click here
This Tech Tip is provided courtesy of John Evans of Glasgow, Scotland. John is known as “Old Fogey” on the Naked GoldWing Forum
If you have to renew your swing arm bearings, here is a simple and effective upgrade for you.
