HONDA GL1000 1975/6 Called Merlin.

[Adamc]

ACTION POINTS GET STARTED

A. BAD IDLE
This is my starting point: engine to Temps, @1200rpm. Going to take some time so.........

Levels are all over the place!

B. Points & Timing
Removed points cover and cleaned points. Checked timing with strobe; OK.

C. Brakes
Drained front system, lots of air evident. Removed Calipers and Master Cylinder Cleaned and inspected all parts seem good.
Reinstalled complete system including old hoses. Refilled M/C and pumped through lots of new DOT4

Homemade bleed tool with one way valve made the job easy-peasy.
Solid front lever now, should be good to go.

Rear Brake.
Non existent pedal, just no resistance at all.
Opened rear M/C to find.........

Totally empty M/C! Not what I expected.
Inspected and cleaned system as above and reinstalled.
More DOT4 into the system and bleed as above.
Good solid pedal now. Leave overnight to check for any leakage.

D & E will have to wait for another day.
Ads.

 

[Raymond]

Was the bike supplied to you with no brake fluid in the rear m/c?

 

[Adamc]

Was the bike supplied to you with no brake fluid in the rear m/c?

I have to assume yes, No fluid in the rear M/C; or as it was bone dry maybe a leak is present?
I will check tomorrow. If so a M/C rebuild kit will be needed.

 

[Highpower]

I always assume that every bike I buy from a private party has been neglected in one way or the other and will need a complete inspection and service. So far I haven't been proven wrong.

Of course, I shop for bikes like the bottom feeder I am, so what I purchase is usually one step away from being a parts bike.

 

[Adamc]

MERLIN: Smoke and err.... Smoke

So today I'm having another go at syncing the carbs.
This was where I left it last time:

I fully warmed the bike up to temps and cracked off the adjustment lock nuts.
Carb No: 3 is the base line and has no adjustment. Carb No 1 needs to be balanced to Carb No: 3 first.
Carb 2 & 4 were easier. Then they balance to 1 & 3………
This was all tricky as the bike refuses to idle below 1200 - 1500rpm; and cuts out at lower revs.
After 45 minutes I got to this point:

Not too bad for a first attempt. And the bike runs much better.
Still refuses to idle below 1200rpm

Turn my attention to the indicator issue. I can hear the relay click once then the light stays on.
Buzzer has now stopped working. Disconnected flasher relay and cleaned contacts to no effect.
Pulled buzzer out and cleaned up but still not working. New parts needed me thinks.

Then I look towards the rear of the bike and see smoke rising from the main 30 amp fuse holder!

Looks pretty crusty, and someone has been here before looking at the dodgy top crimp.

All this needs sorting out.

Good news: No leaks from the rear brake M/C.

 

[gggGary]

Good time to check the three alternator wire connection block too.

 

[TX650A Van Islander]

Holy smokes that old girl is testing your patience
Congrats on getting closer to old bike perfection each time! Shocking about that rear MC. Hopefully no leak.

 

[Mailman]

Then I look towards the rear of the bike and see smoke rising from the main 30 amp fuse holder!

Yikes! That’s not good!

 

[Wordman]

I always assume that every bike I buy from a private party has been neglected in one way or the other and will need a complete inspection and service. So far I haven't been proven wrong.

Of course, I shop for bikes like the bottom feeder I am, so what I purchase is usually one step away from being a parts bike.

Right there with you. Whether motorcycle or car, cheap or expensive, I always assume a car will need a minimum of $1,500 in parts to get it road worthy, and assume a motorcycle will need somewhat less money thrown at it. There is always deferred maintenance. Always.

 

[Adamc]

Yesterday or was it Sunday......
I decided to look at the melting, smoking main fuse on Merlin.
I decided to cut out any old wiring, check the attached components and replace as required.

OLD STUFF:

Above main power lead to starter soleniod is chaffed through. Soleniod was just very dirty and cleaned up well then had some paint.

Old 30 amp fuse feels like putty and did not blow! Replaced with new temporary 20 amp fuse & holder.
Power lead was cleaned and recovered with better insulation. All accessible conectors were cleaned and refitted. Boys in works suggested replacing the Reg/Rec for a new one. Although it looks in good nik.

Merlin then started up after afew cranks and ran well; but still wont idle below 1200rpm.

More Anon.

 

[Highpower]

I popped the main fuse yesterday when I was leaving the house. I deemed it was too much of a pain to have to pull the side cover to replace the fuse it it were to happen again, so I replaced it with a automatic resetting 30A circuit breaker. The OEM fuse and holder was long gone and the one that had been installed lord knows how many years ago was looking a bit crusty. The circuit breaker was about the same price as a new fuse holder plus spare fuses.

I share your frustration with the carbs, which is why I switched to a single carb. The old wing is smooth as buttered glass with it's new carb set up, but the acceleration with the tiny Holley carb leaves something to be desired, so I have ordered a Weber 32/36 carburetor for it.

The Weber was suggested to me in a post on my thread on my '79 and in doing some research on it, I have become enamored by the thought of using one. They make more CFM, (which the Goldwing really needs) and they have a progressive throttle linkage. They come with the ability to use either a electric or manual choke and the throttle looks like it should be easy to adapt to use a cable(s).

The best part is that they are available here in the US for under $80 from Ebay with free shipping. I am sure it's not a "real" Weber, but if it works, I'll be quite pleased.

Edit: I just had a thought. If Merlin runs well otherwise, you might be able to lower the idle by adjusting the timing. Just a thought, but certainly easier than taking those hateful carbs off again.

 

[Jan_P]

Was talking to a man today 1992 Goldwing some exterior rust
been sitting outdoors a couple of years will be open for offers now or soon
It does run
High mileage 80 000 km
I would normally not be interested but being a 6 cylinder it can be more durable
Is it worth anything or is it scrap.

 

[Adamc]

Was talking to a man today 1992 Goldwing some exterior rust
been sitting outdoors a couple of years will be open for offers now or soon
It does run
High mileage 80 000 km
I would normally not be interested but being a 6 cylinder it can be more durable
Is it worth anything or is it scrap.

Hi Jan,
Lots of miles puts me off (but apparently they are capable).
Six cylinder engine is a velvet peach; always fancied the Valkerie version.
Rust and corrosion is you wallet eater if you restore it.
It would have to be really cheap to be of any interest; and be prepared to lose your trousers on it if you get any issues.

 

[Highpower]

80K kilometers is less than 50K miles and I can assure you that motor is just getting broken in. What would concern me, is the rust from sitting outside. Having very recent experience in bringing a Gold wing back from the dead, I can pretty much guarantee that you will find oodles of things that are seized up and/or are cosmetically totaled.

However, I am a glut for punishment and if the price was right (read cheap enough,) I would certainly be interested in it. Be aware though, that there are always going to be hidden costs with bringing any bike back to life after sitting outside that could easily exceed the value of the machine.

Ask me how I know......

 

[Adamc]

Yes, ask me how I know.

 

[gggGary]

This made me think of you Adam!

Saw and snapped at a local rally.
Later on the way home I went by it stopped roadside. Being on a "Harley" I HAD to go back to see if they were having trouble, and he laughed "forgot to turn on the petcock".
The only wing I've really aspired to own, is an early spoke wheel model.

 

[Adamc]

This made me think of you Adam!
View attachment 359270
Saw and snapped at a local rally.
Later on the way home I went by it stopped roadside. Being on a "Harley" I HAD to go back to see if they were having trouble, and he laughed "forgot to turn on the petcock".
The only wing I've really aspired to own, is an early spoke wheel model.

Lovely Gary just like mine.

 

[Grimly]

Was talking to a man today 1992 Goldwing some exterior rust
been sitting outdoors a couple of years will be open for offers now or soon
It does run
High mileage 80 000 km
I would normally not be interested but being a 6 cylinder it can be more durable
Is it worth anything or is it scrap.

80K km is nothing to one of them.
Be prepared to spend €1000 just getting any old snotter back into roadworthy condition, is a useful rule of thumb.
That's just the basics, not including any like for like restoration parts.

 

[Wagner73]

@Adamc , haven't heard anymore about Merlin lately, hope he's in the pink!

 

[Adamc]

@Adamc , haven't heard anymore about Merlin lately, hope he's in the pink!

Sadly no further progress on Merlin due to full time working and darkness decending so early through the UK Winter months.
LAst thing I did was replace the smoking main fuse. I still need to resolve the bikes refusal to idle below 1200rpm. Hopefully I can do something over the Christmas break. Together with investigating the Taffy tank leak with my newly aquired bore scope.