Thursday, March 29, 2012

Chopping a Honda GL1000 Goldwing #52

Today I tackled the problems with the last of getting the garage in order.
I had to weld a scrap piece of flat stock to the end of the oil filter bolt.
It was so rounded I just couldn't get it loose.

Once I had the bolt welded I let the heat from the bolt end seep into
the bolt at the filter area then just turned it out as if I had a wrench on it.


I may even be able to use the bolt again by cutting the flat stock off near
the old bolt head, and grinding it so I can get a wrench on it if necessary.

I moved the lift closer to the end of the storage garage, and put some
parts and a couple of engines on it.


I drained one of the engines that someone had taken bolts out of without draining, it was leaking oil since I put it on a cart.


Moving the frame to a shed and the engines and parts over and under the lift got them out of the way on the side where I have been working.


I could then move an engine under the lift along with a small motorcycle lift.


I am so sore I most likely won't be back for a few days.

Rigid Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber #51

I went to the Swap meet on Sunday, It was very small and
not much there but I did manage to get another solo seat
that is bigger than the one I have.
Not bad for $25.00

New Seat Below:


Old Seat Below:


I also saw the guy that I had bought 2 of the wings from last
summer and he gave me a beat up Clymer Manual for the
GL1000's that I can use in the garage.

Monday was spent picking up parts and some metal I needed.

Tuesday I went to the local DMV to transfer the plates to the
new Trike then back home I removed the back stand from the
1979 frame and got the chopper moved to give me more room
in the work bay.


Storage bay of the garage.


Today I spent the morning filling out paper work to get a handicap
license plate for the new Trike.
This has to be mailed to Albany to get the plate

This afternoon I have to go to the neurologist at the VA Clinic,
so far it's not getting much better but then again it's not much
worse either.

Thursday I will be back in the garage, and finishing up on moving
things around.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Hard tail Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber #50

I started out today to disassemble the 1979 good running GL1000, and I must say I am quite proud of myself.

I stripped the bike of all the minor things like controls, electronics, cables, mounts, etc.


I managed to break off one of the the bolts on the lower radiator hose outlet, I think the previous owner didn't own any metric tools because there were a lot of bolts with the heads stripped.

I couldn't get the oil filter bolt out because even locking pliers couldn't grip the worn head.

I drained the oil and antifreeze out as best as I could.
The engine had a dipstick connected via the oil drain plug, a really cool item but the washers that connect it to the bolt and to the engine are really worn.
They were leaking oil and now I have to figure out where to get more if I want to use it again.



I would like to use it if I can get new seals for it, they are hard plastic with a stepped section that goes into the tube part.


Any ideas on where to get them?

As you can see a screwdriver bite me when I was trying to remove something, now I don't even remember what.

With all of the frills removed the engine slid out very easily and now sits in the middle of the floor.



It will join the others in the storage bay until I need it, This engine ran so nice I think it is the one going into the chopper.
It also has a lot of chrome stuff like the valve covers, carburetor covers, and intake manifolds.

This bike also had rotor covers which I won't use and a fork brace that I think I will use.


Now the only thing left is to take the back stand off the frame and move it to the shed with the others.


Tomorrow is a swap meet for the Ontario county Abate organization, and I am going to that.

Brad from mid-State trikes will be there, I called him today and he said the trike is about 1/2 together and should be done next weekend.

I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Chopping a Honda GL1000 Goldwing #49

The "Bug" was tougher than I thought, and it came back after working two days, it lasted another week.

I am back in the garage finishing the cleaning and storing of parts in the upstairs of the garage.

I moved the good running 1979 bike over to the area where I can take it apart.


The 1975 that runs got moved to the other side of the garage for storage until I need it.


The lift area is now basically clear and I can bring the trike in there when I get it next week.


I am now working on taking the 1979 apart because it has a lot of parts I want for the chopper and I also need the room.



I hope to get moving on the chopping of the bike again, as soon as the 1979 is all apart.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Hard tail Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber #48

I wanted to let everyone know that I am still working in the garage.

The last two days I have been (with the help of a hired hand) putting all the parts from the dismantled Goldwings up in the attic of the garage.

This is to give me room to work and storage space for the new Trike when it comes in.

I also took apart the 1977 gl1000, the frame will go into the shed and the rest of the parts will go upstairs. The engine will stay in the garage with the others.

all of this gives me room to move the 1975 gl1000 that I got running over to the storage side of the garage and bring the first 1975 that I got running to the work shop side.

I am going to remove the parts from this bike to use on the frame that I am working on.
I may use the engine from it also, it has lots of chrome parts + the front end looks pretty good.

Next task is to disassemble the 1975 with the good engine.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Hard tail Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber #47

Being as I am stuck in the house again today ( a sunny 65 degrees in NY) I am going to give you a little insight into the rule, "measure twice cut once".

It seems that there was some time between making and mounting the left and right panels.
In that space of time I built the bottle cutter for my sister.
When I went to drill the holes for tapping, to mount the right side panel, I thought (or didn't think) that I still had the correct drill bits still on my welding table all set up.

Wrong - - after drilling the mounting holes I went to tap them and the tap went right through the holes.
I had changed the bit to a larger one for some other project.

So I had to drill them out for a 8mm tap and use 8mm bolts to hold the panel on.
The left side had 6mm bolts holding it on.

I then drilled the left side out for the 8mm tap and re-tapped the them, so both sides would be the same.

A lot of extra work.

To add a bit of experience to the rule I now say it as " measure twice cut & drill once".

Oh well another live and learn lesson.

Chopping a Honda GL1000 Goldwing #46

I am a little late with this owing to being sick with a stomach bug.

I finished the right panel for the bike Saturday, and Sunday drilled and tapped the holes for mounting it.
This panel required a little bending to get it to fit because the frame on the right is angled.

After clamping the panel I used a dead blow hammer and more clamps to get it to match the frame.

I then eyed the saddlebags sitting in the garage and decided to give them a preliminary fitting to see what they would look like.

Now I know the top is not straight on the bag and the bag is sitting about an inch lower in the frame unit, this is just for the idea of using the bags.


There is only one bolt holding them in place and I am going to weld new flat stock to the bag frames for mounting so I think they will be slightly lower and more to the rear.


What do you think, should I keep going with the bags or leave them off?

I kind of like them because I need someplace to carry my jacket and small stuff.

I think I am going to paint the panels satin black the same as the frame.
If I use the bags should I continue the satin black for everything, or paint the bags,rear fender, gas tank something else like an old school dark green.

I was for a while thinking of painting the whole bike, frame and all the blackest green I could find, how about that?

OR - - the frame black/green and the tank, fenders, and bags greenish Yellow.

I am open to all suggestions, what have you got?

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Rigid Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber #45

Sorry People, I got side tracked a few days with helping my sister build some shelves.

Note: If you are looking for shelves for the shop or garage don't buy "Edsal" Brand shelves Sold through Home Depot, Northern tool or anyone else.

Even though they are made in USA they are junk. The holes don't line up and the bends are so crooked that some of the bolt holes don't give you room enough to put a nut on the bolt.

She bought 2 sets of shelves and I took the best of the shelves and made one unit out of the two. Even then we needed two people to hold and clamp them with locking pliers to get the bolts through the holes. Remember that brand "Edsal" pronounced the same as the car.

Then she couldn't find a good bottle cutter to make wind chimes with, so I made her one from scratch, and that took me 4 days.

I got back to the bike yesterday and cut out the panel for the right side of the rear frame section.


Now I have to drill and tap the holes for the mounting of it.

I like the panel on the left side, I think I will paint it satin black like the frame.


I have a few more mounting brackets to put on the frame for the electronics.

I feel pretty good even after the work yesterday so I am going out to the garage again today.