1981 Honda GL 1100 Innerstate Gold Wing - Answered Questions & Fixed issues


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648d54b.gifWhen removing the pilot jet screw, count the number of turns to remove. Put the screw back the same number of turns then unscrew 1/4 turn.
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1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Apr 17, 2015 | 1,233 views


YOU NEED A SHOP MANUAL FOR THIS EITHER ONLINE OR YOU MAY FIND ONE EBAY.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Feb 21, 2015 | 165 views


All Goldwing facts http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Sep 12, 2016 | 305 views


Big ends on their way out perhaps.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jan 11, 2016 | 168 views


Have dealer check the main coil, probably a pick-up coil.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jul 26, 2014 | 49 views


If its been sitting you will need to pull the carbs and clean or replace the pilot jets, and clean everything else too. The pilot jets control idle fueling and are easily clogged.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jul 23, 2014 | 113 views


Most often idle problems are caused by clogged pilot jets in the carburetors. These control fuel flow at idle and have very, very small passages that easily clog with dry fuel residues if the bike sits long enough for the fuel to dry out in the carbs.
Another common issue on older machines are dry, cracked vacuum lines that affect fuel/air mixture.
I would start by checking all small rubber lines for cracking and splits at the ends, replace any hard or cracked lines with fresh vacuum line available at any auto parts store or bike dealership.If you still have idle issues, your carbs will need to be cleaned and any bad parts replaced, then synchronized when re-installed. This is a bit of a job on Gold Wings! Recommend a dealer or local Gold Wing specialist if you are not a skilled mechanic.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jul 22, 2014 | 68 views


The thermostat housing sits above the timing belt cover at the front of the engine right dead center. The housing extends rearward beneath the intake manifold and then crosses over from the mid point to each of the cylinder heads. The Thermostat itself is contained in the housing at the very front where the upper radiator hose drops down and attaches to the housing.

The thermostat cover is held on by two bolts, each one accessible from either side of the motorcycle if you remove the lower skirts to the main fairing.. Would recommend at least loosening the radiator to gain a little more access.

There is a large o-ring which must be replaced. Never reuse old flattened o-rings. This cover also contains the Thermostat switch for the Fan, also sealed with an o-ring. The Sending unit for the temperature gauge is on the is on the main housing again sealed with an o-ring. If yu have any issues with the fan not coming on when it should, or the temp gauge not indicating correctly, now would be the time to address those issues while you are in there.

You will need to drain the cooling system first. If the Anti-freeze has recently (less than 6 months ago) been drained and replaced then you can reuse it. otherwise, when you refill the system, always use fresh antifreeze mixed 50/50 with distilled water.

After refilling, run the bike, get it up to temprature, wait for the fan to com one, and then shut it off. Let it cool off, and then add more coolant as needed. Trapped air will have come to the top of the radiator. Top off and check the reservoir tank and fill it to the upper level indicated. Do not over fill.

Have fun !!

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jun 27, 2014 | 122 views


inline on positive wire or follow positive wire smaller one to a black box open box there is fuse

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Apr 26, 2014 | 141 views


Actually, that is pretty significant discrepancy. Even though it's a flat four and one of the smoothest engines for bikes ever made, that much of a difference IS going to be noticeable. Not only that, it's about 99% a fact that it will not get better, but worse over time.

Since the GL1100's use single over head cams, the valve adjustments are critical. Due to a valve seating a little too deeply into its seat in the combustion chamber the the valve to rocker arm clearence will be diminished, and possibly become non-existant, keeping the valve open just a hair all the time. SOLUTION: Get some new valve cover o-rings gaskets, remove the covers, and adjust all of the valve clearances. If you have a tight one, You'll find it.

You also may have a burnt exhaust valve or a bent valve, causing a bad seal between the valve and the seat, allowing air to slip past lowering that cylinder presure.

Other possibilities are a Blown head gasket (Not uncommon with high millage bikes). Broken piston rings, or excessive wear of the rigns cause ring end gaps to get too large letting to much blow by. Broken Rings or heavily worn rings will be evident by blue smoke in the exhaust from the oil getting by the rings. Blown head gasket can allow coolant to get into the cylinder, or into the oil, making the oil foamy and brown. In either of these three possibilities, the heads will have to be removed. And depending on your findings, a engine overhaul may be needed.

Before pulling the heads however, get a scope that goes in through the spark Plug hole to view the inside of the cylinder to look for scoring, piston damage, etc.

Best of luck

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Apr 10, 2014 | 123 views


First thing that comes to mind, check valve adjustment to see if adjustment is too tight, causing valve to not fully close.

Pour a teaspoon of oil through spark plug hole in head and run compression test again.
If it jumps up, the rings are bad.

Finally, a "Leak-Down Tester" will help you pin-point the problem:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cylinder-leak-down-tester-94190.html

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Mar 30, 2014 | 119 views


Sounds like you need to check your coils. Also make sure the plug wires are in the correct order.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on May 06, 2013 | 37 views


Assuming the starter chain has not broken your one way clutch inside the motor is slipping. On the back side flywheel is a one way clutch that grabs the starter gear when the starter motor spins. It is designed to let go of the gear once the motor fires up. If the mating surface of the one way clutch and the starter gear becomes rough or chattered, it will no longer grab and turn the motor over. To repair this you will have to take off the crankcase cover and pull off the fly wheel to replace the one way clutch and the starter gear. Unfortunately, if I am correct, you will have to remove the motor to replace parts #2 and 15.
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1981-honda-gl1100-gold-wing/o/m2329#sch33815

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Aug 24, 2011 | 253 views


Its an older bike will have some issues my take is to have the bike tuned and carbs cleaned/rebuilt and synchronized.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Aug 20, 2011 | 594 views


G,day. If only the L/H front cylinder is the problem & compression is good then the most likely possable causes of your problem are - A open circuit spark plug cap on that cylinder or a carburettor fault(blocked jet) on that cylinder(or carby balance setting).I would suggest testing the ignition coil secondary resistance.Do this by removing plug caps from cylinders 1 & 4. Set multimeter to kilo ohms(ohms x 1000) .One test lead to one plug cap- other test lead to other plug cap(do not allow probes to touch your fingers-touching both test probes whilst undertaking this test will give a false reading).reading should be 10 to 20kilo ohms.If open circuit-remove plug caps from leads( they unscrew)and test caps seperate. Should read 5 kilo ohms. Replace if open circuited(This is a common problem on all road bikes).If that sounds to difficult, any good motorcycle shop should be able to check them while you wait.It only takes a few seconds.Sorting the carbies without experience is very tricky.Have the carby balance & mixtures checked first in case its just an incorrect setting before pulling off & cleaning the carbies.
Hope this is helpfull
Regards Andrew Porrelli

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on May 11, 2011 | 167 views


I think there should be an overflow jug with a filler cap that is easier to get to than the radiator cap.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Apr 15, 2011 | 82 views


The starter spline plugs into a gear that attaches to the starter gear with a skinny chain. If you pull out the starter the small gear may drop into the bottom of the motor and hang by the chain. I have talked to customers that said they pulled the starter out and the gear stayed in place long enough to put it back in, BUT , if the small gear drops out of place you will have to pull the motor and remove the rear cover to put it back together correctly. It is worth a try to simply pull it out and see if you can put the new/rebuilt starter back in. Just be prepared to yank the motor if the sprocket falls out of place.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Apr 08, 2011 | 250 views


they normally have 1 or 2 bolts holding them to a mounting bracket and a plastic clip on wire connector.
disconnect the battery
remove and unplug the old regulator
mount and plug in the new regulator

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Mar 06, 2011 | 136 views


Hello,

There is a dip stick located on the right side of the engine about 4 inches to the front of the oil fill cap.

Make sure you are on level ground. Unscrew the dip stick and wipe it off. Replace the dip stick and then remove again. Check the oil level and replace. If you need to add oil, remove the filler cap and add oil 1 to 2 ounces at a time. Check the oil dip stick to ensure that your oil level is correct.

NOTE: warm up your bike before performing the above checks.

Regards,

Oz

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1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Jan 09, 2011 | 434 views


There is a small cap on the top left side of the motor . If you take it off you will see the timing marks. To line up the 1 T F mark you will have to rotate the motor. This is done by removing the tappet cover in the center of the magneto on the back left corner of the motor . To rotate the motor insert a 17mm socket on a short breaker bar and turn. If you reach between the radiator an d the engine with a 10 mm wrench you can remove the timing belt covers without draining and removing the radiator. Take off both covers and look at the cam gears each one has a dot that should line up with the arrow on the back cam cover outside most edge. When the Cam arrows and dots line up , and the 1 T F is lined up , then the engine is correctly timed (mechanically speaking). Now loosen the belt tensioners and remove the belts. Check that the tensioner bearings are in good order, if the bearings are bad, replace the tensioner assembly. Put on the new belts, tension them, and double check the timing marks. If the marks do not line up, loosen the tensioner and adjust the belt. Check all the marks before you move anything , rotate gently , and do not force anything or you will be pulling a head off to replace bent valves.

1981 Honda GL... | Answered on Dec 27, 2010 | 562 views

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