Randall Washington, aka "Randakk"
President and Chief Executive Rider
Chapel Hill, NC USA
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Return to main Tech Tips Index Honda GL1000 Carb Repair Kits ComparedYou might consider this item: Randakk's GL1000 Carb Rebuild Video Note: This Tech Tip was written in November, 2002 before I began offering my own proprietary carb overhaul kits. Randakk's Cycle Shakk now offers the most comprehensive, best-value GL1000 carb overhaul kits available from any source . For more details on Randakk's Master GL1000 Carb Overhaul kits: Click here Prices and sources may vary depending on when you read this. I get lots of questions about the best carb repair kits. Here's some information detailing what's in popular kits. The "best" kit will depend on what's actually needed for your particular overhaul. 1. If your carbs only need cleaning and new o-rings, and you don't need to split the carbs from the plenum and you don't need new jets or needles... a good option is PartsNMore. These kits contain: O-rings:
Gaskets:
Hardware:
Note: the float needle and seat assembly is an aftermarket unit and unreliable. Aftermarket float needle and seat assemblies DO NOT include the very important fuel inlet screens. You should examine and reuse the OEM Honda float needle, seat assembly and inlet screen if possible. Otherwise, go with new OEM Honda float valve assembly. Note: As mentioned, this kit includes the carb to plenum air O-ring but does not include the special carb to plenum fuel o-rings, so this kit alone is not sufficient if you intend to split the carbs from the plenum. Note: Does not include the special gasket to join the 2 halves of the plenum. This OEM item is available only from Honda (or Randakk). List Price..about $28..internet price from various sources is about $20. This kit is sourced from Tour Max, which is made by Keyster.
Price is $10/carb which is a fair bargain. Curiously, they also sell the aftermarket float needle and seat assembly separately for $8 each. You will also need:
2. Another option, if you decide you only need o-rings: is the Classic Wing Club: http://www.classicwingclub.org/ Sporatically available from their classified section:
I'm not sure what's in the small set, but the Large Set is the one you will need. It includes internal and external o-rings for 4 carbs. Also includes:
CWC Large O-ring Kit does NOT include:
Curiously, this kit also includes one extra O-ring which I believe is intended to be the "bumper" gasket which goes under the carb top. Not a seal per se (the carb top is self sealing), the OEM item is a flat plastic ring which limits the downward motion of the vacuum slide. Since, the OEM ring rarely wears out you should reuse the OEM item and toss this extra O-ring I'm not keen on this kit. The parts are fine. My problem is all the necessary items which are left out. Just one example, you would never want to reuse old float bowl gaskets. Buying this kit might temp you to make such a choice. 3. If you need a comprehensive kit, including o-rings, gaskets and jets... a good option is Sirius Consolidated. In the "Carb Kits" section they sell comprehensive kits (sourced from NAPCO and Keyster) which include: O-rings:
Gaskets:
Hardware:
Note: the float needle and seat assembly is an aftermarket unit and unreliable. Aftermarket float needle and seat assemblies DO NOT include the very important fuel inlet screens. You should examine and reuse the OEM Honda float needle, seat assembly and inlet screen if possible. Otherwise, go with new OEM Honda float valve assembly. Note: As mentioned, this kit includes the carb to plenum air O-ring but does not include the special carb to plenum fuel o-rings, so this kit alone is not sufficient if you intend to split the carbs from the plenum. In case you need to split the carbs from the plenum, this kit does not include the special gasket to join the 2 halves of the plenum. This OEM item is available only from Honda (or Randakk). List price for this special gasket is about $28..internet price from various sources is about $20. Also, does not include the special carb to plenum fuel o-rings (these are available in the Classic Wing Club "Large Set," the OEM Honda "Packing Set" or from Randakk's.) (For my exclusive Carb-to-Plenum special fuel o-rings ...Click here) Also, does not include the rubber passage plugs which cover the idle jet Caution: the NAPCO kits contain 3 jets which are identical except for the orifice size: idle air, primary air and secondary air jets. They are NOT stamped with the jet size on the jet as OEM jets are. These 3 jets come in individual plastic bags with labels indicating the jet size. It would be very easy to screw up the placement of these jets so be careful out there.
Retail price for the kits from Sirius is $15.00 / carb which is a very good value. However, in my experience, jets and jet needles rarely wear out, so you may not need them. Be sure you order the correct part # for your specific year. Sirius also has good prices on air cutoff valve kits. 4. Another comprehensive kit, including o-rings, gaskets and jets... another option is Cycle Re-Cycle II: http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/Index_Main_Frame.htm In the "Fuel System Parts" section they sell a comprehensive kit (sourced from K&L). K&L kits can be ordered from any motorcycle dealer. These include: O-rings:
Gaskets:
Hardware:
Other:
(In case you need to split the carbs from the plenum, this kit does not include the special gasket to join the 2 halves of the plenum. This OEM item is available only from Honda (or Randakk). List Price..about $28..internet price from various sources is about $20). Also, does not include the special carb to plenum fuel o-rings (these are available in the Classic Wing Club "Large Set," the OEM Honda "Packing Set" or from Randakk's.) (For my exclusive Carb-to-Plenum special fuel o-rings ...Click here)
Price is $26.95/carb. However, in my experience, jets and rarely wear out, so this is of questionable value. Also, the fuel bowl gasket is OK but it is not cut as precisely as OEM and other aftermarket gaskets. These K&L kits are also available from JC Whitney or any motorcycle dealer. Be sure you order the correct part # for your specific year. 5. OEM Honda "Packing Sets" are very comprehensive on the rubber parts, but contain no hardware... O-rings:
Gaskets:
Plus: CV carb slide top to carb body plastic "bumper" rings (only source I know of for this particular item…these rarely wear out though). Plus: this kit INCLUDES the special carb to plenum fuel O-ring . List Price..about $46/carb...Internet price from various sources is about $34/carb. Not a great deal really, unless you need the special carb to plenum fuel o-rings (If you split the carbs from the plenum, you will also need the special gasket to join the 2 halves of the plenum. This OEM item is available only from Honda (or Randakk). List Price..about $28..internet price from various sources is about $20). 6. If you need the float needle and seat assembly... The only way to go is OEM Honda. These are pricey, but easily last 25 years and 100,000 miles. Honda also includes the inlet fuel screen with their set (very important!). I don't know of another source for these screens. They are not available separately and not included with aftermarket sets. Also, aftermarket float valve and seat sets are notorious for leaking! List Price..about $21/carb...Internet price from various sources is about $15/carb. 7. If you just need individual o-rings, etc... the best option is Cycle Recycle II: http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/Index_Main_Frame.htm Go to the "Fuel System Parts" section ...look under the section with the complete GL1000 carb kits for a link to "More Special Carb Parts for Gold Wings": http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/gl_carb_parts.htm There you will find a good variety of o-rings, gaskets, passage plugs, fuel bowl screws, etc. priced individually. Have you lost a small part during a carb overhaul? Need just one O-ring or jet and don't want to buy another complete rebuild "kit?" If so, I may be able to help. I have an extensive supply of individual carb parts for the '75-77 GL1000 (+ some parts for later GL1000s)... Click here (For my exclusive Carb-to-Plenum special fuel o-rings ...Click here) Return to main Tech Tips Index Intellectual Property Notice: All material appearing in this website is the property of Randall Washington, and is protected under United States and international copyright laws. The photographs, text and other content may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, stored, or manipulated in any manner without the express written permission of Randall Washington. For more information on the use of material from this website, click here |
