"Randall
- I bought your video & carb kits, used original exhaust, alternator
rotor & stator, use front brake master cylinder, used gas tank,
and misc other parts that dis-appear from a dis-assembled machine
that was apart 4 years. But I couldn't make myself buy these
Randakk Amazing Grips until I knew it would run, even though
the throttle grip was missing. Weird huh? Previously, I had
replaced everything ignition related with Dyna pickups and coils,
repainted all the fairings and covers, new tires & brakes and
had the carbs apart about 300 times. Previously, it got only
22 mpg and the plugs would last only 3 weeks. I bought a new
seat and windshield and radio, and couldn't make it run right.
I have been a professional mechanic since 1970. I was completely
beaten into submission until one night I wrote " Honda goldwing
carburetion expert" into a search engine and found you and your
website. I boiled the carbs in distilled water, watched the
video not once, but twice, referred to it often, re-assembled
the engine and carbs and flushed the fuel pump. Then I primed
the carbs with 180cc of clean fuel, pulled the choke, cracked
the throttle, and you know what happened....just like in the
video, it fired up immediately! I have followed your advise
on draining the oil, and drove it about 50 miles last Saturday.
I had given up on ever riding this bike again and I wouldn't
have succeded this time without your expertise and willingness
to share your knowledge with others. I have a new seat in the
works, and will be purchasing your fuel pump in the future.
It has been very good communicating with you, maybe we will
meet someday and thanks again."
Gary
Broom - Crete, IL
"Randall,
I am once again very impressed. I got the fuel pump today. Perfect
packing, great instructions, incredibly fast delivery. Wow!
Thank you so much for your recommendation on the VDO gauge.
I am on my way to order it now. Rest assured that I will be
buying more from you. I wish you all the best."
Nicolas
Pajot - Montreal, Canada
"Hi
Randall: I spent the winter working on it... total carb rebuild
with your GL1100 Master Carb Kit + clutch and also valve cleanup
etc. Your kit worked just great, no unnecessary parts and the
tips plus the manual from Howard Halasaz made the rebuild flawless.
It runs a bit like a raped ape now. Thanks again."
Tom
LeFevre - Kalama, WA
"Dear
Randakk, two big thanks, one for the delivery of your kit and
video which I received no probs and another for your easy to
follow overhaul procedure. I have now completed a full timing
and carb overhaul and when I pressed the starter it fired into
life strait away. I think the wife was quite impressed (although
she didn't say so). Just waiting for some decent weather now,
could be a long one. Once again many thanks and keep up the
good work on an excellent site. Best Regards, Brian."
Brian
Wilson - Darlington, Durham - United Kingdom
"Hi
Randall, Just wanted to let you know the fuel pump project has
had very happy results. Starts, idles, and runs much better
now. Nice to see a product perform as promised. Thanks. And
thanks for sharing all the useful info on your website, too.
Yours is one of the best websites I've had the pleasure of exploring.
I have learned a great deal more about early Goldwings from
it. All of the above makes riding my '78 even more enjoyable
than it was when we got together 4 years ago."
Dale
Kress - Shady Cove, OR
"Randakk,
I wanted you to know after watching your GL1000 Carb Rebuild
DVD several times, I did the carb rebuild on my GL1000 and just
got them reinstalled. Took a test run and it runs flawlessly,
i couldnt be more pleased with the result. The quality of your
DVD was great, very professional, there is no way I could have
tackled this job without all your tips. Love your website also,
have used it many times for info. Thank you."
Aaron
Sandaker - Longview, WA
"Hi
Randall, I just wanted to let you know my 1200 carburetor project
went extremely well. The difference is amazing. My air cutoff
valve was definitely leaking and creating a need for prolonged
choking. I really appreciate the fact that your GL1200
Master Carb Kit had all necessary o-rings in one comprehensive
package. Just got the carbs synched this morning and took it
for a spin. Wow! I have a whole new appreciation for this bike.
Again, the bike runs fantastic. Thanks, and I will be spreading
the word about you here in Washington state."
Dan
Holiday - Marysville, WA
"Hi
Randall, Just wanted to let you know I've installed your CX
Master Carb Kit on the 650 Silverwing (Version C). Everything
went off without a hitch. The bike is running great. Like you
said in your ad, the kit contains everything you need. Combined
with the instruction booklet by Mike Nixon it was pretty much
foolproof. Thanks again for the great product."
Rick
Saulnier - Memramcook, New Brunswick, Canada
"I
received your package a couple of days ago and I have installed
the new CX500 Master Carb Kit. My Honda now purrs like a contented
cat. Thanks!"
Huey
Campbell - Seymour, IN
"Just
thought I would send a couple of pics of my carbs that I rebuilt
with your GL1100 Master Carb Kit. Howard Halasz' GL1100
Carb Rebuild Booklet was also tremendously helpful.
I think they turned out pretty good. Thanks a bunch!"
Steve
Spencer - Virginia Beach, VA
"Randall,
I just wanted to let you know that I finished up the CX500 carbs
last weekend. I've been enjoying the bike ever since. Your kit
along with Mike's booklet really made this a satisfying and
successful project. I've never rebuilt carbs before but now
I have the confidence to try the GL1000 set this winter. If
your video is as comprehensive as Mike's book I don't expect
to have any problems. Thanks again for your patience and help.
I've posted props to you on the Nebraskamotorcycleriders Yahoo
group."
Tim
Schallehn - Omaha, NE
"Hi
Randall, After fitting all new seals from your GL1000
Combo Carb Rebuild Kit and following your "off idle"
fix method, the bike started up nice! Very good quality on all
rubber parts compared with the "other kits" I've tried earlier.
Then disaster struck...fuel flowed out down to the exhaust pipes..fuel
pump leakage! I orded new pump imported from Crecent
Moon (great support!). Fitted the new pump and syncronized
the carbs. Now the bike is running fine again since stored in
my garage in 1987! Thank you for all advice through your homepage
and your epic DVD!"
Per
Arne Fransson - Linkoping, Sweden
"I
just got back from my test ride on my 1978 GL 1000. I used your
video and kit to rebuild the carbs. She ran like a top. A few
years back I had a mechanic rebuild the carbs because I had
let it sit too long. It never ran well after that. I kind of
lost interest. My brother just bought a bike and I thought it's
time to get the old GoldWing going again. I found you on the
internet and thought I'd rebuild the carbs myself. I watched
your video and just followed instructions. Heck I had a blast.
I found out the guy that rebuilt the carbs before put in the
wrong jets. I ordered the right jets and finished up today.
When I fired it up I felt like a new man. She's running as good
as she did when I bought her back in 78. Thanks for the help."
Randy
Prahl - Henryetta, OK
"I
just finished installing the Nissin
Master Cylinder purchased in September from Randakk's
Cycle Shakk for my "new" '79 Honda GL1000. I also found a good
set of used front calipers on EBAY (the pistons in the original
calipers were completely frozen and the pads were just about
locked onto the disks). What a great system it is now and, as
you earlier wrote, the Nissin Master Cylinder with resized piston
compared to the OEM Honda unit permits two fingered braking.
It is VERY smooth and effective. So I am grateful for your recommendations
that make GoldWing motorcycling a safe pleasure. Thanks a lot!"
Frederick
Sweet - St. Louis, MO
"Thanks,
I got the kit Wednesday afternoon. Worked on the carbs a little
each night, then installed the rack this morning. I adjusted
the idlel mixture screws, checked the sync... everything is
great. Thanks for putting out such a great kit. I can't seem
to get rid of the silly grin on my face though!"
Steven
Cain - Pensacola, FL
"Randakk,
Just a short note this time. I received my set of Randakk's
Amazing Grips just
before leaving on a 3,000 mile road trip. I stuffed my old grips
in my saddlebag just in case your grips didn't work out. The
old ones went into a trash can at my first fuel stop. Your grips
are GREAT ! Thanks for making them available."
Richard
Leask - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
"Randall,
Wow! I was quite surprised to receive my gasket today. That
was fast! I want to thank you for the efforts you've made to
share your wisdom concerning older Goldwings. I don't know how
many times I've referred to your website instead of my manuals
to sort out problems on Wings I've worked on for the past two
years. Isn't the internet great in this regard?! Thanks Again."
James
Fergerson - Lubbock, TX
"Thank
you for offering a carb kit for my bike (CX Master Carb Kit
-VERSION B). I found all the parts fit perfectly. Every thing
went very well considering this was my first carb overhaul.
The Honda Service Manual was very helpful. Parts for older bikes
are getting hard to find and expensive, I'm glad to find people
like you. Thanks Again."
Michael
Hoffman - Baldwin, GA
"Hi
Randall,I received the carb kit today. Thank you for the prompt
shipping. My 1981 GL500 that sat on its centre stand for the
last 17 years is now running great.Thanks again."
Brian Stevens - Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
"Just
a note to let you know that I received the rebuild kit, etc,
today- that was fast! My first rebuild (a '75 'wing) went smoothly,
without a hitch, thanks to your superb quality parts, all those
detailed and easily understandable steps on the DVD, and of
course all the great info on your website. Now I can't control
the addiction! This next one (a '78) will be my second rebuild,
(other than the odd auto carb job) and I feel imminently more
confident this time around. That old '75 I rescued from the
junkyard just sat around the garage for 10 years, patiently
waiting for that moment when I found the support I needed at
Naked
GoldWings, Randakk's, and other great sites. Now I have
the opportunity to bring another one back to life. Once again,
thanks for all you (and Octane et al @ Naked GoldWings do to
keep guys like me riding the bikes we love so much. Best regards."
Michael Hawkins - Smithville, TN
"If
you've never rebuilt a GL1000 carb, and if you're even thinking
about tearing into your GL1000 carbs, don't - at least until
you've watched Randakk's carb video. I sat down and watched
this DVD last night with my brother (he purchased it when he
purchased his carb kits). Even though I've rebuilt the GL1000
carbs, he has obviously done it a billion (and one) times, and
I gained useful information from it.For someone who's not rebuilt
carbs before, he makes it so easy to understand, that (IMO)
anyone who has a basic set of tools could do it. Good video,
Randall!!"
Rob
Poe - Kansas City, MO
"Randall,
Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I received
the set of 'Randakk's Amazing Grips' I ordered. They have so
much 'grip' they didn't want to come out of the plastic bag
they were packed in! I installed them on my bike and they are
great, I definitely got what I wanted and the road feel and
vibration characteristics are spot on. Thanks, keep doing what
you do so well."
Les
Denman - Ramseur, NC
"Quick
e-mail to let you know that I got your Randakk's Amazing Grips
and the GL1000 Carb Overhaul Master Kit. Wanted to say a big
'thank you' to you for: a) quality of the products b) speed
of delivery and quality of packaging c) your overall professionalism.
I will be ordering more from you in the near future. Long live
the GL1000! Best regards."
Nicolas
Pajot - Montreal, Canada
"Thank
you for the quick response on the electric fuel pump and carb
video. The order was received in good condition. The pump is
on the bike and working. The instructions made it so simple.
The DVD on rebuilding the carbies is excellent and easy to understand.
I now have a good reference that has given me the confidence
to 'have a go' by myself. Again many thanks mate. Keep up the
good work."
Rocky
Galin - Lesmurdie, Western Australia
"I
put the GL1100 Master Kit in a 1982 GL1100 set of carbs that
were in the Honda recall group. They didn't work well. After
a thousand miles I re-installed your kit into a later version
of GL1100 carbs. Following your advice and your cautions, my
bike now runs better than it ever has. I've bought the bike
when it had fewer than 5k miles. It now has 37k. (in 5 years).
I'll do it again on the next kit overhaul. Thanks for the excellent
parts and advice on the net. Very satisfied."
Bob
Adams - Twin Falls, ID
"Randall,
I want to say thank you. A few months ago I purchased your GL1000
Master Carb Kit and your GL1000 Carb Rebuild Video
and I am very satisfied with the purchase. The information is
invaluable and cannot be found anywhere else. All of the parts
in the kit fit perfectly and there were no extras. My '76 wing
now runs like a top. It ran OK before but now it's like a new
bike. My fuel mileage went from 30 to 40 mpg with great throttle
response. Attached is a picture of my third place entry in a
local bike show. Mine was the only 'Wing in the show. I lost
to a 1973 Kawasaki 900 with 4950 miles that looked like it just
came off the showroom and to my friend's 1973 CB500 four with
24,500 miles that is almost showroom perfect." See Todd's
bike here
Todd Olmstead - Overland Park, KS
"I
recently got your handlebar grips
and am very happy with them. It cracked-me-up on your site it
said: 'if you are a foam & chrome lover, these are NOT for you'
That's all it took...when I bought my '77 it was a full-dress
Harley wanna-be, I managed to bring her back to original condition
but had never bothered to get rid of the 'foam & chrome' grips,
I'm glad to report that your Italian grips are a real improvement.
Keep up the good work."
Dan
Murdock - Healdsburg, CA
"Your
CX Variants Float Bowl Gaskets are excellent Mr. Washington.
My, new to me, 1983 CX650 Custom has had a slow gas leak for
sometime now and I was not in the mood to pay a fix-it shop
the rather large repair bill. So needless to say I completed
it myself and the carb has taken on a new life, no more leaks.
Thanks."
Bryn
Villers - Port Orchard, WA
"Randall
- If you sold the GL1000 Carb Rebuild Video for the price that
you charge for the complete GL1000 Master Kit alone it would
still be a great value. I would have screwed up so bad if I
hadn't watched the DVD first. Thanks for all of your help -
my GL1000 is running like it hasn't run in a long time!!!"
Mike
Wolf - Vernal, UT
"Just
dropping you a line to say thank you. Your CBX Master
Kit worked really great. I used everything except the
cross-carb o-rings connecting the carbs. Many Thanks. Road tested
yesterday...it's a great kit!"
Warren
Rumble - Logan Lake, British Columbia, Canada
"Randall,
I just wanted to let you know that I had a great experience
with one of your Approved
Carb Rebuilders. Pete Boody rebuilt a
set of carbs from a 1981 GL 1100. I had bought the bike a year
ago and had already spent a considerable amount of time and
money trying to get it running right. I had posted on the Naked
GoldWing Forum and had been to your website where, finally,
I contacted Pete. I live in Middle Tennesse so Pete allowed
me to bring the carbs to him in Oliver Springs. We communicated
through email, and he kept me informed throughout the process.
The carbs were rebuilt, shipped, and received by me in less
than a week. A friend (who I also met through Naked GoldWing)
and I put them on the bike the next day, last Friday. Saturday
morning I rode to Lexington, KY and rode over 500 miles by Sunday
afternoon. The Wing ran better than I could have expected: smooth,
powerful, and efficient. Pistol Pete did a helluva job!"
Chuck
Breidert - Gainesboro, TN
"Hi
Randakk, The grips are a really nice upgrade to the foam that
the bike came with. This small change has helped transform the
bike. Thanks!"
Pete
Sylvester - Providence, RI
"Hey
Randall, I wish to thank you for a quick delivery. I got the
parts in time for my first trip on my bike of the year. Everything
was in order and the bike went like clockwork. Thanks and regards."
Geir
Helle - Arendal, Eydehavn, Norway
"Randall:
Thanks for shipping so fast!! I used your tips when I bought
my GL1000 kit from you and had good success, glad you have carb
kits for the 1100 now as well. Have a good week"
Darrell
Zachman - Hays, KS
"Randall
I've been meaning to send you a short note. Attached is a picture
of my '75 GL1000 that I rebuilt the carbs on. They work great
by the way. Your video and kit were excellent. I've recommended
you to a number of other Wing owners. Spring is finally in full
swing here as you can see from the green in the pic. Thanks
again."
Jeff
Fleming - Amherstview, Ontario, Canada
"Just
wanted to let you know the upgrade to the front brake master
cylinder went perfectly and I am completely satisfied with the
unit's performance. Installation was easy and straight forward.
In addition, I installed stainless steel braided brake lines
to the front brakes. The overall braking performance on my '79
Goldwing is greatly improved. Thanks for being such an authority
on these bikes, it really helps folks like me look so dang smart!!!!"
Chuck
Voncannon - Houston, TX
"I
have now watched your GL1000 Carb Rebuild DVD multiple times,
rebuilt the carbs on my 1977 GL and replaced the manual fuel
pumps on both the '75 and '77 with your electric fuel pump conversion
kit. What a difference! Thanks for everything. I hope you keep
expanding and consider making a DVD incorporating all your tech
tips and any other knowledge you care to share. I am saving
the original parts of course. I bought the Gates timing belts
and the radiator hose you recommended where one hose makes both
sections needed. Previously had paid $31 for a lower radiator
hose. The new ones were $12 which means each hose now only costs
$6, quite a savings!"
Gary
Hurst - Abingdon, MD
"Randall.
I’ve long been a fan of the GL1000, and finally bought a well
used yellow gal in November 2005. Being well familiar with your
website I followed your recommendations for starting a wing
after a long lay-up, and it was advice well taken. Initially,
I was not going to rebuild the carbs, but thought better of
it and purchased your GL1000 Master Carb Rebuild kit. It was
everything that it is claimed to be. I could not get the carbs
to sync properly at first, and thanks to your ‘Top Carb Rebuilding
Mistakes’ Tech Tip, found that I had replaced a washer on the
wrong side of the synchro link. I also followed your tuning
tips and techniques, and for a bike with 85k miles, and rather
poor compression, it idles and runs really well."
Vince
Leighty - Wayne, NE
"Hello
Randall. I finally got around to installing the Master Carb
Kit for my 76 LTD. It sure is nice to be able to put something
together and have every thing fit the way it's supposed to.The
best part is that it runs quite well. As soon as I tweek it
a little more with the synchronizer, it;ll run even better.Thanks
for sending me your latest TECH update as well as the updates
on your Rally. Always vey interesting and very informative."
Chris
Mickleborough - Regina, SK Canada
"Hi,Randakk.
I bought the GL1000 Master Carb Rebuild Kit and Carb Rebuild
DVD combo from you. I wanted to tell you how great of a job
you did in your video explaining the process of rebuild. I did
the rebuild and it runs great.THANK YOU!"
Randy
Gessert - Mishicot, WI
"Randall
- Your carb rebuilding video is likely the best money I've ever
spent. Better than Spartacus!"
Randy
Linamen - Manassas, VA
"Outstanding
service! I received the GL1000 plenum gasket (GLPG01) today.
Not only are you extremely efficient and resourceful, but you
have the most informative website on the planet. You are truly
the master of the Goldwing. I’ve been helping a friend with
his ’79 GL1000 and the locals are complete idiots. Even the
dealers don’t want to help. He needs his bike to be dependable
and your website is unbelievable. We installed the gasket last
night and it works perfectly. Thanks for all your help. We will
be getting more stuff from you ONLY. I’ll recommend you to any
biker I know."
John
Holderman - San Antonio, TX
"Hi
Randall, I got a kick out of you're email the other day….70's
and riding season is here ?.....hehe….well, in Minneapolis we
have a little longer to wait….about 30 degrees here and this
AM, we're shoveling out after 12" snow over night. The good
thing is, the bike wasn't done yet. Just wanted to let you know
- I'm a happy camper after following the Randakk Carburator
rebuild philisophy. I had done the rebuild in Jan (thanks for
posting the before/after pictures). And then had to deal with
some rust in my gas tank. It wasn't bad….but after lookin' at
those pretty carbs sitting on the bench….I just couldn't do
that do them. So - after much research, I ended up going to
a place here that sand blasts, coats and bakes the inside. After
replacing all fuel hoses, new filter, flushing the fuel pump,
rebuilding the petcock(by the way - the instructions for rebuilding
a'78 worked out great)…..I was confident that my shiny carbs
would only see clean fuel. Reinstalled the carbs this am, per
the DVD…..started her up….and oh man….she popped right off and
ran very nicely. Let her warm up…and she purred like a kitten.
I still will synch the carbs - but as a rookie weekend mechanic
I was just so excited to hear her run so nicely. By the way
- my 70 year old cousin also recently rebuilt his carbs using
your Master Kit - he called me yesterday and was like a kid….his
bike hasn't run this great in years….(and he had a mechanic
rebuild his carbs two years ago!)….. Anyway - again - thank
you for what you do….hope the business continues to do well.
We will continue to support, as we have appreciated all the
support/info you have provided. From a couple of guys, with
a couple of '78 GL1000's in Minnesota…. It can stop snowing
anytime…... We thank you Randall"
Dave
Casey - Brooklyn Park, MN
"Randall
- THANKS!! Because of the emphasis on safety in your DVD, I
dug out my face shield to use while cleaning my carbs. Yesterday,
I got what would have been a real face full of carb cleaner.
I'd probably be blind had I not had the shield on. Instead,
I simply cleaned of the shield and went back to work. I started
my working life at the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, TN. There was
a strong emphasis on safety there. You could be fired for not
wearing your safety glasses. My safety glasses have saved my
eye(s) on several occasions. Stupidly, I've grown careless over
the ensuing years. I was wearing the face shield only because
of the reminder you gave me via your DVD. Thanks again."
Ron
Sergeant - Lewisburg, TN
"Good
morning. Well I just wanted to let you know how my carb rebuild
went……WOW!!! The bike is running better than it has in years.
I could not believe how sweet it tweaked right up. I got horsepower
I had forgot about for some time. It starts and idles wonderfully.
In addition to rebuilding the carbs, I also installed the electronic
fuel pump you offer on your website. The installation was absolutely
flawless and the instructions you ship with it are excellent.
What more can I say...I got a wonderful running '79 GL1000 and
a smile on my face. I really appreciate the buisness you operate.
Thanks so much for all of the Tech Tips you pass on to
all of us as well. Have a great week, I know I am!!!"
Chuck
Voncannon - Houston, TX
"Hello
Randakk. Just wanted to let ya know - how pleased I was with
my Complete Master Carb Overhaul Kit for GL1000. It did the
trick for my ongoing problem of poor fuel mileage and a misfire
in cyl. #1. I had rebuilt the carbs a couple of years ago with
aftermarket kits from a discount catalogue and this proved to
be a waste of time and money. Followed your advise and helpful
tips and Wow what a difference! She runs like the Wing I remember.
Thanks again for keeping the Legend On The Road. By the way
my Wing is the Bike Of The Month at the Naked Wings site. Thanks
again for your services and dedication."
Steve
Linn - Enid, OK
"Morning
Randall, I do really want to thank you for the info you put
on your website, and the effort put into creating the DVD. The
info has been invaluable. And for a rookie like me….this first
time carb rebuild, though somewhat intimidating at first, overall,
went very smoothly. It has given me confidence to continue with
other projects on the bike. Its one thing to learn from a manual
and look at fuzzy black and white photos. Your DVD, added a
whole new dimension to learning process for me. Being able to
watch someone perform the tasks in living color, with expert
advice included....made the whole project more approachable"
Dave
Casey - Brooklyn Park, MN
"Randall,
I just wanted to give you some feedback on the GL1000 Carb
Rebuilding DVD you offer. It is the best money I have ever
spent!!! I am preparing to rebuild my 1979 GL1000 carbs and
I am so very glad I did the smartest thing I have ever done
in my life by purchasing that DVD. I was truly concerned about
doing this effort on my own until I reviewed your DVD. I now
literally have a step-by-step guide that provides all the information
I need to get this done right. Thanks so much for making the
DVD and thank goodness for your website and Master Kits.
Please keep up the good work...oh and you can never retire!…LOL.
I will also be installing the electric fuel pump I purchased
from your business as a part of the carb refurb project as well.
I am really excited about doing this now."
Chuck
VonCannon - Houston, TX
"Thanks
for your great products and the extremely helpful information
on your website. Using your Master Carb Overhaul Kit and your
Tech Tips, I've finally about got my '76 GL dialed in. It idles
and runs better than it has in many years. Thanks again."
Todd
Brasher - Chelsea, AL
"I
just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the accurate information
you have posted. I recently purchased aftermarket carb kits
for my son's GL1000 and rebuilt them and set them up by the
"book". It is unfortunate that the book I used was one you mentioned
(Clymer's) that had 2 errors in it. I spent several hours rebuilding
the carbs and imagine my dismay when I started the bike and
it ran rich then began to flow fuel into the manifold. I knew
I had set the carbs up exactly as the instructions said so I
went to the internet, found your website and ordered the carb-to-plenum
FUEL seals + your improved plenum gasket. You promptly shipped
them and I installed them the next Saturday, put the air bleeds
in the correct positions, reset the float levels according to
your directions and put the carbs back on. The engine started
right up, no more black smoke and no more flooding. I balanced
the carbs and what an improvement. The bike runs better than
it has in a long time. I guess it will probably run another
30 years now."
Gary
Ludwig - MT. Clemens, MI
"Randall:
Thanks for shipping the GL1000 Master Carb /Overhaul Kit so
quickly. This is for a '79 that I received in trade for some
computer parts and work. The carbs are in good shape, but probably
original. This will be my 3rd time around the barn rebuilding
GL carbs, so I have a good idea what I'm in for ,-) FYI - before
ordering your Master Kit I reviewed the $9.99 kits available
online from another vendor. I ended up ordering your Master
Kit instead. Why? Consider: each of their kits is $10, so for
all 4 carbs I'd now be at $40. They also get $17.50 for the
air cutoff valve, so that's $57.50. Plus, they charge for shipping,
so their total is $63+ But, their combo does not include the
petcock kit, central plenum gasket, special fuel seals, pucks,
cotter pins, plenum bolts or fuel filter as in your Master Kit.
Even if the parts in your kit were only "just as good" as the
other guy's, your Master Kit is STILL the better deal IMHO."
Doug
Rollins - Nampa, ID
"I
implemented your off idle fix on my '77 GL1000...amazing improvement!
I ride my GL 1000 around the steep hills of San Francisco and
the pilot air jet swap has improved immediate take off power
in that crucial RPM band."
Joshua
Roise - San Francisco, CA
See:
How
to Cure "Off-Idle" Flat Spot
"I
received the kit last Friday. I already had the carbs off and
cleaned externally, but it still took all weekend! The bike
is running much nicer now. The high-revving and erratic idle
is gone. It was weird actually having to use the choke to start
the bike cold but it runs right from idle to 100mph. I thank
you for putting together such a fine product. Your tech tips
were invaluable.”
Matt
Dennon - Berryton, KS
"I
wanted to get back to you on your Carb Kit. All the requested
parts were received in good order. All went well with the rebuild
using your information from the link in your previous email.
I am very grateful for the information you have put together
for us on your website and am pleased to announce that this
old beast runs great. After a total clean out from the fuel
tank to the intake valves I was very tickled to pull up to the
gas pump, my first stop, and find the machine idling @+/- 1000
rpm without help from me. I was so thrilled I sat there and
just let it idle for about five minutes. Needless to say I’m
happy.”
Perley
Thomas - High Point, NC
"Thanks!
Your carburetor kit and on-line advice worked wonders for this
bike.....really helped me out. I want to give you all the kudos
you're due! The previous owner had really messed things up...even
had the air valve installed backwards. It purrs nicely now!"
Dick
DeYoung - Oshkosh, WI
"Randall:
Just a quick note to let you know how well your Electric Fuel
Pump works on my 76 GL 1000. Installation was simple due to
your excellent color pictures and detailed instructions. It
did lope a bit at idle with the old mechanical pump, now it's
nice and smooth. I even lowered my idle speed a small amount.
A good run up and down I-85 was as fun as ever! I
think the pump gives that side of the bike a bit of a high tech
look. Thanks for your efforts Randall."
Tim
Tucker - Pelzer, SC
"Hello
Randall, My name is Stephen Miller , a couple of months ago
I purchased a carburetor overhaul kit for my 76 1000. I just
wanted to let you know that all of the parts worked and fit
perfectly. I don't belive that OEM Honda parts could have worked
any better. I bought my bike not running, so I don't know how
it used to run, but it runs very nicely now. I will reccomend
your parts-services to anybody that I know in need. Thank You
Very Much."
Stephen
Miller - Rusk, TX
"I
had a high idle problem that was driving me crazy. The slowest
that the engine would run was 2500 rpm. Not that it died below
that...it just would not go below 2500 rpms. It was like the
throttle was partially open. I had checked for air leaks, cable
tensions, timing, etc and had finally shut the lights off to
go and contemplate what I was missing.
Well,
yesterday, while wandering the internet I found myself on your
web page looking for a fuel filter (I swiped Jeff's from his
Master Kit kit and need to replace it) and stumbled on your
list of things to check. There it was, staring at me from my
screen, the minute I read it. Issue number 4 under your "Lazy/Slow
Return to Idle or Erratically High Idle" Tech Tip: "Improper
re-mating of carb synchro links."...You say..."There
should be a washer on either side of the synchro link which
joins the throttle butterfly shafts of each carb pair on the
left (2/4) and right (1/3) sides. Ditto for the left carb pair
to right carb pair balancer."
When I was mounting the carbs to the plenum I had more than
my typical fight with the springs on the choke shaft spline
and I just knew I didn't re-check the washers on the linkage
after that. I had checked them after the first mounting....before
the choke linkage fell apart while trying to get the mounting
screws in. After 40 years of wrenching I still haven't found
those extra joints that are needed in the fingers and arms.
Sure
enough, I got home last night, checked them (both sides had
both washers on top), corrected it and voila I now have a normal
idle!"
Doug
Mather, Harvard, IL Here's a link to the Tech Tip Doug
is referring to: Click
here
"Hi
Randall, This is the second carb kit that I have purchased from
you . The first I used on my '78. This kit is to do my '77 which
now has the Cycle Innovations Invader single carb kit . Your
kit is awesome. I like the way you package each piece individually.
Makes it simpler to work with for rookies like me. By the way
the 78 runs and idles like never before .Thanks for sharing
your knowledge."
Hector
Ortiz - Richmond, VA
"Randall.
Just wanted to pass on my carb rebuild experience, your kit
is FABULOUS. I thought I was in deep trouble when I had to use
an easy out on one of the plenum bolts until I opened the carb
kit! (it has been on my workbench waiting for a weekend I could
dedicate to the job) What a lifesaver! All of the seals are
perfect, really made it go together easy. By the way the problem
I have been having was pretty obvious when I opened the carbs,
the screens on the float inlets were completely filled with
crud. Put everything back together and she runs like a champ!
Steve
Dunne - Wichita, KS
"Randall,
The carb kits are installed, carbs synched, ignition set, and
the bike runs better than it has in 20 years! Your kits fit
perfectly, and all your information on the GL's has been priceless.
Riding the bike in the past has been a frustrating experience,
could never get it to run quite right. Granted, I hadn't had
the carbs synched since it was new 27 years ago, but with the
confidence gained from reading your information, I bought a
Motion Pro sync kit and WOW, what a difference. The carbs on
the right side were off 3 turns, the carbs on the left 2 turns,
and a turn and a half from left to right. Now she purrs like
a kitten through the entire RPM range, and it's so hard to keep
this smile from my face! Anyway, I can't keep off the bike,
all I want to do is ride! My wife & I are taking our first trip
on the bike since 1988, had to raise kids in the meantime. Thanks
again for all your help!"
Jim
Peschel - Osmond, NE
"I
wanted to email you to thank you for the carb parts I purchased
in late March...and to tell you that I followed your instructions
for rejuvenating my bike to the letter. I've had this old GL
since '81 and had relegated it to a dusty corner of my garage
when I ignorantly let the carbs get gummed up. Last summer I
began to work on it to replace all the rubber components and
to rebuild the major systems...not the engine or tranny as it
only has 21000 miles on it still. I finished rebuilding the
carbs and to tune it step by step as you directed...and it now
runs better than back in '81. So thanks for what you've shared
on your website...it inspired me to even begin the resurrection
of my old bird. I truly appreciate your wisdom and experience."
Bill
Corbin - Littleton, CO
"I
bought your Master Kit and you said to let you know how it came
out. When I bought this 78 it had 18000 miles and I paid $500.
It had set for more than seven years. I took it down to bare
frame and sandblasted rust off, then painted with black gold
flake paint. I painted the tank and covers metal flake maroon.
I was able to save everthing but the carbs...corrosion was so
bad the jet tubes corroded off! I bought carbs off ebay and
got a set of 755s. The bike ran OK, but you recommended getting
771s as my bike is supposed to have. I then bought 771s off
ebay and cleaned and installed your kits. I love your kit as
I already knew how hard it was to find fuel and plenum orings.
I wish I had found your site before I started work on my bike.
It would have saved me a lot of problems. The bike does run
better now. I realize that with the aftermarket exhaust (couldn't
afford a NOS muffler) and my paint color and my paint job it's
not a restoration, but it is an really nice ride. I have done
all the work on the bike down to mounting the tires and recovering
the tool box lid. I haven't used all your tuning tips yet but
I will this fall when it gets too cool to ride to work every
day. My wife loves to ride with me. You site is great, the information
priceless, your choice of books ( The purpose driven life )
also speaks to what kind of man you are. Thanks so much for
the help. Your site is #1 on my favorites list. Thanks again."
Robert
Mathews - New Plymouth, ID
"Everything
worked out better than I could hope for thanks in part to your
wonderful knowledge and great tips along with a great set of
parts. My 78 is running top notch again. I still can't believe
that I did it my self as it was my first time doing a carb rebuild.
Thanks again for all your help."
Damon
Reed - St. Louis, MO
"I
wrote to you earlier telling you how great I thought your site
is. But after going back and instituting nearly every one of
your tech tips, including the ones where I initially thought
"how much difference could that possible make?" like indexing
the spark plug electrodes to the intake runners (which I did
last night, as well as the split-the-difference timing technique),
I feel I must write again and copy you over on a letter I just
posted to the Classic Wing Club's mailing list. I wish I had
been a customer of yours already as I feel indebted to you but
by the time I found your site, I had already bought four Keyster
rebuild kits from Sirrius Consolidated for my '78 GL1000...in
fact, I was looking for tips on setting float height when I
found yours. (No where else do they actually give an accurate
description of setting the floats like you do and I have both
Haynes and Clymers). But next time I need carb or repro parts,
be assured I will come to you. Thank you again, your site is
a great service to us GL1000 owners."
Here's
the letter I sent to CWC :
"Good
morning, y'all: I agree with everyone who says that the right
way to go, rather than what's-the-best-way-of-living-with-it
would be to get it dialed in right. It can be a laborious
process at first (and I should know, I have just now finally
gotten my '78 GL1000 running as the Honda brothers had meant
it to all those years ago and I have been working on it off
and on for a year and a quarter or so). But all the single-carb
set-ups, aftermarket electronic ignitions, all that, are shortcuts
to bypass the step-by-step process of truly tuning a somewhat
complex engine setup (no disrespect meant to all who have
gone that route). On mine, which would not idle at all under
1200 RPM when I got it, then stumbled and wheezed off the
line, then coughed and popped at 3400 RPM, never did feel
like it was an engine even in the same general class as my
old GL1200 Interstate in performance, had a primary chain
rattle at idle that made me believe its days as a going concern
were numbered--well, after timing belts, valve adjustment,
points and condensers, dynamic timing, including using Randal
Washington's 'split timing' technique, rebuilding the carbs
that were so filthy and clogged I am amazed the bike ran at
all, doing all the tech tips that Mr. Washington suggests
on his excellent site on the carbs, rebuilding the air valve,
syncing the carbs with a mercury stick/ manometer...well,
now I believe Mr. Washington's claim that the point system
is just fine and the stock GL1000 carb set up is, well, a
great set-up, once it is thoroughly gone over. After the last
few steps I did over the last three weeks or so (looking for
cures for several of which helped me find your fine group),
it really does idle like a clock at 950 RPM, sounds like a
healthy heartbeat, pulls away smooth and sure, has fine mid-throttle
response, and has passenger-grabbing-your-waist bat-out-of-hell
acceleration in the upper half of the RPM range. Mr. Washington
said keep the points, keep the stock carbs, just set them
up right. And he made a believer out of me. The good news
is that now that I have hopefully undone years of neglect,
I should only have to do routine maintenance to keep it that
way. (Oh, and the primary chain rattle, that I saw referred
to as a 'jackass in a tin barn' syndrome on this list? 95%
gone. That sloppy idle was kicking that chain all around the
place under 2000 RPM, I guess.) Sorry about any soap box tone
to the paragraph above, but leaving a bike with an 'idle'
of 1800 RPM as a solution to a rough idle and weak low-end
just does not strike me as the right way to maintain a machine..."
Stephen
Paris - Columbus, OH
"Randakk,
just thought I would follow-up and let you know that I have
completed cleaning my carbs utilizing your excellent kit....and
I mean excellent!!!!!!.....The dismantling and rebuild went
without a hitch...Your assembly of the required bits and pieces
was inspiring.....Thanks so much for the time you spent collecting
the required seals and such ........and the expert way that
you assembled the kit for ease of use.......Again, thank you
very much. Best Regards."
Jeff
Smith - Wakefield, Quebec, Canada
"Hello
Mr. Washington: I just wanted to let you know that my mechanic
said that your carb overhaul kit was the BEST he has ever worked
with. My 1978 GL 1000 is running like a sewing machine now.
Not only was he impressed with the performance of the kit and
the way it overhauls all the carb components, but your kit is
about $30 cheaper than other aftermarket kits. And of course,
sometimes those aftermarket kits don't fit in the carbs correctly.
So I just wanted to let you have a report from a very satisfied
customer. My mechanic is going to use your kits exclusively
on all of his GL 1000s he gets to service from now on because
of the high quality. If I ever have another GL 1000 I will definitely
be buying another kit. Thanks!"
Jeremiah Parker - Amboy, IL
"This
is Mark Hanson, I purchased a carb rebuild kit from you recently
and could not be happier with the quality and completeness of
the kit. WOW! what a difference it made in the performance of
my bike. Just wanted to thank you for compiling great info on
this wonderful old bike. It's always a pleasure to communicate
with someone who obviously knows what they are talking about!!
I'm an old motorhead myself. GREAT JOB. Thanks"
Mark
Hanson - Ladysmith, WI
"Thanks,
Received carb kit lightning fast. My GL1000 is finally hitting
on all 4. Your carb kit is the Doctor. You have a great web
site. Lots of reminders us old buzzards know, but still sometimes
try to short-cut. Plenty of great tips I didn't know. I came
across your web site while looking for a single carb conversion.
Glad I found you first."
Steve
Brinker - Plainfield, IL
"I
received the Master Carb Overhaul Kit and nozzles for my 78
Goldwing about 8 days after placing my order, not bad to NZ.
After reading your tech tips and adjusting the float levels
perfectly my bike idles and runs great. In fact, it starts and
runs so well I can`t believe it`s the same machine. Thanks alot
!"
Jeff
Watson - Canterbury, New Zealand
"I
installed the carbs you rebuilt for me and was finally able
to ride my bike this weekend . Remember, this bike was "off-the-road"
for 12+ years. It ran very nicely. The senior Honda mechanic
here in Dallas (who recommended that I not rebuild the carbs,
but rather replace them with GL1100 carbs) could not believe
how smoothly the bike idles and how good the throttle response
is. I want to thank you for your advice and help; otherwise,
I would not have been able to accomplish this restoration project.
I am the original owner and the bike has almost 80,000 miles
on it including one trip to Alaska, four trips to British Columbia
and two trips to Nova Scotia. Thanks and best wishes."
Winston
Oxley - Dallas, TX
"I
bought a completely refurbished and polished set of GL1000 carbs
from you off EBAY recently. Since then, I was also able to obtain
an original muffler with only 2 months of use on it. The weather
finally cooperated and I installed both today and went for a
ride (it was only 30 degrees out!) It seems that I have a completely
different bike...smooth, quiet and quick. The performance is
strong at any rpm. It is so fast now it scares me! The only
adjustment I had to make was to set the idle speed. Before,
I had to have 2000 rpm before engaging the clutch to prevent
stalling. Now I can let the clutch out at idle (900 rpm) with
no additional throttle. Thank you for making these carbs available.
Now I can attend to the remainder of my restoration."
Larry
Boot - Grand Ledge, MI
