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WINGOVATIONS

 PARTS AND ADVICE FOR YOUR 'OLDEN GOLDIE'

GL1100 Engine2
1975_gl1000

An online source dedicated to Honda's amazing four cylinder Goldwings!

Heavy Clutch Lever '75-'77

The early clutches 75-77 had a rather heavy action. Honda listened to the criticism (eventually) and made alterations to the later bikes from '78.

 

They changed the L/H switch  to one without the clutch lever perch and fitted a separate lever on the 78-79 which makes a huge difference. I have gone even further and rigged mine with a hydraulic clutch from a GL1200 but that is a lot of work for some, but not a huge, gain in lightness over the later set-up.

 

Sometimes a bit of general maintenance will help a lot. A new nylon or Teflon lined clutch cable, properly routed, will help.

If your cable looks OK, try removing it from the lever and undo it from the clutch end (no need to take it right off the frame), use a small funnel or make a funnel shape from scrap plastic taped aroung the lever end with something to hold that end up in the air, wrap a rag around the other end to catch any drips and fill the funnel with some light oil (not engine oil, that is usually too thick).

 

If the bike has been sitting for a while the plates have a tendency to stick together. An oil change and some use will usually sort that out.

 

Get the clutch adjustment right. There are usually two adjusters on the clutch cable. One at the lever, one in the middle inside the false tank which you may have to remove the air filter to get at. There is also an adjuster under the round black cover at the back of the engine.

 

This last one is the most important and the one that folk usually miss. Take the cover off, there is a screw and locknut inside, slacken the locknut, turn the screw in until it just touches, back it off about 2/3 turn and tighten the lock nut. Take most of the excess play out by the middle adjuster and fine tune with the lever one.

 

If you wish to convert your early bike to the later spec you will need both the new switch and a clutch lever set.

The GL1000 switch is no longer available and I have not been able to find a current compatable switch.You will need a good used switch from any of  late GL1000 (35200-431-671), GL1100, CB650, CB750 etc but the wiring colours are usually different.

 

The lever perch is 53172-431-780. Lever Pivot Bolt is 90114-268-020  or 90114-310-000

The OEM lever is 53178-431-780. Levers are available from many eBay sources at lesser cost then the OEM one.

 

 

WinGovations Copyright 2010

J G Evans

1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980  GoldWing 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987

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