The Spyder: The Spyder: - Wing World Magazine Archives

Technical Questions and Answers about Gold Wings and Valkyries
Gold Wing Noise
I have a 1990 Gold Wing GL1500.
Whenever I start the bike, it has a gear rattle in
it, but if I mash the clutch handle in, the noise
will stop. Is this something normal on the 1500
or is this a sign of some bigger problem My
friend’s GL1500 does the same thing, but not
as badly. My bike has 96,000 miles on it and
has always had its Honda oil changed every
4,000 miles. I’m just worried about going on a
long trip we have planned in the mountains.
Larry Russell
GWRRA #238554
Ellisville Mississippi
Larry, what you describe is simply the
result of small amounts of accumulated wear in
various transmission parts and the fact that the
transmission isn’t under load when you’re listening
for the noise. The noise goes away when
you squeeze the clutch lever, because you’re
disconnecting engine power from the transmission.
I’d also bet that you never hear the noise
when the bike is in gear and underway. Most
motorcycles exhibit this symptom, and it’s really
nothing to get excited over. If that’s your
worst problem with the bike, I expect you’ll be
enjoying another 96,000 miles.
Plug Wires
Stu, I’m glad you wrote the “Garage Day”
article on changing the spark plug wires in the
March 2007 issue. I have a 1981 GL1100
Interstate Gold Wing with 100,000 miles and
was considering changing them.
However, at the auto store they said they
have only carbon center wire. Will that work or
should I keep looking for the steel wire centers
Richard Raker
GWRRA #98700
Redding, California
Richard, no, you need to get the metal core
wire. NAPA normally has it stock. If not, they
can get it for you with same-day service.
Thanks. I had to persuade them to check to
see if they had any. Two people told me they
didn’t carry the metal core wire. Amazing! Job
Answers to the technical questions in this month’s “Workbench” were provided by
Stu Oltman, Wing World’s Senior Technical Editor. Please submit your technical questions
about Gold Wings or Valkyries by e-mail to workbench@gwrra.org or by mail to
“Workbench,” GWRRA, 21423 North 11th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027. Please include
your full name, city, state and GWRRA membership number.
done. Runs good!
—Richard
Motor Oil & OD Light
Stu, I read your article on motor oils and
learned a lot from it. I have been using regular
10W40 in my bikes for years with no problems.
My question is, which synthetic oils are safe to
use in motorcycles I have heard that Amsoil is
okay and I wonder if Mobile, Pennzoil,
Valvoline, etc., are okay as well.
Also, I have a 1997 Wing and the OD light
does not always come on right away when I
shift into fifth gear. It will eventually come on.
Is this a major problem to fix or do I just live
with it It seems to work better when the temperature
is warmer.
Don Roop
GWRRA #84641
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Don, regarding the OD light, the gear position
sensor may be sticking, or a wiring problem
may exist. There’s no way for me to tell for
sure unless I get my hands dirty.
Motor oils designed for automobiles and
light trucks have changed drastically, especially
in the past five years. I’m not recommending
any oil these days for wet-clutch bikes (with
one exception) that doesn’t have the JASO certification
clearly displayed on the back of the
bottle. The JASO standard was developed so
that riders would no longer need to “wonder.”
Whether regular or synthetic, any oil certified
to meet JASO MA standards is fine to use
in your ’97 Wing. Regarding oils that don’t display
the certification, I’m afraid your wondering
will have to continue—as will mine.
The exception I referred to earlier is use of
a heavy-duty fleet oil such as Rotella, Delvac,
and others in a viscosity suitable for your bike.
Fuel Tank Pressure/Idle Fluctuation
Stu, I enjoy your articles in Wing World. I
have a 1996 Gold Wing Aspencade with
139,000 miles. I have owned the bike for a year
and a half. The bike is very well maintained. I
have noticed two problems that I would like to
address.
I have noticed the bike making a hissing
sound when I release the gas cap. When this
relieves the pressure, the noise goes away. But
then after about three to four minutes, the tank
builds up pressure again and makes the noise
again. I notice it a lot when I have been riding
for awhile and the engine is warm, and after I
shut off the motor. Even when the bike is cold,
every now and then it makes the noises, but
when I release the gas cap, the noise goes
away.
Secondly, when the engine is up to temperature,
the idle will fluctuate between 750 rpm
and 1000 rpm at idle. The bike does not do it
all the time. The bike seems to do it only when
I have been riding for awhile, and when I stop
at a traffic light, while sitting at an idle, then
rpm will fluctuate back and forth between 750
and 1,000 rpm.
The bike has done this since I purchased it
in October 2005. At that time the bike had
133,000 miles.
In the time that I have had the bike I have
changed all filters and completely tuned the
engine. All services have been completed on
the bike.
Troy Robinson
GWRRA #244038
Florence, Kentucky
Troy, the hissing sound is a normal function
of the pressure relief valve in the fuel cap.
If you feel it’s excessively loud, you might consider
replacing the cap. Even with religious
maintenance, things wear out over the course
of ten years and 139,000 miles. The idle surge
may be the result of improperly adjusted idle
circuit screws, or it might result from a deteriorated
vacuum line or auto fuel valve
diaphragm.
Member Submits GL1800 Speedo
Inaccuracy Fix
I was reading the April 2007 Wing World
on page 24 about the problems with the Gold
Wing speedometer accuracy. I just installed a
Speedo Healer on my 2002 Gold Wing and it
is has corrected the problem with the
speedometer being off. You can look at their
web page, www.speedohealer.com. It has the
instruction on installation and the calculator
for programming of the unit to correct your
problem. My speedometer was off about 4.5
mph. I used this number to calculate the programming
of the unit.
Roger A. Losornio
GWRRA #15795
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Right, Roger. The Speedo Healer is one
solution; the Yellow Box by Black Robotics
32 Wing World