[donaldo88]

I've had a string of smaller vintage Hondas, and am winding up my courage to try an early GW. Before I even run around looking at (gotta be under $2500) bikes, can you guys give me a little jumpstart? I've read a "buying a GW' website from Ireland, and I've fished around this forum, but here are some things not covered:
1. How often timing belts changed? Special tools? Is it like an OHC car, where you change the water pump while you're in there?
2. Often 'stator' mentioned as a problem, one says 'starter' is bad. Spelling is not a strong trait in Craig's and these forums, so what are the chronic problems?
3. Is an SEI a desirable rare bike, or an oddball troublesome orphan? Does I mean injection, as on some old Honda cars? Is injection a good thing on bikes, as it is on cars? Does it help dodge the carburetor balancing bullet?
Thank you for any guidance.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

seems like you are looking at 1200 wings don. if you don't know when the belts were changed then change them or have someone do the job. a friend changes his timing belts every 80,000 or eight years and i plan to do the same. if you come across a wing with fuel injcetion in your price range i would buy it if i were you. i'm sending you a pm to help

 

[donaldo88]

Thanks

So injection was successful, even as early as a 1986 SEI? You are sending a PM, does that mean Preventive Maintenance? Was that about the stator/starter thing? I didn't understand, was that emailed to [email protected]? Sorry, I'm a little slow on the uptake,
thanks again,
Don

 

[detdrbuzzard]

pm = private message. look at the top right of the screen right under your name and click private messages, it will take you to the folder

 

[AApple]

The "stator" refers to the alternator of the bike. I've heard/read all kinds of horror stories about them, but I'm not so sure it's all true. I think if the bike has WAAAAY more lights/stuff on it than the alt. is rated for, then yeah...it's gonna be a problem.

The starter is just what you think it is, of course. I've also heard a lot about starter failures...this one may be closer to true. I see new/reman starters on ebay every day for $100, so they must be popular items for some reason.
My '81 has a little trouble cranking every now and then, so I'm sure I'll be replacing my starter before long...

 

[detdrbuzzard]

aapple check the battery and all the positive and negitive connections first before you replace the starter. corrosion will cause the same problems. when buying an older wing like ask if the stator has been changed and the timing belts. my 1200 is an '84 and the last 1200's were '87 and its 2009. how long do you expect the stator , starter or belts to last???

 

[AApple]

aapple check the battery and all the positive and negitive connections first before you replace the starter. corrosion will cause the same problems. when buying an older wing like ask if the stator has been changed and the timing belts. my 1200 is an '84 and the last 1200's were '87 and its 2009. how long do you expect the stator , starter or belts to last???

Good point, Dr. Buzzard!
P.O. stated the timing belts and stator had been changed shortly before I bought it, but who knows? Never hurts to check out stuff like that, regardless of what they tell ya. After all, they're trying to get rid of it, right?
Thanks for the reminder.

 

[AApple]

Congratz!
Hope it works out nicely for ya.
If it's been sitting a long time, the carbs are probably gummed up, or otherwise in need of service.
Even if it turns out to be a turd, you can sell the parts for more than what you paid for the bike, so....it's kinda a win-win...sorta.
Hopefully getting it running, and on the road won't be too much of a project.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

when changing timinng belts you'll have to drain the radiator so it is a good time to put new hoses and thermostat on

 

[detdrbuzzard]

hello and welcome to GWOF johnjandhs, the problem is the calapers need a rebuild or at least a good cleaning

 

[CharlaineC]

hows things going with this bike

 

[budoka]

Hard to say Char, this thread is three years old.