Serk and Serk Jr's Inzane Trip Update

[old2soon]

       It Hurts and Are Expensive to be the test subject!  Hopefully you Will git some ideas off the Wing Board(s)! At least that shop weren't just throwin parts at the problem. Hope you git er sorted out!  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

good luck.  for 400 bucks in labor I woulda been upset as well not fixed or done any good apparently. 

How bad is it?  Clutch works just makes some noise is all or shaky? 

What does a certified HONDA shop think?  Not like you say many out there having this issue.

[f6john]

I know I should have done more research before posting but just so you know, there is a Goldwing whisperer in Florida who has probably seen it all. I understand he is very helpful and could possibly help in your decision making process going forward.


Just Wings, Tampa Florida. Greg is the contact person.

https://justwings.com/

[Serk]

I know I should have done more research before posting but just so you know, there is a Goldwing whisperer in Florida who has probably seen it all. I understand he is very helpful and could possibly help in your decision making process going forward.


Just Wings, Tampa Florida. Greg is the contact person.

https://justwings.com/

Yup, been seeing the Just Wings guy popping up in a LOT of searches. Just posted on the Goldwing Tech Talk on Facebook, need to e-mail Greg and also get on some of the Goldwing forums as well... I think I MIGHT have narrowed it down to something with the alternator, or (Hoping not!) the alternator drive gear. Evidently the ADG failing is common enough it's got an acronym, and the fix involves a total removal of the engine. Ugh.

Cut and paste of my post on Goldwing tech forum. Not trying to turn this into a GL1800 tech forum, but with as much cross pollination as there is between Valk people and GL1800 people figure this info might be at least a little valuable to other folks here...

-----

Howdy, got a perplexing issue...
Short version - 2008 GL1800 60k miles. I bought it less than a year ago, initially all was great. Took a short ride while on a long trip and it started making LOUD embarrassing noises. The noises would change as I shifted gears, sometimes louder, sometimes it'd go Goldwing quiet. Also, when first engaging the clutch handle it pulsates rather quickly, a vibration but more of an in and out pulsing.
The sound seems to decrease, but not 100% go away as the bike warms up, but the clutch handle pulsation doesn't change.
I recently came across the ADG issues on the GL1800s and that made me listen and the sound does seem to come from around the alternatorish area. I've listened to other ADG issues and those are more "clunky" than I'm hearing, mine is more of a smooth whine/whirr....
I'll try to get a stethoscope and listen closer to the alternator, but before I get there figured I'd check the amassed wisdom and experience here. I took a video of what's going on, as usual the sounds aren't 100% accurate, it sounds louder in person.
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions? I've searched until the search results are starting to get blurred to me so figured it was time for a sanity check...
(And yeah, that's the short version, the long version involves this starting 1500 miles into a 5000 mile trip with one of my 11 year olds, having the bike shipped from Billings Montana to Dallas Texas, a local shop having the bike for a month and finally throwing their hands up in defeat, etc..... Not been fun. The irony being I bought the 'Wing 'cause I was getting worried my 1998 Valkyrie was getting too old to reliably take cross country anymore.... Heh.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzKIclQdC7w

[old2soon]

       Serk you were WORRIED about one of Our Elegant Phatt Ladies NOT being capable of a long trip?    Have you NOT been following Our FRIEND and Most SERIUOUS LONG DISTANCE RIDER Bruce-A K A DDT_? Figured Someone gotta point out obvious!  Do hope you git the 1800 figured out!  RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

       Serk you were WORRIED about one of Our Elegant Phatt Ladies NOT being capable of a long trip?    Have you NOT been following Our FRIEND and Most SERIUOUS LONG DISTANCE RIDER Bruce-A K A DDT_? Figured Someone gotta point out obvious!  Do hope you git the 1800 figured out!  RIDE SAFE.

Oh, I KNOW they're capable of it! But I'm not blessed with the friends DDT has (or the easy ability to show up at the right people's garages at the right time ).... I know my Valk needs some work to keep that reliability, and I've come to absolutely LOATHE doing the rear end work......

I was gonna move to a Valkyrie Interstate as my main traveling bike, but when we lost BigBF I lost my best shot at keeping one at the level of reliability I want without having to do the rear end work myself, so.....

(I know, I know, it's not THAT bad, suck it up buttercup and do the work. Meh.....)

[Valkorado]

Oh, I KNOW they're capable of it! But I'm not blessed with the friends DDT has (or the easy ability to show up at the right people's garages at the right time ).... I know my Valk needs some work to keep that reliability, and I've come to absolutely LOATHE doing the rear end work......

I was gonna move to a Valkyrie Interstate as my main traveling bike, but when we lost BigBF I lost my best shot at keeping one at the level of reliability I want without having to do the rear end work myself, so.....

(I know, it's not THAT bad, suck it up buttercup and do the work. Meh.....)

But, it is THAT bad.  For me anyway.

[Jess from VA]

(I know, it's not THAT bad, suck it up buttercup and do the work. Meh.....)

But, it is THAT bad.  For me anyway.

I feel the same way myself.  I have done it, and can do it, but I don't wanna do it anymore (no garage and under the sun, or other elements).  And I got a good guy that can do it, except for the fact he's an hour+ away. 

[Valkorado]

(I know, it's not THAT bad, suck it up buttercup and do the work. Meh.....)

But, it is THAT bad.  For me anyway.

I feel the same way myself.  I have done it, and can do it, but I don't wanna do it anymore (no garage and under the sun, or other elements).  And I got a good guy that can do it, except for the fact he's an hour+ away.  

I've done the rear end service once solo.  I won't discuss how long the "little" job took me (let's just say more than one full day), or how beat up I was when it was done.  For me it was a messy ordeal and more than once I felt like I was I was out of my element and in over my head.  Don't think I wanna do it it solo again.

I will do most everything else.  I'll do another alternator or octopus removal/reinstall when needed, DOT fluids and oil changes, brake pads, etc. and have learned quite a bit about wiring, etc..  I will likely have to pull the radiator and replace the thermostat on Ruby -- which I don't look forward to much.  Did that on Big Bertha years back.  Wish I knew how to do tires and fork seals, carbs, etc. but I know my skill and patience limits.

At least both bikes are running.  I took the Silver Bullet out yesterday for a nice, rare sunny day ride.  She still intimidates V-twins, gets lots of attention and is fast.