How to Rebuild a Honda GL1000 Carburetor

A carburetor is a mechanical device that combines air and fuel in an internal combustion engine. The carburetor controls the flow of air into an engine; the speed of the air entering the engine determines the amount of air pressure in the engine. The air pressure has an impact on the amount of fuel being drawn into the jet stream and ultimately entering the engine. A carburetor in a Honda GL1000 motorcycle plays the important role of optimizing the efficiency of the motorcycle's engine and fuel consumption. As your GL1000 ages, you may need to rebuild the carburetor to ensure optimal performance of your bike.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• GL1000 carburetor air filter
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wire scrub brush
• 8-inch steel swivel screw
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Dry cloth
• 6-inch steel bolt

1. Remove the air filter from the top of the carburetor. If the filter is corroded, pry it loose with the flat head screwdriver. Scrub the area around the filter with the wire brush and pop the new air filter into place.

2. Unscrew the choke valve using the Phillips-head screwdriver. Remove the old screw. Oil the choke valve in the area around the screw with the oil can; re-fasten the choke valve to the inside of the carburetor using the new swivel screw. Tap the choke valve a few times to make sure it rotates freely.

3. Open the fuel-delivery compartment. Remove the metering rod using the adjustable wrench. Discard the old bolt used to attach the metering rod to the mechanical linkage.

4. Clean the metering rod thoroughly using the dry cloth to remove oil and other residue.

5. 
    
   Carburetor Metering Rods

   Oil the mechanical linkage that attaches to the top of the metering rod. Make sure the mechanical linkage moves freely by tapping it a few times.

6. Re-attach the top of the metering rod to the mechanical linkage using the new 6-inch steel bolt and the adjustable wrench.

7. Unscrew the float valve using the adjustable wrench. Check the attachment area for corrosion. You may be able to clean the attachment area using the dry cloth, but if there is too much corrosion the float valve will need to be replaced.

8. Scrub the inside of the fuel nozzle with the wire brush to ensure that the nozzle's pathway to the air intake area is clear. Also, scrub the inside of the float chamber using the wire brush. Re-attach the float valve to the inside of the float chamber using the adjustable wrench.

Tips & Warnings

• Order the air filter for the GL 000 carburetor from a motorcycle parts supplier such as Cycle-Parts.com. If the dry cloth does not remove the corrosion on the various pieces, you may want to spray the pieces with WD-40 or coat them in baking soda.
• Always wear appropriate clothing when working with motorcycles, particularly engine parts. Long pants, gloves, close-toed shoes, and eye protection equipment should be worn at all times.

References

• Cycle-Parts.com
• Motorcycle Parts Superstore

Resources

• Honda GL1000 Restoration Specialists

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