Peeking under Helga's Skirt

Speakers

The new speakers came today. The ones in the bike where cracked and the wrong wattage and impedance. New ones installed and WOW ... it sounds like new. Ordered another set for the rears ... they sound pretty shot too. I'm guessing the amp blew them. Slowly Helga is getting fixed up.

FuzzyWuzHe said:

The new speakers came today. The ones in the bike where cracked and the wrong wattage and impedance. New ones installed and WOW ... it sounds like new. Ordered another set for the rears ... they sound pretty shot too. I'm guessing the amp blew them. Slowly Helga is getting fixed up.

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Goldwings are like dogs, the more love you show them the better ....... (heart):GL1800:

radismukes said:

Goldwings are like dogs, the more love you show them the better ....... (heart):GL1800:

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I think that applies to more than just dogs and Goldwings.

LadyonaMission said:

I think that applies to more than just dogs and Goldwings.

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Old guys too

From a growl to a purrrrrrrrrr

Okay ... so yesterday the OEM mufflers came in from eBay ... didn't think I'd get to install them before I leave for Texas, but, today's high is only supposed to be like 75* so a perfect day to fight with mufflers. Also, after today, I have pool closings that will keep me busy until I leave.

Having never changed a set of Gold Wing mufflers (why would you?) I wasn't sure how if at all they'd be different from the Harley ones. I can change Harley slip ons with my eyes closed. For those that haven't done these, the only difference is there are little tabs on the inlet of the mufflers that slip into the heat shield on the bike. Other than that, a muffler clamp and a muffler hanging bolt on each side.

Well, almost, There was the trailer hitch in the way of the muffler hanging bolt. I had to remove it to get to the bolt. Didn't put it back on since I don't tow a trailer. I might put it on again if I decide to put my luggage rack on the trailer hitch, but, I doubt it.

So, once the hitch was out of the way, it was very easy to switch the mufflers. The eBay store I bought the OEM ones from said to take some pictures of the old ones including the stamp on the bottom inside ... he may want to buy them. I did that and sent them to him. I don't know anything about this, but, he said the old ones where Honda Silencers?? They have 3 openings in the rear. Never heard of them and don't want them on the bike.

The moment of truth came and I started Helga up. She now is quiet as a mouse ... even when she's being rode like I stole her. This is the Gold Wing I remember. She simply purrrrrrrrs. Twice at a light, I had to look at the tach to make sure she didn't stall ... I am a happy man.

Once the rear speakers come in and get switched out, Helga should be ready for a road trip ... man I want to ride her to Texas. My only issue is that I worry the not so good knee would balk at that long a trip ... 130 mile trip gave me some pain in the left knee. My head is gonna have to over ride my heart on this one ... it would really stink to get there and not be able to walk. And I may have to run from the Texas two ... not really ... I think I'm gonna have a ball, but, don't want to be in lots of pain while there.

Alan, you will make a good pool boy for Lola and Carla

Hope you have a great trip and God will return you home safely

Jack Klarich said:

Alan, you will make a good pool boy for Lola and Carla

Hope you have a great trip and God will return you home safely

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I plan on having loads of fun ... getting lots of hugs ... giving lots of hugs (men and women ... I'm a hugger, so be ready) ... and putting names to faces ... oh yea ... I am gonna eat some BBQ ... just might have to back off the carbs ... LOL ... My follow up appointment with the VA is 10/31/18 ... they want me to loose 8-10#before then. Already lost 7.5#, but, I'm shooting for 24-30#. I'd like to triple their request just to be sure.

Helga or truck it will be nice to see you and the others. Good Times, Good Friends! :band:

Don't forget :blues:.

FuzzyWuzHe said:

I plan on having loads of fun ... getting lots of hugs ... giving lots of hugs (men and women ... I'm a hugger, so be ready) ... and putting names to faces ... oh yea ... I am gonna eat some BBQ ... just might have to back off the carbs ... LOL ... My follow up appointment with the VA is 10/31/18 ... they want me to loose 8-10#before then. Already lost 7.5#, but, I'm shooting for 24-30#. I'd like to triple their request just to be sure.

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(Hug)

Installed the rear speakers today ... not as big an improvement to me as the fronts, but, then, I'm never in the back ... maybe in Kerrville. Helga is ready for her new life with me. a little money, a lot of love ... she's almost like new ... but, better.

FuzzyWuzHe said:

Installed the rear speakers today ... not as big an improvement to me as the fronts, but, then, I'm never in the back ... maybe in Kerrville. Helga is ready for her new life with me. a little money, a lot of love ... she's almost like new ... but, better.

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A Proud Papa

Got a warm (45*) day, so, test fitted the new IKEA Sheep Skin. A tad small for the full Gold wing seat, but, I ride one up, so not worried about the rear seat.

I also installed a quick release pin in my Add-on Back Rest so I can pull it off and put the sheets skin on.

Here's a pick of the pin, It's the same diameter as the bolt that was there. The little ball keeps it in:



Here's a pic of the notch I made in the sheep skin to fit over the Rider Back Rest mount:

Also installed the CD Bluetooth thing ... see the review.

Decent Day so I did a little work on Helga.

I worked on the CD BT thingie (see the update on the review).

I also installed the new to me Baker Built Trike wings. (i've been putting these on the Gold Wings, trike or not since they came out. I love that they keep your tootsies warm in the winter and don't allow water to hit your feet on the highway pegs when it's raining.

Here's what they look like installed.

Right:



Left:



So not much left to do to the old gal ... there is a tear in the right rear speaker box, I have a set of new to me speaker boxes that I plan to take the pieces I need off and replace them. I also ordered a set of mirror wings that should be here tomorrow that I'll need to install ... then I think she's done. It will give me about a mount of so (weather permitting) to ride her before the knee replacement.

I've been thinking of changing her name. I was told that I give Harleys sexy names and Gold Wings not so much ... kind of bugged me ... sooo ... I'm considering changing her name to Jessica Rabbit.



She's not bad, she's just drawn that way ...

I think my next thread may be about what tools and my new way to carry them ... more to come.

Next

Okay so today was allergy shot day. So I dawned the leather coat, leather gloves and my Russian hat and got on Helga to get poked. It was 29* but sunny, so just nippy ... .

When I got back, errands included .. it was a balmy 35* (high today might get to 38 at 3 pm), but, still sunny, so, I headed out to replace the left rear speaker box top. Basically there was two reasons to do this, one was the hole in the rubber trim:



This was pointed out to me by the dealer I got her from, but it's taken me awhile to find one on flea bay, had to buy a complete pair, but now I have spare parts:



I took the top off the Left one and headed out side. There are 4 screws holding the top on ... thought this was gonna be a quick job ... nope ... as with everything on the Gold Wing (not complaining), you need to remove lots of stuff to get to one of those screws. What is required is to remove the luggage rack, remove the trunk inner lid, unplug the trunk lid actuator, then you can get to the screw that is hidden. The other screws come in from the bottom of the speaker and are easy to get to. You also need to swap the speaker to the new used top before installing.

After I got the inner trunk lid off, I figured out why there was a hole in the speaker box top. The hidden screw was at some point replaced with a wood screw:



This screw was about an inch long and should have been like 3/8" plastic screw. Someone screwed it right through the plastic and through the rubber.

So here is what it looks like replaced:



Here's a better view of where the hole was:



After getting it done, I noticed there was a crack in the speaker grill as well. Probably from holding it there while they screwed through the plastic and rubber, it's right next to my thumb, hard to see.



So, one more project completed ... Once the painter gets done painting the trim from the trunk and saddle bags, I'll put them on and I'll be done .... for now ... at least until I find something else wrong ... LOL.

I do have a non mechanical project to do .. now that I've got stuff fixed, I am gonna clean, wax and protect the whole bike with this:



This stuff is great if you have a black bike, not so much on a larger vehicle like a truck, it's time consuming.

The first step is a cleaner polisher. Yep ... same as waxing, but you gotta work it to get good results. Then wipe off the dried polish.

Next step is the wax, not as hard as the first step, but, very messy and time consuming.

The last step is a detailer. Can you believe that, after polishing and waxing, you need to still detail it. And yea, this is the step that makes it. It helps to rid the bike of the polish and wax you missed in steps 1 and 2. So ya gotta do it.

Do not use this on any vehicle that is not black and always wear rubber gloves when you do this.



First time I used this, My hands where black for about two weeks, scrubbing them with pumas soap just lightened it each time, LOL. The polish, wax and detailer all have black pigment in them that help to "fill in" swirl marks and other imperfections. I never did get my rags clean ... just toss them. Harbor freight has micro fiber towels for cheap.

The good news, once you finish, it lasts a long time, the detailer is used to spruce it up in between and add to the protection. Washing the bike does not seem to wear the protection down like with the F11, water will bead for a long time, like a couple years. Another plus, I only paid $19.95 for the kit at O'Reilly Auto Parts, and I'll get two complete uses out of it and many detail touch ups. The Big cost is in the elbow grease.

The bad news, last bike I did, my 2011 Ultra, took me 9 hours over 2 days. The Harley had way more nooks and crannies to get too. I'm guessing this bike won't be so bad ... 7 1/2-8 hours, but, being cooler will help some .. LOL. It is worth it as it does get rid of the swirls marks and other minor imperfections ... forever ... well until you use a power buffer on it again or scuff it ... :AGGHH:. I will also be using Maguire's Ultimate Black on all the plastic trim and rubberized trim before I do the Jet black, that way any thing I get over onto the paint won't be there when I'm done.

So that is a wrap. Hoping to get her polished and protected before I have the other knee replaced. I got like a month and a half to get her done.

Almost forgot, if you have a luggage rack, or are gonna put one one, use the "Star Washers" ... you can see them in one of the pics, these will help prevent cracking the trunk lid. Not as big an issue as on the 1500's, but, it does happen, right paws?

FuzzyWuzHe said:

Almost forgot, if you have a luggage rack, or are gonna put one one, use the "Star Washers" ... you can see them in one of the pics, these will help prevent cracking the trunk lid. Not as big an issue as on the 1500's, but, it does happen, right paws?

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Yes..Jim found this out on his trike when he didn’t use the star washers. He found a perfectly good replacement trunk lid from a salvage yard, had a local paint shop repaint it and wallah!...you could not tell it was not the original lid,,matched color perfectly. I never attempted a luggage rack on my trike after this incident...didn’t want to risk it.

Hit low 40's today .... and sunny

Okay, so since it was nice ... I started with the Jet Black .. couldn't find my Maguire's Ultimate Black so didn't do the plastic first.

Started by washing her .. then read the directions ... I forgot .. it's actually a 4 step process. First is the cleaner polisher, then the detailer, the the carnauba wax, then the detailer again. I was also right that the wing is gonna take less time. More surface area, but larger areas and less nooks and crannies. I did like 2.5 hours today and got the trunk (should have done the lid before I put the luggage rack back on), the saddlebags and the area around both the radiators (probably do this area twice due to the adhesive removal from the cheesy chrome).

I then went to pick up some lunch .. more to go on a ride, and when returning, the mail lady was a few boxes short of mine, so I waited for her (we have the MBU's - Multiple Box Units), While waiting I took this pic:



She sure is pretty when she's washed ... doesn't last long, our dust gets everywhere and black shows it all. I use a California Duster to get if off, but doesn't work as well as I'd like.

Trim

So we had some S&#$ (didn't want to actually use the word out of respect for those that actually had some) today ... nothing to write home about ... it didn't stick or anything ... so ... I didn't do anything on Helga.

I did get a call and the Trunk and Saddlebag trim pieces where done. I didn't do pics as I was told they needed another day or two to "cure" before I installed then. My buddy laid them out in the rear seat of my truck on micro fiber towels and told me to leave them there for another day or so ... then bring them into the house and wax them ... sounds weird, but, I'll give it a shot ... he's never lied to me before.

I'll bring them in and before waxing them, I'll get some photos. Interesting thing was ... he recommended using the wax from the Jet black kit ... I never mentioned it ... he simply said it makes black "look deeper". Interesting.

Trunk and Saddlebag Trim

Today I brought the trim pieces into the house and got some pics.

here ya go:



If it gets warmer like they are saying ... I'll get them installed this afternoon.

Just noticed ... LOL .. they were so cold ... they have a tad fog on them ... they are really shiny ... but the picture shows some fog (condensation).