surging and erratic running

[cinjeff]

Hoping someone may have experience this. 1988 Honda Goldwing starts fine but will idle erratic. When operating and when you ask it to go it bogs a bit and will catch up and run ok for a bit then it does it again. This trike belongs to my brother and I am trying to help him trouble shoot. Plugs have been changed, fuel filter, carbs cleaned, coils cleaned, traced vacumn hoses and found no issues. Read somewhere where a temperature control sensor could be the culprit. Also reading said that 1988 and 1989 used a different sensor than the 90-2000. We have had this trike to a Honda Mechanic but he did not mention this. I have asked for advice here before and really appreciate you all. It is hard to find someone in our area that will work on a 1500. I live it Ky so any help in a good reliable mechanic would be helpful if we cannot get her going.

[Bikerbozo]

Have you tried spraying gum-out around the intake manifolds while it is running? If there is a leak, you would see it try and stall then as you spray. Just my guess. Never worked on a wing.

If it is fuel injected, maybe electronic butterfly control?

[rhino 2]

Double check all vacuum hoses to the carbs...Also...

Have the Carbs been out and then thoroughly cleaned...?...

Not just running carb cleaner though the gas tank...?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Double check all vacuum hoses to the carbs...Also...

Have the Carbs been out and then thoroughly cleaned...?...

Not just running carb cleaner though the gas tank...?

+1 fairly common on a 1500

[Marc H]

Accelerator pump itself or adjustment?Stock air filter or K&N?

[cinjeff]

Have you tried spraying gum-out around the intake manifolds while it is running? If there is a leak, you would see it try and stall then as you spray. Just my guess. Never worked on a wing.

If it is fuel injected, maybe electronic butterfly control?

We will have it apart soon and will try that. He did spray some around the left side manifold and it did affect the running of the motor. Thanks for the suggestion. We will try that and see if we can locate a leak.

[cinjeff]

Double check all vacuum hoses to the carbs...Also...

Have the Carbs been out and then thoroughly cleaned...?...

Not just running carb cleaner though the gas tank...?

Thank you for the suggestion. Yes carbs out and cleaned and vacumn hoses appeared newer than thirty years old. Will be trying the previous suggestion of spraying gumout around manifold to test for any leaks in intake. Thanks Rhino for you quick response.

[cinjeff]

+1 fairly common on a 1500

I also owned a 1500 and it had fluctuating idle as well but only 2-300 rpm. This surges as much as 7-800 rpm and when it does it on the road it is of course pretty dangerous. Thank you for your reply.

[cinjeff]

Accelerator pump itself or adjustment?Stock air filter or K&N?

Moving to that if not a problem with intake. Thank you for that suggestion. I do not know about air filter but will check. Can that pump be adjusted and how if so? Thanks again.

[trike lady]

Maybe this will shed some light on the problem, its a service bulletin for the 1988 GL1500 http://www.gwrraiachapa.com/bulletins/1500SB2.pdf Look for the 'X' on the frame by the battery.

http://www.gwrraiachapa.com/bulletins/1500SB1.pdf

These may help you.