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CB Tips
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There were several reports of problems with the factory CB's on the 2001 GL1800's. Fortunately, I have not had any problems. I ride regularly with the local GWRRA club and everybody says that my CB is clear. I normally run with the squelch down around 8. Never the less 

This seems to be a simple fix that has worked for some riders:

• My dealer (Honda of Milpitas) and is described by Pete in the Service Department. Pete is the one who called the Honda tech line to inquire if there was anything new in regards to a fix for the high squelch/low modulation many of us are experiencing. After jotting down a few notes, Pete spoke with Bruce, the dealership's Wing wrench who was servicing my bike at the time. When I rode off a half-hour later, Bruce told me to try out the CB and see if there was any improvement. The rest is history. Now I'm not saying that what fixed my CB will fix yours, but it's so simple that it certainly is worth a few minutes of your time. 

  • The problem with my CB was with the antenna and the ground. 

  • If you are experiencing low modulation and high squelch with your CB radio, try this: 

    • First, loosen "slightly" the two allen screws that hold the top half of the antenna mast to that dealywhopper halfway up the CB antenna. You only want to get the screws loose enough so you can barely rotate the top half of the mast. 

    • Now rotate the mast back and forth several times as if you are trying to make a scratch in the part of the mast that the allen screws come into contact with. Making a scratch is your goal. 

    • Bruce didn't say so, but after looking at the mast after I got home, it probably wouldn't hurt to remove the top half of the mast and run sandpaper over the bottom portion that slips down into the dealywhopper. The point of all this is to make sure the mast makes good contact with the dealywhopper it slides into. 

    • Now tighten the allen screws so that the mast is locked into place and will not rotate. That part of the fix is done. 

    • Now fold the antenna forward and apply a little WD-40 around the hinge area. 

    • When you fold the antenna back to its upright position, rotate back and forth several times the knurled portion that you lift to fold the antenna. 

    • Finally, open the trunk and look for the grounding strap inside the trunk opposite the CB antenna mount. The strap is attached to a bolt and large washer. 

    • Remove the bolt and washer and use some sandpaper or emery cloth to ensure that the grounding strap is making good metal-to-metal contact with the bolt/washer. That's it!

I have posted below several messages that relate to the problems encountered by others.

• J&M Corporation came with a fix for both the low modulation and high squelch issues and posted a very good article at their site. Evidently, they caught some heat from somebody and removed it after a short period of time. I'm sure that if you asked, someone copied the information that J&M posted.
  • There was some question as to whether the modification would void the warranty. Those that were brave enough to do the modification reported that they were satisfied with the results.
  • Some hints for those attempting the modification:
    •  Take your time as most of it will be while your in the trunk.
    • Record every step of the incremental pot adjustments.

        

• One member reported that "Honda intends to send all of the defective CB's back to Clarion to make the modification." Not sure that there was any confirmation of this.
  •  Following is the list of modifications that Clarion will be doing to the Honda CB's (courtesy of Clarion) The adjust is made with VR104. Just so you know, the modification also includes  a resistor change ( R801 ) and IC112 is changed ( voltage regulator). VR104 must be adjusted using the signal generator input to the antenna at 6dB.  

       

• Just returned from my local dealer. The service manager gave me a copy of the below bulletin. This is word for word from the bulletin.

  "Message ID:M70-M
  To: All Honda Parts and Service Managers
  From: G. Richardson, Parts Sales and Marketing Dept.
  Re: GL1800 Exchange Radio

  Your dealership recently received Service Bulletin GL1800/A #4, June 2001: 2001 Gl1800/A Radio Muting Improvement.
  Please review that bulletin; it contains CRITICAL INFORMATION.

  The PROPER PROCEDURE for repairing a customer-owned 2001 GL1800/A that is properly diagnosed as causing muting difficulty with a Honda Accessory CB Radio is to install an EXCHANGE radio with updated software (P/N 39110-MCA-671RM). The updated radio is specifically intended for these repairs, and it is the ONLY REPLACEMENT PART accepted for warranty reimbursement. The exchange radio is ONLY available through the Radio Order Desk.

  If your dealership ordered and/or received a "NEW" radio (P/N 39110-MCA-671) with the intention of installing it in a customer's 2001 GL1800 to correct the "muting problem" for an authorized warranty repair, PLEASE STOP. Do not install a "NEW" radio. Refer to the procedures in Service bulletin GL1800/A #4 for the proper diagnostics and repair procedures AND the radio exchange process.

  Please submit a Parts O.A.R. request to your assigned parts center to return any NEW radios (39110-MCA-671) that you have in your inventory that you no longer need for Customer repairs. You will be reimbursed D/N PLUS all freight costs that you have paid both to obtain and to return these "new" radios. Call you dealer Analyst if you need any help.

  IMPORTANT NOTE: The procedure in Service Bulletin 2001 GL1800/A #4 ONLY apply to 2001 GL1800 motorcycles. 2002 models are NOT AFFECTED by this procedure.

  AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  Parts Division"