Author Topic: long term/ longer term storage precautions?  (Read 705 times)

Offline WHY

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long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« on: March 20, 2023, 11:42:02 AM »
Went bike shopping and put down a deposit on a 23 Yamaha XSR900 yesterday. if it work out as planned I probably wont be riding my 2011 V7 Racer for the next 2 seasons. The V7 had been in storage since last Oct, all I did was fill up the gas tank, put seafoam. change oil, new oil filter. battery out on tender like what I always did in the last 10 year ever since I have the bike and never have problem starting it in April time. This time the I will need to put it in storage for longer like 3 years. anything else I should be aware of for a longer storage? the bike is kept at an indoor garage if that helps, Thanks
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Online Perazzimx14

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2023, 02:16:27 PM »
I'd be more inclined to drain the tank, change the earl and pull the battery. Then let is slumber away for as long as you like.
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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2023, 02:45:46 PM »

Yeah.  I would drain the fuel.  Put it on stands, if you can, to keep the tires from flat-spotting.  I have front and rear stands from Pit Bull which I use for servicing.  Pull the battery and put it on a shelf, hooking it to a battery tender every now and then.

Make sure you have good rodent control in the garage.  They can wreak havoc rather quickly if not dealt with.
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Offline vintagehoarder

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« Last Edit: March 20, 2023, 03:19:00 PM by vintagehoarder »
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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2023, 03:15:19 PM »

Online Kev m

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2023, 04:19:37 PM »
Yes to all the previous replies.

Draining the fuel system also means unplugging the fuel pump wiring and cranking the motor repeatedly until the injectors bleed off as much fuel as possible.

That's a plastic tank right? If metal I would have fogged it too after draining.

Fogging the cylinders will mean pulling the plugs, spraying in the ports and rotating the engine manually. This must be don't after the fuel system is drained so the fuel doesn't wash it away.
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Offline WHY

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2023, 04:37:50 PM »
OK great, Thanks all, mine is a plastic tank so looks like I will need to drain the tank, fog the cylinder and pretty much done.
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Offline kingoffleece

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2023, 05:18:16 PM »
3 years?  I'd be sure fresh brake fluid was installed just prior to storage.  And fine wire mesh over all openings.  Those sneaky rodents can get everywhere.
I've seen several nests cleaned out at my favorite CT motorcycle shop of bikes brought in by owner's who could swear that the bikes were stored out of harm's way.
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Online lucian

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2023, 05:47:11 PM »
All of the above and I also put plastic freezer bags over the exhausts pipe ends and secure with an elastic band .  Also ,I stuff an oiled rag in the air box intake and a few mothballs or dryer sheets strategically placed under seat ect. to ward off varmints.

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2023, 06:03:36 PM »
I'm not sure fogging the cylinders will do much as they are plated and not cast-iron bores of old. It won't hurt though.
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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2023, 06:49:38 PM »
I'm not sure fogging the cylinders will do much as they are plated and not cast-iron bores of old. It won't hurt though.

What are the rings?

Could they corrode/stick?
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Offline kingoffleece

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2023, 07:15:53 PM »
Fogging is never a bad idea.  Moisture is always going to move thru the system.
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Offline vintagehoarder

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2023, 06:47:53 AM »
3 years?  I'd be sure fresh brake fluid was installed just prior to storage.  And fine wire mesh over all openings.  Those sneaky rodents can get everywhere.
I've seen several nests cleaned out at my favorite CT motorcycle shop of bikes brought in by owner's who could swear that the bikes were stored out of harm's way.

Great points!
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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2023, 07:33:55 AM »
What are the rings?

Could they corrode/stick?

How do you fog the underside of the rings?
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Online Kev m

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2023, 07:51:06 AM »
How do you fog the underside of the rings?

Thanks for not being obtuse and directly answering an honest question.

I guess I'll go on thinking about it out loud in hopes that someone else is willing to contribute.

Fogging is about leaving a coat of oil that will last while the motor is in storage. Sure the cylinder walls in question may not be in imminent danger of corrosion (though they could be etched by acids if old oil was left behind). But do they not benefit come eventual next start up by the oil left behind?

If you fog a motor manually the rings aren't at temp and sealing fully, would not some of that mist get past them then to coat more of the piston and ring surfaces?

I don't recall any marine motors that dropped the recommendation to fog just because of EFI (and Nikasil which is used in some applications).

I don't routinely fog any of our current motors anymore because storage is very limited (though not that I type that sentence I should probably go ahead and fog the generator because that does it a lot). But if I was going to store something longer than a year I still don't see a downside. But I'm willing to learn.
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Online Perazzimx14

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2023, 11:13:31 AM »
Thanks for not being obtuse and directly answering an honest question.

I guess I'll go on thinking about it out loud in hopes that someone else is willing to contribute.

Fogging is about leaving a coat of oil that will last while the motor is in storage. Sure the cylinder walls in question may not be in imminent danger of corrosion (though they could be etched by acids if old oil was left behind). But do they not benefit come eventual next start up by the oil left behind?

If you fog a motor manually the rings aren't at temp and sealing fully, would not some of that mist get past them then to coat more of the piston and ring surfaces?

I don't recall any marine motors that dropped the recommendation to fog just because of EFI (and Nikasil which is used in some applications).

I don't routinely fog any of our current motors anymore because storage is very limited (though not that I type that sentence I should probably go ahead and fog the generator because that does it a lot). But if I was going to store something longer than a year I still don't see a downside. But I'm willing to learn.

I too was asking an honest question?






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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2023, 01:45:00 PM »
All good advice here, sounds like you got it covered...

I will say as the owner of a truck that I'm still unsnarling from mice going crazy on the wiring while it was in storage....

Stuffing a rag somewhere is NOT going to keep mice out....  Youd be better off putting rodent poison pellets or packets around the bike on the ground, under the seat, etc....  Unless you are going to meticulously seal pipes/intake/etc with steel wool or something, they will just get in anyway.

The ACF-50 spray is a great recommendation  I would coat it with that outside.. pipes, fasteners, etc and then roll it inside. Just remember you're going to have to detail it really nice when you pull it out after storage anyway.
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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2023, 03:22:02 PM »
I too was asking an honest question?

Then my apologies if I misunderstood your intention.

I would answer that I would assume it works the same way on all 4-stroke motors. How much is left on the cylinder wall when the piston passes or gets into the crankcase I don't know. I do know it's a common practice in long term storage marine motors including 4-stroke outboards and stern drives. I don't see this being that different in that sense.
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Offline Enzo Toma

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2023, 06:00:03 PM »
If you run gasohol, I'd flush the fuel system by running some some ethanol free fuel through it before doing the other steps mentioned here. If your local gas station doesn't have ethanol free at the pump with its own hose, you can buy a can of it at most hardware stores.

Offline Vagrant

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Re: long term/ longer term storage precautions?
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2023, 07:07:48 PM »
Stihl and others sell a 50 to 1 pre mix fuel in a gallon can. Not cheap, but it eliminates the need to fog and would protect everything. It is a chemical that stores for 5 years. It is not gas!
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