Long term storage

[RichV]

Not wanting to hijack another thread on winter storage, my question involves going longer than a season. I plan to be gone for almost a year and need to store the bike for that period. I just rebuilt everything so storage shouldn't be too much a problem.

I know the following:

- Change oil and filter.
- Clean entire bike.
- Light weight oil in cylinders (small amount) then turn over. May try fogging.
- Drain tank and carb bowls of all fuel after running ethanol free gas.
- Place in dry place on centerstand.
- Support front wheel off ground without contact to rear.
- Cover bike in breathable cover (make sure totally dry first).

Do I have all the bases covered?

[JeffH]

Rich,

BATTERY, didn't see that you addressed a plan for the battery. I'd get it out of the bike. A potential problem that can easily be avoided.

What about the chrome stuff. You are in a humid area. Maybe somebody could recommend what do with the shiny stuff. oil it?

Jeff

[RichV]

Yes, battery. I usually remove it completely and take it somewhere it won't freeze.

[tomcos67]

Thanks a long time for battery to sit without being charged, now and then...!Bring it to s friends have him battery sit...?

[trbig]

That's a long time sitting. Sitting is bad for them. It'd be better if you took it to a local member and let them just store it/ride it for you. They could send you some video of the riding so you wouldn't miss it so bad.. you know.. outrunning the cops, wheelies, scraping pegs on turns..

On second thought....

[MarkD]

RV-- park over a tarp ( plastic sheet), esp. if it's going to be in an unheated garage. The cement floor will hold/ give off moisture, and the tarp stops it from ruining the chrome.

[dbeardslee]

They make some stuff you can fog the inside of your gas tank with to prevent rust. Can't remember the name, though. It's some kind of an oil made specifically for gas tanks. My brother put it inside his tank, and his bike sat for a couple years like that and it kept the rust away.

I just put Betsy back on the road this summer after letting her sit for four years. I didn't do anything prior. When the time came to put her back in service I cleaned the carbs (cause I left gas in them), changed all the fluids, rebuilt the brakes, and installed a new battery. She came back to life with a vengeance.

Brakes get pretty nasty if you let them sit for a long time - almost like stuff grows around the pistons. If I'd drained the carbs and the tank I might have gotten away with just doing the brakes. Might not be a bad idea to change the brake fluid before putting her to bed just to get as many contaminants and moisture out as possible, and change it again when you get back. But like I said - mine sat for four years. They shouldn't get too terrible in just one.

I had it sitting in a garage, and I covered it with an old bed spread. I'm not crazy about putting plastic over metal 'cause sometimes it does more harm than good. I learned that with firearms - almost guaranteed to make 'em rust. Something that breaths is usually a better choice. But at any rate, you definitely want to store it indoors.

[RichV]

It'd be better if you took it to a local member and let them just store it/ride it for you.

Yikes! I would like to have someone who knows bikes store it so they can watch for problems. It's the second half, however, that gives one pause...

[RichV]

RV-- park over a tarp ( plastic sheet), esp. if it's going to be in an unheated garage. The cement floor will hold/ give off moisture, and the tarp stops it from ruining the chrome.

It's going to depend on where it ends up. The tarp on concrete is a very good idea. I may have it stored on a raised wood floor in a dry area. I don't know if the tarp is needed in that case.

[RichV]

They make some stuff you can fog the inside of your gas tank with to prevent rust. Can't remember the name, though. It's some kind of an oil made specifically for gas tanks. My brother put it inside his tank, and his bike sat for a couple years like that and it kept the rust away.

I already permanently coated the inside of the tank with stuff that prevents any rust. It should hold it back (I hope).

I just put Betsy back on the road this summer after letting her sit for four years. I didn't do anything prior. When the time came to put her back in service I cleaned the carbs (cause I left gas in them), changed all the fluids, rebuilt the brakes, and installed a new battery. She came back to life with a vengeance.

It is my intention to drain all remaining gas after running a full tank of non-ethanol fuel so I shouldn't need to do a cleaning. Oil change, of course, to get any trapped moisture out of the crank. New brakes and battery depending on their shape after storage.

I had it sitting in a garage, and I covered it with an old bed spread. I'm not crazy about putting plastic over metal 'cause sometimes it does more harm than good. I learned that with firearms - almost guaranteed to make 'em rust. Something that breaths is usually a better choice. But at any rate, you definitely want to store it indoors.

I'm not inclined to cover any bike with a plastic tarp except for very short periods. I use a commercial cover that vents/breathes and gathers at the bottom to keep it in place. I would NEVER store a bike outside for long periods, even covered. I found this bike after 10 years outside and it took me 2 years to fully restore it. That's not happening again.

Thanks for the advice.

[webbcraft2150]

Might want to look into those tent like "garages" made for bikes. I had a buddy that actually used a tent to store his rig in.

[motoman]

My Venturer has been sitting here in my garage, unstarted, carbs dained and full with 6.5gallons of fuel treated with Stsartron since LAST August. Still smells like good fuel, but that length of time do not trust its burning correctly ability. Gonna drain it all before any fuel even hits the carbs. Substantually enough fuel, gonna try some in the Honda mower and mix a bit for the weed eater. If they fire up and work correctly, just gonna use that fuel in the lawn equip. Don't want any iffy cond. to exist with the Venturer and 'chase my tail'.

[dbeardslee]

I had four year old gas in Betsy's tank at the beginning of the summer. I siphoned it out and put it through a Mr. Funnel to get any water or debris out of it, mixed it 50/50 with fresh gas and put it right back in the tank. Worked fine.

[donebysunday]

All good, and the batt. too.
If it's in a room alone you're good, if other winter vehicles enter and bring salted road snow that melts, then wipe anything you don't want to rust/corrode with a PTFE product, (Tri flow, Super lube, or my fav. aerosol Slick 50, least cost too.)

Not wanting to hijack another thread on winter storage, my question involves going longer than a season. I plan to be gone for almost a year and need to store the bike for that period. I just rebuilt everything so storage shouldn't be too much a problem.

I know the following:

- Change oil and filter.
- Clean entire bike.
- Light weight oil in cylinders (small amount) then turn over. May try fogging.
- Drain tank and carb bowls of all fuel after running ethanol free gas.
- Place in dry place on centerstand.
- Support front wheel off ground without contact to rear.
- Cover bike in breathable cover (make sure totally dry first).

Do I have all the bases covered?

[RichV]

Does any cover their exhaust pipes and intakes to keep moisture out? Is it really necessary?