| Author | Message | ||
     Steveray |
Please post your recommendations for the best way to store Buell tubers for long term (as in years), for both carburetor and fuel injected models. A couple of the bikes are very low miles. I know they should be ridden rather than stored but I have a couple of favorites to ride and there are only so many hours in the week. I will be keeping them in climate controlled space. Thanks | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've had great luck running the tanks low...putting in enough Sea Foam for a full tank, riding to the gas station and filling up to the brim (less air in the tank the better), riding home to circulate the Sea Foam (gets it through the whole fuel system). I then close the petcock (my tubers are all carb'd) and run the carb dry - run it and rev it until it simply runs out of gas. Park it like that. You can unhook the battery if you like; I rotate a tender through my bikes a week at a time and they always fire right up. For my EFI bikes the only step I delete is the "close the petcock" step. If it's stored...STORE it. DO NOT start it up to make the vroom-vroom noise and then shut it off. Don't start it unless you'll ride it for at least 30 minutes. If, however, you know for a fact it will be years and not weeks or months...do everything above, and then simply drain the fuel tank if you don't want fuel sitting in it for all that time. | ||
| Tombo |
After running the carb out, I would change the fluids and remove the plugs and put a small amount of mystery oil in the cylinders then rotate the pistons so you lightly coat the cylinder walls (rotate on an annual basis) I suggest not leaving it on the side stand but use a high quality swingarm stand. I would also remove the battery. | ||
| 46champ |
The only thing I would add is fill it with non ethanol gas. Run a couple of tanks thru it if possible. | ||
| S1owner |
When we store our sleds for the season we sea-foam the gas run it for 30 min turn the gas off and let it sputter off. Pull the plugs put sea-foam in with the plugs out we turn the motor a few times. Put the plugs back in. I will add disconnect the battery and put a battery tender on it. If storing on concrete put some scrap carpet or something down store on stands with the weight of the tires and shocks preferably. | ||
| General_ulysses |
If it's going to be stored for years? Here's what I would do: 1. Drain the fuel tank of all gas, completely empty. Partially disassemble the petcock and inject a small amount of 10W oil into it (4-in-1 etc) and work it into the On, Reserve and Off positions. Petcocks can get crudded up with the remaining gas residue in them over time. 2. With the tank off the bike, start the engine and allow it to run on the gas still in the carburetor. As the fuel is consumed in the fuel line, spray gumout carb cleaner into the line to replace the consumed fuel. Let the engine run a minute or two on the gumout or until it conks out. An alternative to this is to inject 10W oil into the fuel line and attempt to keep the engine running as long as possible on the 10W oil. It'll start to smoke and sputter as all the gas is replaced with the oil. This coats the valves, rings, combustion chamber, cylinders etc and pickles the carb all at the same time. 3. Then drain the carb bowl of any residue of what's left inside. 4. Take the spark plugs out and inject several pumps of 10W oil into the spark plug holes. Turn the engine over with the plugs out to coat everything. Don't put too much in or you may have hydraulic lock next time you try to start it (something you DON'T want). Put the plugs back in. I personally would leave the motor oil and transfer case oil in it unless it was really dirty. It will coat and protect everything inside. Once you put fresh oil in it, the fresh oil will deteriorate somewhat (or a lot) after being exposed to the old oil residue and oxygen sitting for years inside the engine. A waste of money in my opinion. I would just leave it in and then drain and replace after you're ready to operate the bike again. 5. Consider putting mothballs (or some other effective deterrent) in the air cleaner and possibly elsewhere on the bike where rodents may make a nest. Don't underestimate this one, take a look at what they did to the Uly I bought last year. I've also had them chew on electrical wiring on other bikes too. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/708830.html 6. I'd cover all the metal surfaces on the bike with a thin coat of moisture displacing oil like 10W40 or gun oil etc. Since your bike will be stored in a climate controlled place, this is less of an issue, but I'd still do it if it's going to sit for years. 7. I'd get a stand if possible and prop the rear wheel up off the ground to keep weight off the shock and tire. This also stabilizes the bike and makes it harder to be knocked over inadvertently during storage. 8. I'd also coat all the rubbers and plastics in a protective silicone based spray cleaner. Make sure the belt tension is slack. 9. Remove the battery. Try to maintain it separately away from the bike. 10. Put a light plastic dust cloth over the bike to keep dirt and dust off of it. Make sure it's in a tucked away place that will not invite having objects (ladders etc) accidentally dropped on it. Leave the key in it unless there's a security concern (that way you don't have to go finding it years from now). 11. Leave a little note to yourself - or your heirs - of what was done to preserve the bike and what should be done to revive it in the future. (Message edited by General_ulysses on May 18, 2014) | ||
| Steveray |
Thanks to each of you for the advise. I finally managed after years of negotiating to get room IN THE HOUSE for these tubers so the climate control will be good. The oiling suggestions sound good as does the "don't start it up just to hear it roar" advise. I will not have the rodent problem as my main problem is keeping our cats off of the bike seats. My mother's car had its wiring harness destroyed by rats/mice when she moved to the country and that was EXPENSIVE. I like the idea about storage notes for the heirs as it my 6 year old grand boy I hope to be saving these for. Also, the note to self is pertinent as I will turn 60 tomorrow. Anyway, I am a great fan of this site and learn all I can from it. | ||
| Sportyeric |
The oil in the oiltank will probably drain into the cases over time. So after your oil-change, fill to one quart short of full and leave your future self a note to add one and only one quart before starting. That way, its got something to run on till it pumps the oil back into the tank. | ||
| Essmjay |
I think you should go for a long hard ride on muddy roads then park it in a chicken coop with unchanged oil and a half full tank of ethanol gas. Leave the battery hooked up and throw a bunch of hay over the top of the bike. Make sure there are some nesting boxes above it too. Then forget about it. Just think of the fun someone will have discovering and restoring it someday. | ||
| Woodnbow |
Essmjay, that'll make a great episode 3400 for American Pickers! | ||
| Steveray |
Maybe that is the formula to get the prices up on these tubers as well as hide them from the budget chopper builders for the next couple of decades. |
