What not to do!

So I rebuilt a set of carbs off the max 550 a while ago. The right way! The bike sat only for a few months. Sometimes life gets in the way. This is what happens when you don't take care of things.

 

New year's resolution. Don't let a bike sit neglected.

 

That looks more like darkened assembly lube/silicone grease

 

No assembly lube used. I put a tiny bit of silicone grease on the orings on the original installation. That gas sure did turn into a sticky substance. No one to blame but myself.

1 hour later after I saw what I did the carbs they were completely disassembled and went into chem dip. Blown out with air and then carb cleaner and are awaiting a finish cleaning in the am.

Also an email to Len has been sent.

 

I've NEVER seen that when sitting just for a few months. How many months are we actually talking about here ?

 

Now I'm confused----

 

4-6 months. It was running and I was riding on it while I lived at my current residence and I've been here for 13 months.

I rebuilt everything probably about 2 years ago.

 

Sorry. Yes I used silicone grease/assembly lube. But yes this is the product.

 

I'll get on that... in April!

 

Yeah.... Mine have been sitting since the 1st week of December when i got my December ride in.......at -10, I'm not abou to wake any of them up. Most of them will sleep til April more likely May......if There's a warm day in Jan, I'll wake one up to get my month's ride......as long as I can get to the road and back in

 

If your bike is properly winterized then it's not neglected. It's just sleeping.

 

What's "properly winterized"?

I'm in Virginia so even though it was 8 deg.F last week that's not typical. It's usually 30-40F here. So I figured just keep it gassed up and get an hour in a month and hopefully everything keeps flowing well until spring?

Beginning of the week we had one day was 45 so I got out for about 45 min. She was a little slow warming up though...

 

There's a lot of different thoughts.......

I top-off the tank, put clean oil in, and close the door.

If a warm dry clean day is in the forcast, I hook up the battery tender a day or two in advance to make sure the battery is topped off. I've never had a starting issue.

 

Step one for me is an end of Fall oil change, to prevent the acids that form from combustion causing bearing journal damage (over time this small amount of etching adds up).
If I'm riding (bike sitting most of a month, I just put the recommended dose of Sta-Bil into each tank of gas, and keep the battery on a tender.
If the bike sits all winter (as it has this winter), but that last tank of gas gets Sta-Bil, and Marvel Mystery Oil at the reccomended rate, a short ride to ensure that the gas mix gets evenly distrubited through the carbs, the float bowls drained, and the bike covered to keep the dust and cat hair off. The end of season oil change then comes after that final ride, instead of before.
IF the chome on your pipes has pitting, it's a good idea to clean the exhaust, and give it a coat of light machine oil with a rag to prevent rust (the oil will burn off, so make sure the Spring startup happens outdoors).

Whatever you do, don't forget to rotate the air in your tires. This is really important if you plan on riding in the Winter, but sill have Summer air in the them.

 

I have to drain the winter air out of my car tires every spring

 

I Don't even run the risk of them mixing....I use them separate compressors, though I do have an all-season air compressor for the car tires.
Lower the levels of the blinker fluids....otherwise the rebobulator may infarcate.

 

Remember to use left handed screwdrivers.

 

That's all I use… I'm left-handed

 

Even on the right handed screws?

 

Yup... I just have to remember to turn them the right way

 

Past few years, I've kept her topped off and on a tender... and while it is not uncommon to have a several-day string of below freezing weather, I've had the good fortune of being able to ride 3-4 times a month through the really cold stuff.

Fast forward to last Sunday...

In the teens (F), but clear. I suited up like the stay puff marshmallow man (complete with leather riding mittens!) Took about 6 pushes on the starter. First 4 she gave it her all, but no start. Then, the fifth and sixth saw some life, after that she coughed and hesitantly started. Cyl #1 took a minute or so to catch up with it's siblings.

I rode about 12 miles and came home. I pulled the batt and brought it into the house for the first time ever. On a tender now...

I know it's better to let them sleep, but I'm going through withdrawls.

Whats the date on the June carb clinic Dave?

Already looking forward to it. Last year was great and you couldn't beat the weather!

 

Move to South Georgia and you won’t have to winterize anything!

 

My approach to winter storage (typically 3 months) is similar to Kmoe's. I would only add that I use non ethanol gas as it seems hold up better, even with Stabil. It also protects the carb seals, etc.

I actually have never run ethanolized gas since I bought it new in 1985, which I'm convinced is one reason she still runs good.

 

I believe it. Wish I could get it here. I did find it in the Adirondacks last summer though.

 

there is a website that lists where you can buy non ethanol gas

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NY

 

Both stations here on long island (the ones that appear on the map) don't actually have it, though the web site says they do.

Rats.