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Every year lots and lots of people just come in from riding, push their
bike over in a corner and walk away. They return in four or five months
and wonder why their bike won't run... well DUH ! If you want that bike
to work for you, you've got to take care of it. Let's take a look at how
you do that.
The Minimum
Gas rots, so you must put in fuel stabilizer and run the engine long
enough to get it completely through the carbs. Then, either fill up the
gas tank to full ( To the bottom of the filler neck ) with gas that has
no Alcohol ( Oxygenated ) in it, and has the proper mix of fuel stabilizer
in it. Or drain all of the gas out of the tank and spray some gas soluble
oil on the inside of the tank to keep it from rusting. The choice is up
to you. Either way is OK.
Drain all the gas out of the carbs. Most carbs have a drain screw on
the bottom of the carb.
Take the battery out and, if necessary, add distilled water to it and
clean off the outside ( Battery Box Too ! ) with a mixture of baking soda
and water. Then put the battery on a trickle charger ( No more than one
AMP ) and charge it till it is fully charged. Do this at least once a month,
till you start riding again.
The Maximum - Add The Following.
Wash and wax your Motorcycle.
Change the engine oil and oil filter.
Change ALL other oils and fluids, such as rear end oil, radiator fluid,
brake fluid, etc.
Take out all the spark plugs and put about a tablespoon of engine oil
down each spark plug hole. Now turn the engine over several times to ditribute
the oil around the cylinder. Be sure and ground the spark plug wires when
you do this. This is to protect the ignition system.
Use a breathable motorcycle cover to keep dust and moisture out. Plastic
tarps that don't breath trap moisture in, causing rust.
Something More
I like to put some type of water displacing, penetrating oil in each
cylinder to sort of dry it out, before I put in the engine oil. Combustion
makes a lot of water, and some of it always seems to get into the piston
ring area.
I like to use some kind of Armor All type preservative on all plastic
and rubber parts.
If you change the fluid in your bike's radiator, use distilled water
and a motorcycle type anti-freeze. Car type anti-freezes use additives
that can wear out your water pump.
If you change your brake or clutch fluid, use the type recomended for
your system, Dot 3, 4, or 5. Which one ? It's in your Shop Manual. You
do have one, don't you ?
It costs a bit more, but you can get a trickle charger that will shut
off automaticly when the battery is fully charged and start up again when
it's charge goes down. You can leave it connected and on all the time.
Aluminum does rust...sort of, so an application of spray wax or the
like, to all surfaces of the engine, wouldn't hurt.
Keep the bike in a dry, heated garage, if possible.
Once a month or so, turn the engine over a couple of times, to keep
things loose and lubed !
Keep it in the dark... sunlight thru a window can fade paint and the
like.
Hey folks, at least do the minimum. If you don't, you might get away
with it once or twice, but sooner or later You Will Loose.
Of course, if you don't,
IT'S OK,
I DON'T CARE...
IT'S NOT MY BIKE !