Forum

[RoSy]

I was always told to turn the engine over once in a while to prevent valve springs from becoming compressed if left in a static position, but on a single just a matter of leaving it on the compression stroke, different story if you have a twin/ trip/ four etc. Still worthy to turn any engine over if being left for any length of time to stop piston rings sticking, good squirt of oil through the plug hole will do no harm, and also a bath plug in the bell mouth will help keep the damp out. I also heard that deflating the tyres is beneficial but I'm not sure why.

[Beezabryan]

Hey there Lucky Eddie, Oramorph certainly eased my discomfort last week. Thankfully Ibuprofen & paracetamol now but no way am I ever taking Codeine not ever again.

[Geoff B in Kent]

Nothing to add to the advice given, but hope the knee op goes well. I'm down for right knee replacement this autumn so do let us know progress. I'm a bit concerned about kick starting afterwards, but have been practicing with my left leg. Funny dream a while back about the operation having to be paused - supplier didn't have my size knee in stock so I was left for a few days without a leg to stand on. As it were. May have been triggered by ordering loads of stuff from Mr H at the time, to repair the bike after an accident.

[apparently lucky eddie]

Geoff, my noo nee is ok for starting, just make sure she is over TDC before you go for it. Or get a smaller twin. Also don't worry about the wrong size being in stock, if mine is anything to go by, given the way it clicks and knocks, it was secondhand from the crematorium anyway! I'm sure one size is made to fit all. Have a look online and you can watch a whole replacement operation - brutal stuff indeed.

[PeteF]

Sorry Papa, can't agree with starting an engine - any engine - while it's layed up. Just about the worse thing you can do.
And tying the clutch open? Good way to weaken the springs I would have thought. Mine have always freed off after long lay offs.
Keeping the weight off the tyres is only necessary if you don't have a centre stand. The small amount of force while on a centre stand won't do any harm for years and by then you need new tyres anyway.

[papasmurf]

PeteF I was not commenting about a layed up engine. "Mothballing" a motorcycle is somewhat of a more drastic process, than not riding it for a month.
I start the engines on our four motorcycles once a fortnight when they are not in use or if they have not been used, clear the clutches at the time and charge the batteries on a regular basis.
I have never had a problem. None of our motorcycles uses oil, even though the BMW has now done over 90000 miles.

[John M]

I have a trials Bullet/Crusader which I use for green laneing, this often gets put away far muddier than it should and left for a month or so. I give the shiny bits a liberal spray of WD40 with no ill effects. Mine has a chain oiler so the rear wheel is usually protected by a liberal coating of a 10/40 and mud mix. I don't drain the carb and have never had any problems with stale petrol. The clutch plates do occasionally stick, but I find that a quick run down the road in second gear with the clutch pulled in soon sorts it.

[Presto]

Hi JohnM, the reason for draining the carb (and tank) is not to avoid ‘stale’ petrol – a problem I’ve never experienced in too many years. The reason is ethanol. Ethanol, has two detrimental effects. If left unused in a carb it often will leave a residue on the inner surfaces, this can and often does have adverse effects on carburation, as it gums up the jets to some degree. Second problem is that ethanol contains water, which over time separates and sinks to the base of the tank, causing corrosion. Once separated it cannot again be amalgamated with the non-water content of ethanol.

[Scalyback]

[center]




Oh yes, the giggle with ethanol.



Took me a while to work this out...



Add about 1.5% water to E10 (ethanol 10% fuel) and shake. after 30 minutes, drain petrol from top and add a little additive to replace the octane that the ethanol had. store it or use it, as it lasts much longer. Keep the ethanol (drinking alcohol) and water mix, skim of any remaining fuel and bottle with a few sloe berries. Leave 6 weeks, it's great for the lad's reunion!






Everybody's happy!

[papasmurf]

Ethanol is VERY poisonous.