Seasonal startup procedure

I quit doing the seasonal oil change thing on vehicles/boats many years ago. I do a good run prior to storage, with the engine getting up to normal operating temp and then drain the carbs after shutting it down. Nowadays I only change oil in any vehicle based on mileage/hours or oil analysis.

It is not a seasonal oil change guys - The original thread was from 2010. klnick's bike has been sitting for 18 years if I'm understanding correctly!

Mine sat for 8 years while I was into fixing old ham equipment. I just drained the sump, added new oil, removed the exhaust rocker covers and dumped oil down there. Then started it right up. I did buy new battery for it. In subsequent years I replaced a lot of rubber parts and fixed a lot of things that I did wrong before finding this forum. But now it's better than new.

Good luck with it.

Russ

My norton has never set idle for 6 months straight so I really have nothing to contribute other than to say that
if it was me....... I'd change out the old used contaminated oil just because it's old used contaminated oil.

Is it winter already?
Its hard to believe that a 40 year old bike needs such a regimine to start it up.
I dont want to oil starve someting but is it really necessary to oil down the top end?
I can certainly see draining the sump and kicking it over some but what did everyone do in the spring of 73?
I dont want to hurt my new engine.
Damn, its August.

MikeM said:

Is it winter already?
Its hard to believe that a 40 year old bike needs such a regimine to start it up.
I dont want to oil starve someting but is it really necessary to oil down the top end?
I can certainly see draining the sump and kicking it over some but what did everyone do in the spring of 73?
I dont want to hurt my new engine.
Damn, its August.

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Probably, absolutely nothing cos it was day to day transport for most and the gonads were a bit bigger...

Batrider Russ and Others;

Yup, you understand correctly, it has been sitting for 18 years. I didn't drain the oil (kind of obvious now that I should have, but I wasn't as smart then as I am now) but I was smart enough to put an old soup pan under it and there looks to be about a pint or so of oil in it. Kept the garage floor clean if nothing else.

Of course I'll do the new oil thing (and filter) as many have suggested, give the clutch plates some attention, clean the carbs, new battery, and I'm sure I will be dealing with a myriad of rubber and seal issues, not to mention front and rear brakes, new seat and ..... but mainly I just want to see if it will start.

Also, I peered into the fuel tank and there looks to be a very light rust formation in some areas, but doesn't look too bad. I have replacement petcocks, since the original levers broke off, so the filters will be replaced anyway. Any suggestions on how to give that a clean before fueling up?

Cheers, Nick

If you have a few kilo of small nuts and bolts or similar, stick them in the tank with some to be waste petrol/kero/diesel and do the "Cocktail Shake Rattle and Roll" thing but if you prefere the Macarana Roll its up to you..(nobody is watching) Takes a bit of effort but will remove the majority of surface rust.. Make sure you remove petcock filters so as not to damage and flush several times prior to use and fit a sacraficial set of fuel filter/s for first tank or so of fuel...

Evaporust is great for cleaning rust from anything , especially fuel tanks...I usually clean loose rust as previously stated and then let Evaporust set inside tank overnight and then rinse....When done rinse and inspect and repeat if nessecary...This stuff really gets rid of the rust without harming paint or chrome..

http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html ... 4AodNjY_7w

Thanks Beach and olChris;

I'll do the "shake not stirred" thing for the tank, and I will also check out the Evaporust. Hopefully available in Canada but if not I'll go across the line to Bellingham and see if I can find it. Is there some kind of liner or coating on the tank interior? The areas without the light rusting look like they have a satin-type finish, not raw steel. I am the original owner of the bike, so no one else has done anything to the tank.

I checked out the "New Guy, Old Bike" posts and saw a reference to Evaporust there as well (probably from you, Beach?). My Interstate is the same colour, and has the same garage-kept "patina", except it is a Mk IIA, before electric start. Mine has had a rough life.

Thanks guys.

Cheers, Nick

There was some kind of coating in my Commando tank that looked a bit like rust...Was loose and flaking and removed it with acetone...Just have to be careful with paint..

As the Evaporust is a bit pricey, one trick I've heard of is to put a bunch of golf balls in the tank when you use it. Less tank turning / gallons purchased.

David B said:

As the Evaporust is a bit pricey, one trick I've heard of is to put a bunch of golf balls in the tank when you use it. Less tank turning / gallons purchased.

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You mean you have some little miniature scuba divers playing golf inside the petrol tank :?: :roll: