Storing the bike - What to do about the fuel?

[Monstaman]

So do we have any experts on longer term storage of vehicles and in particular the DR.

So we have a Mitsi Pajero running on the 95, a Diesel Prado and the DR650 which will be stored for 18 months - 2 years, what is the recommended approach to storing these,

Full tank?

Empty Tank?

Half Full?

Anyone having 1st hand experience please chime in and Padmei if there is still not much happening well we can talk about how bad KLR's are.

[jim.cox]

empty tanks rust

better to fill them

and then add a fuel stabiliser

a drop or two of oil in the spark plug holes, then turn over by hand, will help stop the bores and rings deteriorating

what about the batteries - that long and they'll liley be dead if you dont leave them on an auto- charger

[Monstaman]

empty tanks rust

better to fill them

and then add a fuel stabiliser

a drop or two of oil in the spark plug holes, then turn over by hand, will help stop the bores and rings deteriorating

what about the batteries - that long and they'll liley be dead if you dont leave them on an auto- charger

Cool thank you, will find out about the stabilizer for the fuel.

Re the batteries, all batteries being hooked up in our motorhome which has 2 x 125 watt solar panels so 15.2 amp hour on a nice day, hook em all up in parallel, we also have a timer to start a light and create a bit of draw each day as well so happy with all of that.

[CrazyFrog]

empty tanks rust

better to fill them, and then add a fuel stabiliser

a drop or two of oil in the spark plug holes, then turn over by hand, will help stop the bores and rings deteriorating

what about the batteries - that long and they'll liley be dead if you dont leave them on an auto- charger

Wot he said, but use 91 in the tank with fuel stabiliser. 91 octane deteriorates slower than 95 or 98, also less likely to "grow" fuel algae. Yes, it does happen with petrol, but mostly with diesel or jet A1.
Don't get yer mate to start the vehicle occasionally to charge battery, as this only puts fuel condensate (water) into the engine unless the engine gets nice and hot to burn it off.
Get a trickle charger onto the batt..... oh,hang on, I just read the bit about the camper solar charger, sweet idea.


Enjoy your trip yer bastard

[Crim]

give them all to family / friends / neighbours to use or kick over every coupla weeks

[sinfull]

Just run the thing out, chuck some 2 stroke in it for a bit so bowls floats etc cop a layer of oil and run em out again ! leave the tank with two smoker mix in it taps off ! few drops of oil down the plug holes and spray the whole thing in crc or wd 40, cover and she'll hose clean when ya ready (smoke for a bit but nothing a clean set of plugs can't fix later)

But then i have never tried it, Know this shit fuel of ours gels if ya leave it in the bowls and you'd be looking at a strip down after two yrs !
perhaps spraying start ya bastard or brake clean down the fuel lines to wash out the bowls and then WD40 to leave in em !

Fuck knows, good luck lol

[NinjaNanna]

what were your arguements against selling them?

In 2 years time they will be worth even less, in that time rust spreads, rubbers perish, brake fluids contaminate, fabrics mould and wof inspectors go, "hello what do we have here, been off the road for two years, I'd better be thorough on this one"

[unstuck]

Get the wheels off the ground too.

[Underground]

what were your arguements against selling them?

In 2 years time they will be worth even less,

Yeah, get rid of all that junk, its only a liability if left for 2 years and one less thing to worry about.
Vehicles are dead easy to buy again when you need them.
And wouldnt it be better to have that loot in the bank earning a little interest and ready to be called on if you need it?

[Monstaman]

what were your arguements against selling them?

No argument actually, but

Mitsi Pajero, what we would get for it not worth selling and it is a great car so we will keep it as we don't need to sell it.

Prado, well historical value, POS, bent, damaged and scarred for life, it has very personal history so I will never sell it ... ever, if you want to read why http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/newsitem...rial-to-friend

Motorhome, just because.

DR, ok the DR, shameless plus for Alaska Leather, http://www.alaskaleatheronline.com/servlet/StoreFront

Barb and Vic who own Alaska Leather have been absolutely instrumental in helping Two Moto Kiwis get off the ground with purchasing gear etc and supplying a workshop for us to set up on our journey, without them life would have been tenfold harder.

What does this have to do with my bike, well they are coming to NZ in November and were going to hire two bikes, so I am lending them my DR and Toddy is lending them his as they have helped him out on previous trips to.

In the brotherhood of ADVenture riding the world they have helped us for no gain other than the love of the sport and have unknowingly paid if forward thus I am reciprocating by saving them a fortune in hire bike costs as a thank you to them and with pleasure they can take my bike set up ready to go.

So, I hope that reason is good enough.

If you ever get to go to Alaska or even across North America you can bet your boots that just about anyone you talk with in the touring/adventure motorcycling circles knows Barb and Vic, they are as close to Southlanders with an honest and caring approach so we consider ourselves very lucky.

So, will tank it up with 91, IMS so no rust, Central Otago so not very damp either. ... saweeeetas bro.