Topic: Storing engine for year plus

[70CB750]

How do you store engine when you know it will be stored for at least a year?  This one has oil drained out of it and the plan is to do a compression test and enclose holes - like the oil hose holes - against bugs and mud hauling wasps and put it away.  My storage space is dry, but not conditioned, it will get cold in winter and hot in summer, but I think it should be ok.  Or should I try and crate it?  Spray it with RemOil?
 
I already wrapped air box into plastic wrap to keep out stink bugs we are overrun with this year - if that one stays in dark I am sure it will not deterorate.
 
The last item are carburetors. They need to be cleaned for sure and also new gaskets and what not.  Should I clean them now and reassemble and store in air tight box?  Or it does not matter and they can stay dirty till I am ready to use them?

All the components are in pretty good shape and I want to keep them that way till I am ready to start the build.  Please, advise.

[matt mattison]

Storing for a year in a dry place really is not a long time. For the motor, I would drain the oil out of the crankcase.. Coat the cylinders with some light oil. Back off all the adjusters on the tappets, so all my valves remain closed. Plug up any openings and cover it up. As far as the carbs go, I'd just store drain them out good, and store them like you said. Rebuild those when your ready.

[Greggo]

Your plan sounds solid.  Only advice I would offer is maybe pour a little Marvel Mystery Oil in the plug holes to drain down to the cylinders...but unless there's lots of condensation, I don't think the rings will get stuck.

[LesterPiglet]

My engine lay with the oil pan off. No trouble to get it running after 10 years like this. Just drop a bit of oil in the plug holes and bung up the intake/exhaust.

[cb650PK]

Hey, are you putting Dorothy to sleep for whole year? Like "sipkova ruzenka", it will require a kiss from a prince to resurrect her.

[70CB750]

Thanks guys. I forgot about closing valves, thats an excellent point.


This is not about Dorothy.  I got 1978 SS engine few days ago. The plan is to combine the engine and wheels and fork from SS with K3 frame to create CB750FK

[BobbyR]

Oil up the cylinders, and you may as well clean up the carbs and store them. It is a pain in the ass job, do it now while you have time to not do it quickly.