Topic: 2 year storage..

[cameron]

So.. I need to put her away for two years. Maybe more.

I have a clean, unlined steel tank and stock carbs.
There will be no one around to do any rolling or tending or anything.
It will be in Tucson, AZ.. which is very arid most of the year, but quite humid for 6 weeks. In a shed without climate control.. but in the shade. 70-100 degrees most days.. as low as 30 in the winter nights.

My plan: Seafoam, Full Tank, run the carbs dry- anticipate draining the tank when I get her back.
Wax/polish, new oil, Centerstand, cover with a moving blanket then a dropcloth. No tender.

When I get her out?
Drain the fuel, replace the battery and the tires (it is time anyway), change the oil and plugs and rock and roll.

Sound reasonable? Should I do anything else?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I vote to drain the tank.

[cameron]

it is pretty dry here.. nothing seems to rust.

[Bodi]

I use a few mothballs in a bag (old sock) attached to a string to the attachment on the bottom of the cap, in a completely dry tank - washed with alcohol and then allowed to dry. Bikes without the attachment, a thin ribbon through the hole wouldn't damage the cap gasket like a sting would or you could just turn the tank over and grab the sock. The mothball gas doesn't corrode steel but it displaces all the air eventually: no oxygen = no rust. We get humid summers but a CB77 tank I've stored for 10 years looks the same inside as the day I put it in the shed, I checked it last month to see if any mothballs were left.

[setdog]

There are good articles via Google on storing a bike for long term, tips such as, pull battery, drain gas from tank completely, spray some oil in cylinders put plugs back in, one guys say to spray down with wd40, another says to get the bike tuned well, like carbs synch, timing set, right before storage, cover with blankets, keep it fully jacked up off ground or expect the tire(s) supporting the weight and losing air, those may have to get replaced.

You're also prob thinking about after storage and long term can mean any rubber stuff may dry out, seals may go bad, be prepared to perform a full tune up and go through as tho you just something in a barn.

I know mine were stored for a long time and under what kind of circumstances I have no idea. 
But, they're still running.

[cameron]

I've read that stuff.
But I only trust experience.

My tank cap still has the chain...I could go for that mothball thing!

[becken]

I had a 2-stroke that sat for about 15 years. The oil in the oil injection system leaked past the pump and filled the carburetors. I pulled the float bowls and the carburetors were in perfect condition, I only drained out the oil. I might think about draining the gas tank and carburetors, putting a quart of 2-stroke oil in the tank, turn the petcock to reserve for a while and make sure you have oil in the float bowls, then turn to off. At start up, drain the tank and float bowls, fill up with fresh gas and you should be good. It might smoke a bit but it shouldn't hurt anything.

[carnivorous chicken]

There are good articles via Google on storing a bike for long term, tips such as, pull battery, drain gas from tank completely, spray some oil in cylinders put plugs back in, one guys say to spray down with wd40, another says to get the bike tuned well, like carbs synch, timing set, right before storage, cover with blankets, keep it fully jacked up off ground or expect the tire(s) supporting the weight and losing air, those may have to get replaced.

Second this, and if you want to try to keep your tires, use the center stand but then prop the front wheel off the ground as well with a piece of wood or something -- if it sits for a long period of time on the front wheel you can develop a flat spot.

[cameron]

I will prop it up.. but my tires are due for replacement NOW.. so I plan on changing them

Oil in the carbs, huh?
Anybody else tried this?

I kind of think I dont need it HERE.. cuz humidity = 10% most of the time