Restarting bike after long (and unplanned) long-term storage

[rogwy]

Hello


Many years ago I put my bike away one September, with the intention of taking it out a few more times before parking up for over winter. Those last rides never happened (due to other things taking up my weekends), and then I moved house shortly after New Year, leaving the bike in my fathers garage 'while i got settled at the new house'. New house didn't have a garage, and I didn't want to leave the Fazer outside, so it stayed in my fathers garage for a while - during this time I was having a garage of my own built. Every month I would visit my father, and while there start up the Fazer and let it tick over for 10 minutes. I would also move the back wheel a bit to prevent it sitting on the same spot all the time.
The fazer was connected to an optimate charger. The garage is under my fathers house, and his house boiler is in the garage (so it doesn't get cold/damp in there).
After about 6 months of this, I neglected to do the above bike 'checks' (but still visited my father).


We're now several years later, and the bike is still sat in my fathers garage  :rolleyes [size=78%]!![/size]


I realise I have dropped a clanger (good old hindsight), and am here looking for advice on what to do to get the bike going again.


Here's where we're at:
* The optimate appears dead (no lights). Not sure if the fuse has gone, or the bike battery is dead, or what (would the optimate light up at all if the bike battery was dead?)
* The bike appears to have a flat battery (understandable).
* There is some fuel in the tank, but I'm not sure how much (empty/half/full).
* Bike has an alarm/immobiliser. I forget the brand but it is a well known one, and automatically shuts off the movement sensors after a few weeks stood to reduce battery drain.


As it's fathers day this weekend I will be popping round (of course!), so plan to extend my visit and spend some time assessing the Fazer to figure out the next steps.


So...what should I check (and how?).


I'm a hands-on type of chap, but have never done anything on the bike beyond putting fuel in (and checking fluid levels). On the car I can change wheels, brakes, oil filter, etc, so have a bit of an idea, and a small collection of motor tools.
I also have a multimeter (and know how to use that fully, but not where to stick it on the Fazer - I know where the battery is but not where any other electric stuff is on the Fazer).




Thank you for your help (and feel free to roll your eyes at my error in getting in this situation so far!)

[Dave48]

Hi Rogwy.
will try & answer some of the questions you raise:
1  Optimate-try connecting to a known good battery-(yourcar?) to check working or not ( a weak battery should show the red light on charger).
2 if battery has been allowed to remain flat you may find the plates have "sulphated"-hence "focced"ie New Battery needed
3. Fuel: Remove old fuel from tank-either syphon or better still lift & remove tank & drain contents.
Carburettors-drain float chambers-screw on side of each one.
You may get away without having to strip carbs-which is a bit of a pain to put it mildly!
Once youve got the bike running check brake action/drive chain& sprockets/ tyre condition & pressures. Tyres have a life of about 5 years from manufacture date shown on sidewall as eg 3807-translates as week 38 year 2007. Prob best to do an oil and filter change also change brake fluid-should be done every 2 years. Change engine coolant
Let us know how you get on.

[noggythenog]

I would drain & replace the oil.




10 minute stationary start ups i doubt would be enough to get the engine up to a decent temperature & the oil must be totally emulsified.....i always went with the leave it until youre ready to use it storage process.




On the basis of having being started up briefly with this old tank of fuel then id be seriously surprised if you didnt get some running issues with the carbs.....up to you, you can always try it & see but if that was me i would get those carbs whipped off & have them inspected & then you at least know where you stand on that before going through all the painful trial and error.




I know brake hoses are supposed to be changed after several years....ok so nobody really does that but I'm not sure since those rubber hoses have been sat in limbo for so long will they be likely to bulge and split open at the first decent squeeze of the brakes in anger.....maybe some technical foccers will know better.

[Paul]

I reckon:


1) New oil
2) New fuel
3) New battery


And last, but by no means least


4) Clean out carbs (jets and fine drillings)


If you get away without having to strip and clean out the carbs, count yourself extremely lucky.

[rogwy]

Thank you all for your helpful replies.

I suspect the battery is dead (think it is the original one anyway), so will take the dimensions this weekend to ensure I buy a suitable replacement. Will try the optimate on the car to see if that is dead also.
Fuel / Oil drain and change, check brakes/tyres, check chain - all sounds reasonable and having read the guides (and a few youtube videos) i'm confident I can do all these...looking forward to it actually! Carbs might be a bit more of a mission so i'll leave those until last - are there any good guides/youtube videos for these? I've done a search and found some with the carbs removed and stripped down on a workbench, but for me i'm looking for something starting at step1 - where abouts on the bike are they and how to remove/access them etc?


Thanks again.

[Craiginuk]

Hope it all goes well. I'd be suprised if the carbs don't need to be stripped and cleaned.

Carbs off is a pain but easily done. Tank off, airbox cover side panels off. Battery out. Loosen carb rubbers on airbox. Loosen air box mounting bolts. Pull airbox back. Remove fuel line to carbs. Remove coolant hoses from carbs and block them to stop coolant leaking out (small 4mm lines for carb heater circuit.). Loosen inlet rubbers. Prize carbs off head. Remove choke and throttle cables (fiddly). Then feed carbs out from lhs of bike. You have to feed them out a bit first to get the throttle cables off.  Might have missed the odd step but haynes manual lists it fairly accurately.