18-07-13, 02:07 PM
(18-07-13, 12:05 PM)simonm link Wrote: What does a dirty fuel filter look like ? I've never seen a fuel filter that looks anything other than cleanish.
They're usually caked full of a brownish crud from what I've seen - it's generally very small flakes of rusting metal I think!
With regards to the OP:
If you are capable of fitting a new chain and sprockets (they generally need replacing together, unless you'd literally just replaced the set 6 years back and the sprockets have hardly any wear on them), then you should be able to do most things on there really.
For sure I'd drain the tank, take it off, take the fuel tap off, drain it out. Fuel tap back on, stick a couple liters of petrol mixed with some redex in it and swoosh it around for a bit, then drain that too. Then fill it back up with petrol with a load of redex, and see if she starts. If you're lucky, the carbs will have had the fuel evaporate and you should be okay, worst case scenario you'll have petrol residue that'll have built up and the carbs will need a strip and clean. Hopefully though redex in the fuel and a good run will be enough to sort that out.
Second thing, after that amount of time sitting there, most of the fluids on your bike will have gone off, so I'd personally do a fork fluid change, engine oil change and coolant change. As the calipers are stuck on also makes sense to split them and clean them too, then as you'd have to rebleed anyway get a set of braided hoses and rebleed them up.
Only other potential thing that really needs to be looked at after a bike has sat for a while is that the tyres can develop flat spots, so just take it for a ride being careful, and if the front handles really strangely, probably good to replace the tyre!
full fluid and filter change will be done too.