Getting Downtown 300 going after 4 years!

[shadwell_lad]

So, my bike has been sitting in my parking space for over 4 years without moving (I've been using a car).

I want to get the bike going and then sell it, maybe after a few weeks of spinning around on it.

There are a few things I know I need to fix
- replacement battery (I have a Yuasa ready to go)
- replace windscreen as it fell over and cracked
- replace the wing mirror  holder as this broke when the bike fell over
- general wash and clean!

Any thoughts on what else I should do?  I'm optimistically hoping that the bike will start straight off with the new battery but also very aware that this may not happen.

All thoughts welcome!

[rdhood]

To really ride it, it needs a full service:

drain and refill with fresh fuel, change oil, gear oil,  change coolant, tires might have aged out and need new tires. Belt might have aged out and need new belt.

But if you are going to sell it... change the fuel, check the oil/coolant/etc.  check tire pressures, put in battery and crank it up.  I would bet it starts first time and is rideable... if it was rideable when you shut it down.

edit:  Id check that air filter to.  Sometimes crawl up in there when it sits too long.

[shadwell_lad]

Thanks for the advice. I definitely want to sell it and want to sell it "running" to get the best price that I can.   The bike was running fine when I last left it other than an old battery.   Let's hope it starts!

[CROSSBOLT]

What kind of fuel and how much was in the tank for four years?

[shadwell_lad]

I actually have no idea how much fuel was in the bike (or what it was).  When I fit the battery I'm hoping that the petrol gauge will work.

What was the driver for the question?

[CROSSBOLT]

Ethanol in gasoline does bad things when it sits for over a year. Four years demands it be removed, the tank cleaned and the fuel pump and line to injector flushed out. The injector should be removed and tested.

[shadwell_lad]

That sounds like a fair amount of work.......

[CROSSBOLT]

That sounds like a fair amount of work.......

Yes, it is and is a big deal very important to successful restart. It would be CRITICAL to a carburetor machine but the EFI is more forgiving. Probably the best way ould be leave the tank in the bike (work smart not hard), pump out the fuel in there through the filler neck (electric or hand pump), dump in a gallon of fresh fuel, pump that out and look at it in a glass jar for contamination. Once that sampling looks clear then hotwire the pump in the tank to clear out the disconnected pressure line to the throttle body. Once that is clear you should be ready to reassemble and fire her up!