Triumphrat

Canuck_T100 · 12-08-2012, 11:12 AM

Thanks for all the input everyone!

Askari, agreed, there will still be some older oil in the engine, but very diluted with the new stuff. So, less contaminants, which is good.

Pauljp, I will start her up with the new oil and let her run until warmed up. Just to get the new oil circulated. Very little contaminants will be added in that short a time, certainly nothing to worry about.
I live in Kanata, have also worked here for the last 25 years. Maybe I'll see you on the road next spring!

Canuck_T100 · 12-08-2012, 11:25 AM

So who does this for a storage of 3 months or so? It seems like a bit of overkill to me.

I wonder if new showroom bikes, that may sit for many months have oil sprayed into the combustion chamber.
I would understand doing so for a long storage period, say 6 months or more.

What do you guys think of starting her up every few weeks on the warm days, and letting her idle until warmed up? I know it won't do much to warm up the transmission but it'll circulate some fresh oil around.

steve betts · 12-08-2012, 02:11 PM

Assuming you are changing the oil yourself at home, I don't see the point of starting it up before you store it.

All the moving parts remain coated with oil no matter how thoroughly you drain the crankcase. I just make sure the engine is hot when I drain it, not sure whether .7 liter or whatever remains, but one of the conveniences of these bikes is they take 4 L from "empty", no worry about over or under filling, just dump it in. (At least on mine.)

Some guys go to all kinds of effort - fogging cyclinders, putting in 2 L extra then draining excess in Spring...I've been told by Triumph mechanics that these engines are sturdy, and I expect they will last a long time with or without that extra attention.

I'm sure I'll hear about it if other opinions vary.

GDCobra · 12-08-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck_T100

What do you guys think of starting her up every few weeks on the warm days, and letting her idle until warmed up? I know it won't do much to warm up the transmission but it'll circulate some fresh oil around.

If you are really worried about getting oil around the engine pull the plugs out (or at least the caps off) and spin the engine over, this will pump oil around without the more harmful effects of combustion products, at their worst whilst cold, being distributed around the engine.

zeiset777 · 12-08-2012, 05:22 PM

I've always done exactly what my father has been doing with his bike for the past 26 years.

Fill it up with fuel, ad some stabil, run it for 5 mins, and change the oil at some point over the winter. He's never had any type of motor problems. Neither have I, but I've only been doing this for about 5 years.

I personally think if you just recently changed the oil, you'll be fine storing it over the winter without doing it again. I changed my oil back in October when I thought warm days were over. Since then, I've had it out for probably another 150 or so miles. I do not plan on changing it again.

Baltobonneville · 12-09-2012, 07:55 AM

That would be a pointless waste of oil and money.

Fill the fuel tank all the way to the neck to prevent rust inside the tank, add stabilizer (including into the carbs, so take a ride and refill the tank after you put in the stabilizer), and connect a Battery Tender every two or three weeks.

Canuck_T100 · 12-09-2012, 09:23 AM

Quite a range of opinions on this subject. GDCobra, good idea to pull the plug wires rather than start her up.
I suspect whether I change the oil or not she'll be fine, changing out oil with only 900 miles on it may be a waste and overly cautious, but new owners like to baby their toys!

Fuel stabilizer is a given, no debate on that one.
Last Thursday may have been my last ride of the season,

snow covers the ground now with freezing rain and more of the white stuff coming.
I've ordered a Triumph shop manual for some good reading and will have the forum to keep the drive alive over the winter.
Thanks guys!

mcfcinusa · 12-12-2012, 02:11 AM

For long storage I change the oil & filter & I fill the crankcase as full as i can then I remove the spark plugs and put 1/2 cup of oil in each cylinder replace the plugs and roll the engine over very slowly by pushing the bike in gear or rotating the rear wheel if you have a center stand. If it wont go over tdc then rotate it backwards to send the other cyl to tdc. I put both cyls. at mid stroke and completely fill the cyl. with oil & install plugs. I only use new oil. When it's time to ride i drain the oil down to the correct level and use a suction gun to remove oil from the cyls. Put new plugs in and fire up.

JustPete · 12-12-2012, 06:31 AM

If you're going to spin the engine over don't just pull the plug wires and use the start button. The injectors will fire and you can wash the cylinders with unburned fuel. Either jump the start relay or rotate it in 5th gear using the rear wheel. Just sayin.

Canuck_T100 · 12-12-2012, 09:42 AM

Good point Pete, thanks, I won't use the start button.

I was talking to a friend in the last few days who was a mechanic in a past life and has had lots of experience with storing small engines of different types.
He suggested that I NOT change the oil before storage, change it in the spring prior to the first ride. The reasoning behind that is that the oil in there now has only 1500km on it, so has very little contaminants in it. Over the winter the oil will absorb moisture and since the engine isn't running and burning it off, dump it in the spring and put in clean oil at that point.
Thoughts?