Leaving it standing?

[Coxyzxr]

Basically the zxr engine has been in a shed for at least a year whilst I've worked on the other bits to get it on the road.

I turned it by hand quite alot in one session about 4 months ago when doing the valve clearances (turned ok btw).

Should I be out turning it over by hand every month or so?
I'm worried about corrosion/rust on the bores or other areas from condenstation and moisture in the air etc.

Regards
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**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[Shaft]

My old trick used to be squirting some light machine oil (can you still buy '3-In-1'?) down the plug holes and turning the thing over a few times, every week.

I've saved a few engines that way.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Coxyzxr]

Do you think it's something to be concerned about?
____________________
**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[Shaft]

Depends on how it's been stored really.

If you've left it with no plugs in and the inlet tracts open, there's the potential for moisture and all sorts of debris to be in there.

After a year, if there was going to be any corrosion damage, it will already be done, so the best you can do is minimise it by using the oil/hand turning thing and loosely stuffing some rags into any open holes.

The only way you'll know if it's damaged is to either take the top off it, or borrow a bore scope and have a squint down the plug holes; other than that, put some decent oil in it before you fire it up, then cross everything and pray to your chosen deity!
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[0l0dom0l0]

yeah i agree. I would just put a tea spoon of oil down each plug hole and turn it over a few times. Then I would put another teaspoon down after you have finished and that should help protect it.

[Coxyzxr]

[stevo as b4]

Im sure it will be fine tbh!

My only slight doubt to the store it away and don't worry about it, was with my ZX6R. Basically it was stored unstarted in a warmish and dry garage for 3years. When i got it back on the road i changed the oil and filter before running it for the first time, and i emptied the tank and re-filled it with 98RON fuel and eventually it started. It sounded rough for a few mins and when i went to ride it again, it misfired a banged a few times if you went over 5000rpm. It didn't seem to want to rev for a while even a full tank ful of new juice was used before it started to feel better again.

Then i noticed it had began to smoke (blue) slightly even when warm and although it ran ok, the smoke although only slight never went away. I sold it as i knew a mate of a mate who was after one, but i reckon it was suffering a bit from sticking piston rings by then, that must have been caused by the engine not being turned over at all for 3years. I don't know if sticky rings can free themselves with a good thrash, but i never bothered to try as someone wanted it quickly and gave me the price i was after.

[Shaft]

^^^^^^

That's the risk you take when you lay up an engine for a long time and don't lubricate it; maybe the rings stuck, or the bores pitted slightly (there's still moisture in the air in the cylinders, even if they're sealed) and the rings picked up, in the same way a fork seal can tear on a tiny pit on a stanchion.

Engines don't take kindly to not moving for extended periods of time; sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don't, but keeping them lubricated and turning, increases your chances of not having any problems.

Coxyzxr, for the effort and cost involved, just pour some oil down the bores and keep the bloody thing turning, it certainly won't do any harm and it might save you a packet, in the long run.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[0l0dom0l0]

Also before you put in back in the bike/turn it over, to be on the safe side you could take the rocker cover off and drizzle oil inside the head as this might have dried up and will be the first place to suffer from oil starvation as it will take a while for the oil to circulate and pressure might be low for a few seconds after first starting.

In heinsight the engine will be fine.

Hope that helps

[stevo as b4]

True, i've never left an engine for that long before, but for maybe 6-8months at a time at the longest, and i've never had a problem before. What i always did before starting for the first time, was to drain the carb bowls and leave the fuel tap off. Then i'd spin it over for up to10sec on the starter at least 2-3 times with a min between. That should have been plenty of time to get the oil circulating back up to the top end i would think.

I agree that taking out the plugs and droping a teaspoon full of oil or so down each plug hole before spinning the engine over is best, as the load on the starter is reduced and the cranking speed much faster too. Ideally you'd whip out the plugs and oil the bores before storage and then cover up the exhaust exit and airbox entry holes with a rubber glove or something to seal them up.

I hated to think that the bores might have got damaged or thing rings rusted on that bike though, because i'd had id from new, and done loads of additional oil and filter changes over the scheduled program, and it was always treated well, and never really saw the redline never mind the limiter in my hands.