Help starting after 5 yrs

[sjrogers]

I have an '87 Venture Royale (51k miles) that has been sitting for about 5 years. Long story involving brake fluid and dissolved plastic. Finally getting the plastic repaired. Any suggestion for turning the motor over and getting it running again? I drained the fuel when I parked it. Thought about putting a little Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders before I try and turn the motor over.

 

'87 Yamaha Venture Royale

'99 Kawasaki Concours

[Flyinfool]

Change the engine and rear end oil.

 

Flush the brake and clutch fluids, the fluids die of age not use. Being more careful this time.

 

Check the tires carefully for any cracking, check the date codes, if they are more than 6 years old new tires are in order.

 

Charge the battery and have it load tested to be sure it is still good.

 

Put some Seafoam in that first tank of gas, You may have to cycle the key off and on a couple of times so that the fuel pump can fill the float bowls. The pump only runs 2 seconds at a time when you turn the key on. Kepp cycling till the pumps stops clicking when you turn the key on. Should only take a couple of tries.

 

Inspect all rubber brake, fuel and other rubber hoses for any cracking.

 

Go for a ride.

[bongobobny]

Yup! What Jeff said!

 

You might want to put about a teaspoon or less per cylinder of Marvel Mystery oil and let it soak for a day or two, good idea. It will make it a little harder starting though but will save wear and tear on the cylinder walls and rings.

[Yammer Dan]

All the above but I would Sea-Foam it hard when you start cranking it. Put a gallon of gas in it with about a 1/2 can of Sea-Foam. Cycle key several times to make sure carbs are full and leave sit overnight. Might crack drains to make sure carbs are getting fuel. Get them full and leave sit overnight before firing up. It will belch, cough,hack,fart,and carry on but will smooth out as it gets its breath!!Crap it belches out you sure don't need. Run that gallon thru at all different speeds. Fill up tank and add rest of can. GO RIDING!!!

[PGunn]

What Jeff and Bob and Dan said but after putting the oil in the cylinders leave the plugs out and put some rags over the plug holes wait an hour or so then pop the started button for a slow step by step turn over to help oil the rings and cylinder walls. After 4 complete stepping turnovers crank all the way through a few times this will blow out any excess oil in the cylinders then replace the plugs and fire it up. This will help prevent an hydraulic lock or possibly blowing a head gasket and the rags catch the excess oil and keep it from blowing all over the place.

[Yammer Dan]

Good one Paul. Just take it slow and don't get in a hurry to wake it up. Its been asleep for a while.

 

Way back in the day we got a few engines from junk yards that were locked up. Pour them full of Kerosene & used oil. These were car engines. Let them sit for a few days adding kerosene as needed. Keep them upright. Put big breaker bar on crank bolt and play with it. Usually worked pretty good. Draining them and getting them fired up was fun. Talk about smoke!!!! But it usually settled down after a while. Nothing to do with this now I don't think?? Just remembering!!

[PGunn]

I remember doing the same thing Dan back then.... and yes it will smoke for a little while also....

[dacheedah]

completely drain gas, add some gas with techtron in it , swish around run to your carbs, open and drain float bowls let soak.

 

drain the gas and add new gas with techtron and then try for a start.

[syscrusher]

What Jeff and Bob and Dan said but after putting the oil in the cylinders leave the plugs out and put some rags over the plug holes wait an hour or so then pop the started button for a slow step by step turn over to help oil the rings and cylinder walls. After 4 complete stepping turnovers crank all the way through a few times this will blow out any excess oil in the cylinders then replace the plugs and fire it up. This will help prevent an hydraulic lock or possibly blowing a head gasket and the rags catch the excess oil and keep it from blowing all over the place.

 

 

Do that but use this instead of the Marvel Mystery Oil:

 

http://seafoamsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/deep-creep1.png

 

Reason being just that it is in aerosol form and will distribute inside the cylinder better than oil poured in, unless you pour in a lot of oil, but even then the cylinder sits at an angle, and you want the part of the cylinder and the ring at the top coated too. Or you could use WD40 cheaper. Fog it up good.

[bongobobny]

Both PGunn and syscrusher offer very good advice!! Kudos to both!