Spring "start-up"

[Dirty Dave]

I know the process of what you speak. I'm a fan of Moto-Rest Machine & Repair in Florida.
VERY meticulous and knowledgeable guy.

I realize it's the best way to check but being very lazy I never went that far.
Float levels were off on 2 carbs a coupla years back when checking. Dunno how
I let that slip.

[Dirty Dave]

Looks like most jet O-rings need replacing. May as well do everything. They obviously weren't Viton.
All dried out.

[gltriker]

So pulled the carbs and did a vacuum test with a Mityvac, an upgrade from the turkey baster and it held perfectly.

a Butterball Turkey baster ( aka kitchen countertop pressure tester) was/is the better troubleshooting tool. You are testing for liquid pressure leaks...not vacuum leaks

[Dirty Dave]

Ran outta time to get the Wing road worthy before yearly registration.

Covid messed me up this third time around. Wonderful what you can get on
a Mediterranean cruise. So... a year's rest for Little Wing 2. Like so many others
I will get to it when I get to it. Meanwhile I'll be riding what doesn't need so much
attention. And to think I used to tease Harley guys.

[Dirty Dave]

Stored for 18 days and all done. Don't have the courage to start it up to see if my carb work holds.

Having too much fun with the Valk & Z900RS. Guess I'll just keep it as is (dry) and assume all is well 'til next
year. BTW, I hate throttle cables......

[redglbx]

Dave, I feel ya, I haven’t rode in 3 or 4 yrs now due to my back issues. Be careful with that Covid thing ! A lot of people think it’s all fake but when I was in the hospital for 2 months back in 2020 I watched them cart a number of bodies out from Covid, it’s better now but still no joke, take care of yourself!

Besides riding the 900rs and the Valkyrie will still be great fun.

[Dirty Dave]

Wonderful how bone dry the gas tank gets after draining from the petcock reserve.

I was truly impressed. This way I won't be tempted to start her up to check my work.
There only so much Wing disappointment I can deal with. Hafta enjoy my twilight years.

[redglbx]

The only problem I have seen with draining the tank has been rust, so if you drain it, let it dry and then maybe fog it with some spray oil of some type.

[Sidecar Bob]

Mr.H's original owner had a workplace injury during the winter that ended his use of motorcycles and the bike ended up "stored" for 10 years (6 of them outside) before I got it and sat in my garage for 2 more before I put it on the road. Before I filled the tank I looked inside and it was as clean as when it came off the line in Marysville in '83. It has been drained every winter since then (I never oil tanks) and it was still clean & shiny inside the last time I looked.

IMHO, you are more likely to have a tank rust if you don't drain it. During normal use a certain amount of moisture finds it's way into a fuel tank from filling up in the rain, condensation from moist air entering the tank due to driving on a rainy/humid day, &c. Water is heavier than gasoline. If you leave the tank full the water can never evaporate. If it can't evaporate it will eventually find another way out (this is why tanks always rust out at the lowest point).

[Dirty Dave]

I have an extra Valkyrie gas tank hanging in my garage for 20 years. It's clean inside but I did shoot some WD-40
in it at one point.

The fogging oil is a good idea, no? Overkill but what the heck.