Posts: 25
Joined: 4/16/2017
Location: Hope Valley, RI USA
Hi, I have a 250sx that isn’t going to be ridden for about 6 months to a year. Probably just stored in my basement. What should I do? Drain gas? Treat what gas is in the tank? Or use race gas? Thanks for any advice...I just don’t want anything to get gummed up
Posts: 3388
Joined: 4/3/2013
Location: Benton, LA USA
Drain the carb.
Put a good fuel stabilizer in the tank.
Lube the top end.
and bring to top dead center.
Plug the exhaust.
Plug the carb vent lines.
Remove and clean the air filter. Plus plug the intake of the carb.
Store it on a bike stand with the tires off the ground.
Paw Paw
Posts: 1399
Joined: 5/4/2009
Location: Colgate, WI USA
Posts: 1110
Joined: 8/20/2015
Location: USA
Grease linkage, swingarm and steering tube bearing. Make sure to rotate the needle bearings some laps when you have it out and lose. Just putting grease there is not enough since it moves very little/static during riding.
Posts: 5506
Joined: 1/31/2018
Location: Mansfield, OH USA
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
Drain the carb.
Put a good fuel stabilizer in the tank.
Lube the top end.
and bring to top dead center.
Plug the exhaust.
Plug the carb vent lines.
Remove and clean the air filter. Plus plug the intake of the carb.
Store it on a bike stand with the tires off the ground.
Paw Paw
This is my way too. I also go and grease all my chassis bearings and axles. I also replace all the fluids so its ready to go. If youre feeling over zealous or bored you can always tear it down to the frame to clean it all up.
Posts: 3039
Joined: 8/1/2013
Location: Avondale, PA USA
Posts: 636
Joined: 7/12/2014
Location: GBR
Everything that pawpaw said!
I like to try and keep things moving too. so ever 2 weeks/month - give the wheels a good spin, pump the suspension, if you cant start the engine then cycle it round on the kicker a few times. Pump the brakes and push the pistons back in a bit by pushing the calipers and sliding them on the carrier pins.
I had my brothers RM125 stored for over 8 months, did everything posted above and it started up 3rd kick and didn't take much prep to get it ride ready. I prefer to drain the fuel and start fresh personally, but if you don't you're better off having the tank full to reduce the air gap. it will help keep the fuel better for longer.
A good coating of oil on the chain and a general spray of WD40/GT85 is a good idea if it gets damp/cold where its stored.
@russ_69
Posts: 3595
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Visalia, CA USA
Some good responses. I'd suggest draining the tank, it's not like the fuel will be fresh in 6 months regardless of what additive you put in there. Over time the fuel also causes the tank to get brittle and have spider cracks in the plastic- just look at tanks from old bikes, cracks are far less common up high where the fuel hasn't sat for ages.
Posts: 2512
Joined: 12/16/2010
Location: AL, USA
Drain the tank and carb
block off all holes
Look up "fogging oil"
put the tires off the ground, (check pressure before riding again)
light oil on anything that might rust
If you are able, kick it over a few times whenever you can, it will sling oil from the oil pool up onto everything
Posts: 3388
Joined: 4/3/2013
Location: Benton, LA USA
O originally failed to see it was a 2 stroke, so I also suggest draining the fuel tank.
Paw Paw
