Restarting a classic bike after 10 years.

[Well Splattered]

I have in my garage a Honda 1973 Honda 350F that was 'put' away in 2003 while I completed my commute to work on a Honda NTV650. It was sprayed liberally with oil and covered with a bike cover. It has sat on its centre stand every since. I have done nothing to it since.

After recently reclaiming my garage back after years of hoarding and using it as a temporary store to keep, well, endless household items. I have been fondly looking at getting it back on the road. Certainly this nice weather and the addition of knocking a door into the main house so I do not have to enter from outside all the time has rekindled my enthusiasm to get the bike running again. it also goes tax exempt next year saving me a whopping £35.. wooo.

So where do I begin?

I have not turned the bike over for ages!!

The bike has an electric start and a kickstart. I think the main consensus between me and a couple of friends is to take the tank and seat off. Then remove the spark plugs. Pour some oil down the bores, leave a while and then try to slowly kick over the engine. Once I know the engine runs freely, I can try and start be replacing the plugs. Trying some fresh petrol and charging/replacing the battery.

I will have to check the tyres for perishing and retaining pressure.

I may have to soak the chain in a bath of oil.

Anything I may have missed?

 

[wazza300]

you should have given it a kick every so many months anyway while it was standing

that's what I do to my dads bsa and that aint been started since the mid 1980's,

id put new plugs/oil/petrol/battery in and see what happens,maybe new points if it has them

 

[VoG]

If you've let it stand undisturbed for 10 years then don't start it, as all the journals, bearings, oilways & oil pump will be pretty much bone dry by now, or rather with the barest film of oil coating the parts, if you plan on using it drop the oil & filter, fit a new fully charged battery, strip & clean the carbs & fuel tap & swill the tank out with fresh gas to remove any sediment & or loose rust, lube all your cables, if it was me, ide also bin the tyres & tyre valves for my own piece of mind.

Ide also slap some fresh grease in the wheel, steering head, & swingarm bearings just to save myself having to do it later, i wouldn't be surprised if the fork or rear shock seals fail once its in use as they could well have either perished or hardened during it's ten year lay up.

When you do eventually come to turn it over ( once you've changed the oil & filter ), run it on the starter motor only for a good 30 to 60 secs just to prime the oil ways & bearings, & when you do start it don't rev it, let it tick over for a few mins.