storage after rebuild Options

[Bulldog9]

Gents, appreciate some feedback, looks as if courtesy of our Great Uncle, I will be spending some quality time in a land far away starting in July. Being that I wouldn't be able to get my motor installed and running until May, rather than start the car break in the motor and let it sit for a year, I am going to leave the engine out of the car, finish the body, and store the motor.

I'm thinking of prepping the moto with a squirt of light oil in each cyl, spray on the intake/exhaust valves, and case/flywheel with a light coat of WD40, tape some desiccant bags over the spark plug holes (moisture out of cyls, fill a stocking with a pound of rice and wrap the thing in cellophane for a year.

Any thoughts on the wisdom or lack of it in my plan? Putting the project on hold is a bummer, but all is good.

[Tom_T]

Other than putting in light oil in the crankcase (or the rebuild oil in there if it's a thin viscosity) & putting spark plugs in the holes to keep mice from chewing their way in past those silica packets you mentioned & nesting inside the cylinders (it can happen) - I think that's a good plan you laid out. Others may have other opinions.

But to the real reason for my post - is to wish you a safe deployment & return home, & best wishes for your friends & family left behind. Our son & 4 nephews have deployed since the mid-2000's, & our son may go again later this year, so we know the drill & the waiting game.

Best! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[Harpo]

Tell us about your storage (Heated Dry)? I would use something much heaver that WD40 although cosmoline is probably too heavy. Same thing for your cylinders and I would spray/pour a generous amount and cycle the engine over a few times to coat all the walls generously. Rice might attract rodents so I would steer clear of that. They sell desiccant in large enough quantity that it would be ideal. In fact I have about a quart of the crystals you can have. You just have to bake them to reactivate it.

David

[hndyhrr]

Thank you for your Service! it is appreciated!


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[Cairo94507]

Thank you for your service to our country. Bless you and be safe.

[r_towle]

Moisture and humidity are the enemy.
A heated space helps.
A well done double garbage bag tied off tight will help a lot.

The rest of your plan included..
thank you for taking up the call for all of us.

Rich

[Bulldog9]

The garage is not heated but it is insulated and dry, and I was thinking of leaving it on the engine stand and in long block form with fan housing attached, but I can also set it on top of my parts washer cabinet. I want to keep it off the floor and away from any moisture, but think letting it hang that long is probably not a good idea.

Will definitely nix the rice (what was I thinking) and will wrap the thing airtight in that saran wrap stuff with the anti moisture stuff.

Thanks guys, let me tell you it is my pleasure, and I love what I do and who I do it with and what I do it for. I've had 4 years home, which has been great, as I spent much of my time from 2001-2012 in hot dry places. This wont be back to the middle east, but in another interesting place we are doing great things. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

[thieuster]

When I restored my Triumph TR back in 2004 - 2009, I followed an advise similar to this:

Engine Storing. The guy who wrote this covers all aspects, I think. Including the suggestion to store the engine upside down...

I didn't built the tent & lamp gizmo thoug, but my car's engine was stored in a dry and heated workshop. When I installed my TRs engine it ran - and still runs flawlessly. I got the LPS oil from a machine shop affiliated with a local airfield.

And... for what you're about to do professionally: stay safe!

Menno

[rick 918-S]

I wouldn't leave it hang off the engine stand for a year. Too much weight on the mounting bolts. It could distort the case. Also I would opt to leave the tin off. Less likely a mouse will make a home on the engine if there is less of a pre-fab construction for them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

[Harpo]

I have a quart can of desiccant you can have if you want it. Hell I will even ship it for free. You will have to bake it to reactivate it. Blue is dry red means it has absorbed enough moisture.

Send me a PM if your interested.

David