What To Expect And Do When Bring Spyder Out Of Storage After More Than A Year?

[K.C.]

I purchased my Spyder in 2009 and rode it for 2 weeks in and around Memorial Weekend. Had a blast too. I left it at my in law's house in Emmett Idaho in their detached non-heated but fully sealed garage. Being in the Coast Guard at a small isolated unit I'm not afforded to take leave all that often and when I do it's no more than a week - if that.

Before I stored it I filled it up with gas one last time, had it detailed two hours before her extended bedtime, plugged in a mouse deterrent and put the BRP Indoor Cover on. Unfortunately I didn't put a fuel stabilizer nor did I hook a battery tender to it. (I knew I wanted to get a better battery based on all the negative reports it was getting back then.)

I'm a week away from waking her up and I can't wait. What should I expect and do when bringing her back to life? Was it a big mistake not adding any type of fuel stabilizer? How hard is it to access the battery and replace it? Should I immediately get it serviced? Unfortunately the closest Authorized Spyder shop is about 2 hours away. The reason why I ask is because I'll be driving my Spyder from Emmett (think Boise) Idaho to Seattle which is about an 8 hour trip to my new duty station.

[bone crusher]

Not riding it since Memorial Day timeframe is not that big of a deal...you should be fine...in the future, get a battery tender plus (on amazon) and keep the bike hooked up...have someone turn it over once every few weeks to keep it 'fresh'...other than that, your bike should work just fine...

Enjoy your 8 hour ride...all should be fine!

[spyryder]

Not riding it since Memorial Day timeframe is not that big of a deal...you should be fine...in the future, get a battery tender plus (on amazon) and keep the bike hooked up...have someone turn it over once every few weeks to keep it 'fresh'...other than that, your bike should work just fine...

Enjoy your 8 hour ride...all should be fine!

It's been sitting since Memorial Day LAST year. I'd be surprised if the battery isn't stone dead.

[Raptor]

AH yes, LAST Memorial day... Battery is stone dead fer sure! I believe the battery is on the left rear side panel of the bike and should not be hard to replace.

Tires could be flat as well, I hope the wheels didn't cut into any sidewalls. The fuel? Well, that's a bit of a wild card. Some have not taken the chance and syphoned out as much as they could and then replaced with fresh fuel. If it were me, I'd change the oil as well.

When you first fire her up, do a real good Pre-start inspection and be a bit gentle at first. You should be OK!

[canam9]

It's been sitting since Memorial Day LAST year. I'd be surprised if the battery isn't stone dead.

[SpyderGirl]

Take a new battery with you, you'll need it. An oil change couldn't hurt either. The fuel is probably okay though. I'd also check the tires after sitting that long.

[xpeschon]

Not sure what the storage area looked like but you also want to make sure there was no mouse or rat that hide away and caused havic on the wiring harness, (pretty common here in MO anyway) if it was stored in a active garage area you are probably alright however if it was stored in a back building or shed I'd be cautions.. As anothers as mentioned already, should have been stored with a battery tender on it or the battery pulled out, so be looking at spending the money for a new battery.. The best of luck but I'm thinking you will be fine..

X-Joe

[pjp623]

Personally, I'd drain the gas and put in new, I've had numerous problems with "bad" gas after storage on various vehicles and equipment. Also check around for any goodies that the little critters may have left you before you start up and they end up in every concievable part of your Spyder.
Next time put in marine stabilizer and hook up a battery tender. You don't want to be spending most of your leave getting you sorted out before you can use it!

[xpeschon]

Personally, I'd drain the gas and put in new, I've had numerous problems with "bad" gas after storage on various vehicles and equipment. Also check around for any goodies that the little critters may have left you before you start up and they end up in every concievable part of your Spyder.
Next time put in marine stabilizer and hook up a battery tender. You don't want to be spending most of your leave getting you sorted out before you can use it!

Agreed about the gas as well..

X-Joe

[bjt]

I've had more problems with gas gumming up in stored equipment than I've had with bad batteries... Now I either completely run the engine dry of fuel or I add Stabil.

[Longlegs]

I would drain the gas if possible, but I would add some seafoam to it either way. Plus I would put seafoam in next time you store it. I have had bad luck with stabil. I had 3 gas shut offs on tractors completely seize up with crap, plus a shutoff that the crap ate the seal and leaked all the gas out and ruined the paint job on the motor. I think it is more the ethanol in the gas here but stabil just doesnt work with it. Whatever you use, make sure it is the correct amount, don't over do it.

[Rockytime]

>SNIP<
I think it is more the ethanol in the gas here but stabil just doesnt work with it. Whatever you use, make sure it is the correct amount, don't over do it.

What happens if you over do it? I put Seafoam in my wife's 250 Honda last fall. This spring it would not start. I'm sure I did not measure but just poured it in the tank. Battery was on a tender all the time. I'll have the carbs gone over. Wife is not riding it now. She just wants to ride along on the RT.
Les

[BajaRon]

Ethanol is a moisture magnet! Very bad idea for storage (very bad idea for fuel except for the corn farmers). There isn't really anything good about ethanol. It can really create havoc no matter how it is stored for a long time.

Stabil is supposed to help a lot to stabilize even ethanol fuels. I've had good success with it. But Stabil itself can get old. I think it's only good for about 2 years or so.

I really like the SeaFoam products. Sea Foam is not so critical of overdosing. It's easier to get too little Sea Foam than too much. It has a pretty wide dosage range.

[Raptor]

I agree with Ron - SeaFoam seems to be a better product. For the next time, of course!

[bone crusher]

It's been sitting since Memorial Day LAST year. I'd be surprised if the battery isn't stone dead.

whoopsie! In that case, yeah, I feel sorry for the battery!

[K.C.]

Thanks to all for the great advice.


To touch on a few concerns and questions...


It's in a 3 door garage that stores tractors, ATV's, lawnmowers, etc. It is actively used. Being that it's in Emmett Idaho there's a lot of mice so my father in law has these audible (not to us) mouse deterrents that 100% work. He goes out there once in a while and looks around for evidence but there's never any.


I have already purchased a new & better than stock (Lamonster recommended) battery so I have that covered. I just wish I could find some instructions on how to get access to the battery. Small problem.


I'll try to see if I can drain the fuel but I probably won't bother and just go the "carefully measured" sea foam route. And I got it serviced about 75 miles before I stored it but in order to keep that Best warranty I'll have to get one anyway to catch up in a way.

[NancysToy]

Thanks to all for the great advice.


To touch on a few concerns and questions...


It's in a 3 door garage that stores tractors, ATV's, lawnmowers, etc. It is actively used. Being that it's in Emmett Idaho there's a lot of mice so my father in law has these audible (not to us) mouse deterrents that 100% work. He goes out there once in a while and looks around for evidence but there's never any.


I have already purchased a new & better than stock (Lamonster recommended) battery so I have that covered. I just wish I could find some instructions on how to get access to the battery. Small problem.


I'll try to see if I can drain the fuel but I probably won't bother and just go the "carefully measured" sea foam route. And I got it serviced about 75 miles before I stored it but in order to keep that Best warranty I'll have to get one anyway to catch up in a way.

If you do get it to run after the SeaFoam treatment, it may still have issues from gummed up injector nozzles. The standard cure is to dismantle and clean, but some off-the-shelf products do work. I have found Chevron's Techron Concentrate Plus to be the best fuel additive cleaner. It was recommended by several repair shops that I trust. It has saved me a couple of expensive injector cleaning bills after I got some bad gas. I don't think it would hurt a Spyder, since it works fine in auto fuel injection systems, but you would have to adjust the amount to fit your smaller fuel tank. I would try it if your engine still shows problems after running out the old fuel with the SeaFoam. I wouldn't mix the two. You might even want to try a tank of fresh fuel in between.

Next time, remember that it is easier to mothball a vehicle for storage than to get things back up to snuff afterward. The Owners Guide has good Spyder storage procedures for long term storage.

[Longlegs]

I don't think seafoam is as critical to overdosing, as it is a combustible product, but there are lots of additives out there that don't live up to their marketing hype. Techron injector cleaner seems to live up to its cleaning claims, another one that I prefer is 3M injector cleaner. I would reiterate what Scotty said about mixing the different stabilizers and cleaners. Never know how the stuff will react with each other, plus you have the alcohol and most likely water in the mix.
Anybody ever try any of the catylist stabilizers. Fitch fuel catylist, starton type stuff?