Bike sitting for years

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Edited Date/Time 7/11/2019 7:45am
Have a kawi 450 and haven’t cranked it in probably 4 or 5 years. I know. I know. Busy times.

I wouldn’t attempt to crank without changing oil and gas.

Is there anything to worry about or watch out for with it being so long?
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mxb2
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mxb2 7/10/2019 2:42pm
7/10/2019 2:42pm
Busy 5 straight years? No time to start a bike. Wow. Okay. Change the fluids, fire it up. Use your vital mx posting time to start it every now and then.
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jjavaman
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jjavaman 7/10/2019 2:42pm
7/10/2019 2:42pm
Oh man, did you run it dry before you parked it? Carb/injectors may be plugged. Can you move the kickstarter at all?
clemsonsc
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clemsonsc 7/10/2019 2:51pm
7/10/2019 2:51pm
I thought maybe you were watching someone’s bike while they were out of town! “ bike sitting “ 🤦🏻‍♂️
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RyanD797
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RyanD797 7/10/2019 2:51pm
7/10/2019 2:51pm
Make sure your air filter isn't falling apart.
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kdizzle_rider 7/10/2019 3:09pm
7/10/2019 3:09pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 3:10pm
Almost certain the Fuel injector is blocked due to gummed up fuel and possibly the fuel pump itself. 2 years sitting did it on my little bros 09 Kawi 450, new injector is about 100$ on eBay. Fuel pump was saved by soaking in clean fuel for a few nights, then reinstalling and kicking the bike to get it to squirt some gas. Good luck.
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level 7/10/2019 3:49pm
7/10/2019 3:49pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 3:49pm
Yeah I pretty much just got out of riding and life and stress got in the way and being lazy to be honest. I’ll get into it. Thanks for the tips. Just didn’t want to mess things up when I finally did decide to go riding.
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kdizzle_rider wrote:
Almost certain the Fuel injector is blocked due to gummed up fuel and possibly the fuel pump itself. 2 years sitting did it on my little...
Almost certain the Fuel injector is blocked due to gummed up fuel and possibly the fuel pump itself. 2 years sitting did it on my little bros 09 Kawi 450, new injector is about 100$ on eBay. Fuel pump was saved by soaking in clean fuel for a few nights, then reinstalling and kicking the bike to get it to squirt some gas. Good luck.
Mine is an 09 also.
kb228
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kb228 7/10/2019 3:59pm
7/10/2019 3:59pm Edited Date/Time 7/11/2019 7:37am
Dont start it man. Valves are probably rusted to the head........


...sarcasm guys
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 7/10/2019 4:21pm
7/10/2019 4:21pm
Some of you are so dramatic lol. Kick it over i bet it fires right up then change the fluids.
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CivBars
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CivBars 7/10/2019 4:27pm
7/10/2019 4:27pm
Heck yeah! Super stoked for you! Getting ready to set a new world record for driving through gates of fire?
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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 7/10/2019 4:31pm
7/10/2019 4:31pm
You probably will blow the shock and forks pretty quick. I would have them rebuilt before I rode it. Nothing like hitting a jump at speed and having everything collapse
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Yeah I’ll take it somewhere most likely to a local mechanic before I attempt to ride it just to be safe. Probably not worth it on my own. That is if I decide to ride again. If I got back into riding I would most likely sell it anyways and get a newer bike.
Paw Paw 271
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Paw Paw 271 7/10/2019 7:12pm
7/10/2019 7:12pm
I would bet that the water pump seals has seized and need to be replaced.

Paw Paw
TXDirt
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TXDirt 7/10/2019 7:19pm
7/10/2019 7:19pm
I had a street bike I didn’t ride/start for maybe 3-5 years. I opened the gas tank one day getting ready to sell it and it had formed like crystals all inside the tank. Looked almost like fuzzy mold but was some kinda crazy gas crystals. Some form of chemical change was occurring. Anyone had this happen before? This was a metal tank. Perhaps it was gas rust growing? I really don’t know what it was.
zehn
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zehn 7/10/2019 7:21pm
7/10/2019 7:21pm
you’re probably going to die the first time you kick it over
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langhammx
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langhammx 7/10/2019 7:26pm
7/10/2019 7:26pm
yz133rider wrote:
Some of you are so dramatic lol. Kick it over i bet it fires right up then change the fluids.
Agreed

Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most likely fire right up. You’re not going to hurt anything trying to start it
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UGOTBIT
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UGOTBIT 7/10/2019 7:31pm
7/10/2019 7:31pm
yz133rider wrote:
Some of you are so dramatic lol. Kick it over i bet it fires right up then change the fluids.
langhammx wrote:
Agreed Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most...
Agreed

Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most likely fire right up. You’re not going to hurt anything trying to start it
Exactly, what do you think a mechanic at a shop is going to do?

It’s either going to start or not, then you can worry about spending money and finding out why.
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str8line
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str8line 7/10/2019 7:33pm
7/10/2019 7:33pm
zehn wrote:
you’re probably going to die the first time you kick it over

He has a Maico 490?
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 7/10/2019 7:33pm
7/10/2019 7:33pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 7:34pm
yz133rider wrote:
Some of you are so dramatic lol. Kick it over i bet it fires right up then change the fluids.
langhammx wrote:
Agreed Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most...
Agreed

Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most likely fire right up. You’re not going to hurt anything trying to start it
UGOTBIT wrote:
Exactly, what do you think a mechanic at a shop is going to do? It’s either going to start or not, then you can worry about...
Exactly, what do you think a mechanic at a shop is going to do?

It’s either going to start or not, then you can worry about spending money and finding out why.
Bingo. 5 years is nothing. Ive seen cars sitting for 20, 30, or even longer fire up with little more then a fresh battery and pouring some fuel down its throat to wake it up.

Valves rusted to the head was the funniest reply ive seen yet.
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YamahaJT1
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YamahaJT1 7/10/2019 7:53pm
7/10/2019 7:53pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 7:53pm
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
I would bet that the water pump seals has seized and need to be replaced.

Paw Paw
Indeed...

The hard shaft finish worn away by seal friction, left to sit and the lil' rust ridges form at the seal lips and chows the seals, causing leaks.

Brake system needs a going over as well.

Left to sit 4-5 years? Stored indoors or outdoors ?... Big difference.
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blockhead17 7/10/2019 8:00pm
7/10/2019 8:00pm
(I don’t advise doing it) but it would probably just fire up even if you didn’t touch anything, people so dramatic here
GIwasB4
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GIwasB4 7/10/2019 8:14pm
7/10/2019 8:14pm
Fresh gas and 2 squirts. Fucking drama queens here

captmoto
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captmoto 7/10/2019 8:31pm
7/10/2019 8:31pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 8:34pm
Torque you sprocket bolts.

Dump left over gas. get to the injector, spritz with carb cleaner, change your oil, check air filter. Give it a shot. Don't try to put it in gear until it is good and warm and the clutch feels loosey goosey. I've brought quite a few vintage bikes to life and it really hasn't takenany more than that.
77Moto
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77Moto 7/10/2019 8:42pm
7/10/2019 8:42pm
Its a fuckin dirt bike. New fuel. Prime it with a teaspoon of gas down the plug hole. 1 kick it will be running.

Warm it up and change the oil. Re-Oil air filter or clean if needed.

People overthink this shit,.



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JM485
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JM485 7/10/2019 8:47pm
7/10/2019 8:47pm
One thing I'd recommend is popping the valve cover off and running a bit of oil over the cam lobes and valve buckets. Then, kick the thing over a few times with the kill switch pressed just to get oil flowing again and you should be good. It takes a little while for oil to work its way up there and I've seen premature wear due to bikes sitting for extended periods of time.
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Jerkolantern
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Jerkolantern 7/10/2019 8:48pm
7/10/2019 8:48pm
DONT TOUCH THAT MOTHERFUCKER WITHOUT A LEVEL 1 HAZMAT SUIT. Do NOT touch that mofo...
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lostboy819
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lostboy819 7/10/2019 9:00pm
7/10/2019 9:00pm
level wrote:
Have a kawi 450 and haven’t cranked it in probably 4 or 5 years. I know. I know. Busy times. I wouldn’t attempt to crank without...
Have a kawi 450 and haven’t cranked it in probably 4 or 5 years. I know. I know. Busy times.

I wouldn’t attempt to crank without changing oil and gas.

Is there anything to worry about or watch out for with it being so long?
You had the time to start 907 different threads on vital but no time to ride? you need to get your priority's straight. Cool
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YamahaJT1
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YamahaJT1 7/10/2019 10:43pm
7/10/2019 10:43pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2019 10:47pm
level wrote:
Have a kawi 450 and haven’t cranked it in probably 4 or 5 years. I know. I know. Busy times. I wouldn’t attempt to crank without...
Have a kawi 450 and haven’t cranked it in probably 4 or 5 years. I know. I know. Busy times.

I wouldn’t attempt to crank without changing oil and gas.

Is there anything to worry about or watch out for with it being so long?
lostboy819 wrote:
You had the time to start 907 different threads on vital but no time to ride? you need to get your priority's straight. Cool
It's OK, "level"

The wildly divergent suggestions as to what you need to do to revive your bike are all over the proverbial "Map".

Sorry you are such a "spot". Good Luck. Ask Santa for a new one. Cool that you are a fan.
SEEMEFIRST
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SEEMEFIRST 7/10/2019 11:43pm
7/10/2019 11:43pm
langhammx wrote:
Agreed Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most...
Agreed

Check the air filter. Is the gas tank empty ? If not, dump that smelly gas out and refill it with fresh gas. It’ll most likely fire right up. You’re not going to hurt anything trying to start it
UGOTBIT wrote:
Exactly, what do you think a mechanic at a shop is going to do? It’s either going to start or not, then you can worry about...
Exactly, what do you think a mechanic at a shop is going to do?

It’s either going to start or not, then you can worry about spending money and finding out why.
yz133rider wrote:
Bingo. 5 years is nothing. Ive seen cars sitting for 20, 30, or even longer fire up with little more then a fresh battery and pouring...
Bingo. 5 years is nothing. Ive seen cars sitting for 20, 30, or even longer fire up with little more then a fresh battery and pouring some fuel down its throat to wake it up.

Valves rusted to the head was the funniest reply ive seen yet.
Agreed, but 20-30 years ago they weren't putting corn fuel in your shit.

To the OP. Yank, and clean the fuel delivery system completely.

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