Leaving a motorbike (scooter) parked without riding it for how long before problems arise?

[thurien]

On 11/27/2024 at 1:45 PM, bbi1 said:

How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started

 

it might be gone (nicked) after 30 minutes already, bolt it to the floor

[thurien]

On 11/27/2024 at 1:45 PM, bbi1 said:

How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started

 

it might be gone (nicked) after 30 minutes already, bolt it to the floor

[CallumWK]

On 11/27/2024 at 2:46 PM, Tropicalevo said:

My Yamaha Neuvo - three days and I had to kick start it (hard work).

 

That's known issue with the Neuvo. I have one as well.

[thurien]

On 11/27/2024 at 1:45 PM, bbi1 said:

How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started

 

it might be gone (nicked) after 30 minutes already, bolt it to the floor

[soi3eddie]

On 11/27/2024 at 6:45 AM, bbi1 said:

Due to some circumstance, I need to leave my motorbike (scooter) parked in the grond level undercover carpark of my condo building, which has great ventilation, if that makes any difference. How long is it ok to leave it parked there without it being started or ridden before there could be a change of any slightest problems? The petrol in the petrol tank is practically nearly completely full. Would it be fine to not touch the bike at all for a month then start it up like normal and it would start and ride like normal?

 

My Honda ADV150 gets parked in our condo basement garage unused for 6+ months each year. I disconnect the battery. On return a few weeks ago, I charged the battery overnight. The scooter then started perfectly first time. A full tank of fuel won't hurt. Be aware, that tyre pressures can be a problem so best to check before riding. 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:15 AM by soi3eddie

[AndreasHG]

No issue at all. Back home, I leave my Harley parked for up to 9-12 months at a time, connected to a battery tender, with full tank and a chemical stabilizer diluted in the fuel. I lift it off the ground to prevent the tires from becoming oval and cover it with a breathable blanket.

 

But for one month (which happened a lot of times when I lived there) I wouldn't bother doing anything of what mentioned above.

[papa al]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

 

I used to store on old sedan as a hunting vehicle for 6- 9 months on a farm in outback New South Wales. Temperature extremes between frosts and 50 C. First thing I did when starting up was add a pint of methylated spirits ( ethanol ) to the gas tank.

 

Not the same.

If you added the Etol to the gasoline before storage,

you'd risk a gummy mess.

 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, papa al said:

Not the same.

If you added the Etol to the gasoline before storage,

you'd risk a gummy mess.

 

When has this happened to you?

[papa al]

17 hours ago, Lacessit said:

When has this happened to you?

5 5

Never.

The phenominum is well known.

Carbs are more susceptible than FI.

Ester based fuel stabilizers are better prophylaxis.

 ...  see Project Farm, YT.

[3,360,000 subscribers]

papa learns from others' experiences.

Up to you.

😉

Edited 7 hours ago by papa al

[Hummin]

I wouldnt worry much, but if you stay longer, then it is a good thing to disconnect your battery, and charge it when you come back. I wouldnt leave on service charge for several months. Every time I was gone for 3 months or longer, I serviced my big bikes, and after 6 months I would empty the tank and flush out old gasolin and put new back in. For a smaller bike, I wouldnt bother to much with any of that except if it was time for the annual service or  up to the service based on km whatever comes first. 

 

My biggest problem or happenend twice, was mouse eat my electric system, and had to replace parts of it. 

[Lacessit]

9 minutes ago, papa al said:

5 5

Never.

The phenominum is well known.

Carbs are more susceptible than FI.

Ester based fuel stabilizers are better prophylaxis.

 ...  see Project Farm, YT.

[3,360,000 subscribers]

papa learns from others' experiences.

Up to you.

😉

Prophylaxis is a term applied to the attempted prevention of disease.

 

None of your posts address the issue of condensation of water in a tank, separating from pure hydrocarbons, which are immiscible with water.

[papa al]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Prophylaxis is a term applied to the attempted prevention of disease.

 

None of your posts address the issue of condensation of water in a tank, separating from pure hydrocarbons, which are immiscible with water.

 papa no want sick carburator.

5 5 .

OKay.:

1.  Totally filling the tank minimizes infiltration of atmospheric HOH.

 2.  Once some fuel evaporate then some air gets in,  and then

.changes/fluctuation in atmospheric pressure & temp introduce water into tank.

3.  In a pure hydrocarbon [gasolene] situation.

the immissable HOH  sinks to bottom of tank.

[Light-plane pilots drain the water off (sump the tanks) during pre-flight]

 

4. With gasohol [hydrocarbon + alcohol]

Etol dissolves the water

and mixture  sinks to bottom of tank.

This is the stuff that turns to gunk.

Chemical stabilizers are esters.

In lab: alcohol + carboxylic acid --> ester + water.

The reverse occurs in the tank and eliminates the free water:

HOH + the 'sacrificial' ester --> alcohol + carboxylic acid,

both of which combust just fine.

 

Sorry if papa has explained this poorly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, papa al said:

 papa no want sick carburator.

5 5 .

OKay.:

1.  Totally filling the tank minimizes infiltration of atmospheric HOH.

 2.  Once some fuel evaporate then some air gets in,  and then

.changes/fluctuation in atmospheric pressure & temp introduce water into tank.

3.  In a pure hydrocarbon [gasolene] situation.

the immissable HOH  sinks to bottom of tank.

[Light-plane pilots drain the water off (sump the tanks) during pre-flight]

 

4. With gasohol [hydrocarbon + alcohol]

Etol dissolves the water

and mixture  sinks to bottom of tank.

This is the stuff that turns to gunk.

Chemical stabilizers are esters.

In lab: alcohol + carboxylic acid --> ester + water.

The reverse occurs in the tank and eliminates the free water:

HOH + the 'sacrificial' ester --> alcohol + carboxylic acid,

both of which combust just fine.

 

Sorry if papa has explained this poorly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two ways to hydrolyze esters in aqueous media.

 

The first is in soap-making, where esters are heated at 100 C with strong alkali. Soap plus alcohol ( glycerol )

 

The second is to heat with strong acid plus a catalyst at 100 C. Google "Twitchell reagent". Used to split esters into fatty acids and alcohol.

 

Both processes take 24 -48 hours.

 

Hydrolysis of esters with water at room temperature, without acid or base present, would be a very slow process, measured in months if not years.

 

IIRC papa al flunked organic chemistry with me once before. That could be because I have a chemistry degree, and he doesn't.

 

 

[papa al]

40 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

 

Hydrolysis of esters with water at room temperature, without acid or base present, would be a very slow process, measured in months if not years.

IMO this is exactly how common fuel stabilizers work.

If not, pray inform how they actually work.

There are a myriad of different esters.

Artificial flavors and fragrances for example.

That is why the uni- organic chemistry labs

often smell like an explosion in a bubble-gum factory.  5 5

These esters we are talking about here are stable at high temps.

Nazis developed, and now universally used lube for jet engines.

But not stable when contacting water,

which is why they aren't used in crankcase of daily drivers.

Esters are vital component in 2T oil.

2T oil acts as a fuel stabilizer also.

Also, the molecule is highly polar

and sticks to steel tank real good

for anti-rust.

Edited 2 hours ago by papa al

[Toby1947]

Left my Honda Air Blade for over 3 years with just a cheap cover during Covid. Few kicks up and down new battery few revs on the electric start and she fired up no problem. Wind in the tyres and away I go, even ran on the old fuel. Those Honda engines run for ever. 🤣

[Lacessit]

2 minutes ago, papa al said:

IMO this is exactly how common fuel stabilizers work.

If not, pray inform how they actually work.

There are a myriad  of different esters.

Artificial flavors and fragrances for example.

That is why the uni organic chemistry labs

often smell like an explosion in a bubble-gum factory.  5 5

These esters we are talking about here are stable at high temps.

Nazis developed, and now universally used lube for jet engines.

But not stable when contacting water,

which is why they aren't used in crankcase of daily drivers.

Esters are vital component in 2T oil.

2T oil acts as a fuel stabilizer also.

You are confusing fuel stabilizers with esters.

 

Fuel stabilizers are compounds that act as anti-oxidants, such as aromatic amines. They also contain rust inhibitors, such as zinc diethyl dithio phosphate, or metal sulphonates.

 

Esters have no anti-oxidant properties. They MAY have rust inhibitive properties as a barrier film, but no chemical inhibition is involved. In any case, they can't form a barrier film when diluted 100:1 by gasoline.

 

Esters are primarily in fuels as lubricant additives.

 

Here endeth the lesson.

 

 

[G_Money]

I put mine in a storage facility for four months at a time.  Fuel tank near full and disconnect the battery.

 

Upon returning connect battery and starts right up.  Electric start