I have just bought a 1995 Superlight which is going to get a rebuild/tidy up. The bike will be off the road for at least 9 months and I was wondering how to store the fuel pump while the bike is apart? Do I need to store it in a container full of fuel or what is suggested?
Very interested to know the best answer to this, I usually store my bikes with a full tank of gas and fuel stabilizer in it. Drain carbs or run fuel through fuel injection. I have also had pumps sit for a while without being in fuel and had no issues. I'm not sure what the diaphragm inside the pump would like best.
Leaving it dry won't do it any harm as long as it is immersed in fuel when it is next run. It doesn't have a diaphragm, it has an impeller driven by an electric motor.
I would leave it dry. Generally, before laying an old bike up I like to let them run for a while using (zero alcohol fuel if possible and) a good synthetic 2T at something like 50:1 ratio, run to dry and drain anything left in the tank or carbs. It may well just be old habits dying hard, but I feel that gives an even, long lasting oil coating in the tank, carbs, and top of engine and is likely to reduce corrosion, and tendency for anything sticking during the layup. Smells nice too.
All the new pumps (5, I think - 2 Ducati) I fitted have been dry in their packaging direct from suppliers. Tanks removed and drained for whatever reason used to be heavily sprayed with oil inside using my compressor so a fine mist built up which settled on every surface
As above, a cracking looking bike, in either colour, a hoot to ride on the road, and when well sorted, can show a wheel to far more modern / powerful bikes at track days. All that and you will always get your money back ++ if you need it. Enjoy!
Yep, very pleased to pick up a Superlight.It was 90klms north of Perth WA so was a big day to collect it(nearly a 1000klm day from where I am). It looks better in the photo's than up close so it will get a rebuild.I have also tidied it up before these photo's. I have another bike to build before I get onto this one so it will be a few months before I get stuck in. Very pleased to grab this one though! Thanks for all the info about storing the pump etc. Much appreciated!!
It's great that folk from the other side of the world come to a UK forum for info on Italian bikes, must mean we are a helpful and knowledgeable bunch
those cans dont like sitting unused for too long at all... best you send em to me (i will cover postage) and find some others when you are getting it on the rd... i am here to help dude...
Yep, this is great forum with loads of people that are happy to answer queries? So many thanks for that! The cans on this bike are actually LASER cans, I took the foil logos off and will see what method I can find to renew the CF look. There is a LASER logo etched into the can outlet.
I think I still have a pair of proper Lazer curved aluminium oval logos which have a heat resistant adhesive on the back, but usually they are riveted on as well. I'm not sure if they have been used (I had two pairs for my Lazer cans) but they should be in good condition. I will dig them out today and see just what they are like. I may even have a pair of the foil ones - definitely unused. And a pair of the black and yellow ones! AL
I'd love to see what the Laser logo's look like. I tried "googling" how to get carbon fibre looking good again and couldn't find any useful info. It appears that 2 pac clear will not tolerate heat so that method is out and that was my first go-to idea!!
The bike is rebuilt and has been on the road for about 10 months. The Fuel pump was dry stored while I restored the bike and it worked perfectly when the bike was started again. So good result!!
