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V4 Long Term Hibernation - Best Practice, Post Lockdown

Discussion in 'Panigale' started by Topolino, Apr 7, 2020.

  1. As some of you may know, I placed my V4 into long term storage on the 18th July 2019 in a friends garage, pending the build of my own new garage, after we moved the following day into our new house. The build was on track to be completed by the end of May 2020 but obviously never started due to the current Covid-19 situation. Naturally I cannot access the bike, even though it is only a few miles away and my question is this...the bike is currently on an Optimate lithium trickle charger (mainly to support the Bike Trac unit) and is protected by a breathable cloth cover in a well ventilated dry garage, on paddock stands. The exhausts have been taped over at their outlets and the air intakes as well. Since it's likely I won't get my hands on it potentially for a few more months, it will have been sitting there for over a year. Aside from cobwebs, potential rodent damage (God I hope not) and/or condensation related damage, what else should be considered when I eventually collect it. Obviously the tank was filled to the brim with fuel, which will be replaced and the engine won't have turned over in over a year, so is there anything else I should consider or be concerned about. Perhaps Nelly can advise me on bringing it out of an extended hibernation, in such a way that ensures I minimize the risk of damaging the bike or the engine itself.
     
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  2. Stopping moisture getting into the engine is something most people don't do. But a vac-bag would of been far simpler imho. Stops the rodents & insects & means you can basically ignore the moisture issue. I believe @Pete1950 recommended this on another thread. Although there is another make which slips my mind.

    Found another one, but the one I am thinking about is red with clear large windows. Found it
    [​IMG]

    I'd recommend sticking a large tray of rice in this sort of system to soak up residual water.
     
    #2 GunZenBomZ, Apr 7, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
  3. I probably would have gone for this option if I had known the bike was going to be in storage for this long. Too late to do it now, hence my asking for any precautionary measures when the time comes to collect it.
     
  4. Yes. I met the owner and proprietor of Vac-Bag once in Greenwich Market, and was so impressed that I bought his products. I have an immaculate very low mileage Sport Classic 1000 Paul Smart LE stored in a Vac-Bag. There is a pack of moisture absorbent granules in there. Both wheels are up off the ground courtesy of ABBA, and the battery is kept elsewhere. Even if a valve happens to be open I am confident the engine will be OK, and the whole bike will remain immaculate indefinitely.
     
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  5. Start it up, rag the fuck out of it in a stand for 15 minutes, then ride it as fast as you can with all the Rebs for an hour.

    It something like that :p lol
     
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  6. If it were any old hack I would. Any one else have some constructive thoughts.
     
  7. I assume you can't access the bike due to lockdown, but maybe some of these things, like operating the levers are something your friend storing the bike could do for you to minimise issues once you can collect the bike - prevention is better than cure, right?
    • Is it worth starting it occasionally? (probably the last thing on this list you'd want someone else to do for you ;))
    • Trusty ACF-50 (which you first told me about Rod) has got to help with condensation, even in a gargae.
    • Tyre pressures - The latest Harry's Garage vid on YouTube, he says he keeps his cars with higher pressure for various reasons. I know my pushbike friends recommend letting air out of tyres when storing bike to help preserve them. Not sure what would be best here?
    • Play with the brake /clutch levers, and throttle - to keep the cables and clutch plates and caliper pistons free?
     
  8. Slowly spin the engine in 6th gear, in case rings are stuck to the cylinder walls. (although very unlikely).
    Change all fluids and ride...1-2 years is not the end of the world.
    Tyres might have developed a flat spot, if not stored off the ground.Take it easy for couple of rides, if vibration is present change tyres.

    Probably in much better conditions than the bikes that are started up and just let to idle for 10-15minutes. :(
     
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  9. Thanks for your suggestions. Trouble is, the person whose garage it's in is literally the last person who would know what to do, as they are in no way mechanically minded. For that reason I would rather they don't touch it. When/if we get out of this crisis in one piece, The bike is being picked up by my local trustworthy Ducati specialist, so I will let him pour over it and assess what needs to be done.

    The bike is not actually rideable, as at the point where it went into storage, the brake system was not yet complete, the chain had yet to be fitted, the left hand rear set was not on the bike, the wheels were yet to be torqued to spec and the clutch system needed to be filled and bled as well as the oil needing to be topped up after I replaced the oil cooler and the water levels checked. At the rate things are going, if I cannot complete the build before the end of what's left (if anything) of this year's riding season and potentially some of next year's as well, the bike will be due an MOT before it's actually ever been ridden!

    When all is said and done, your health and that of everyone else, is infinitely more important right now.
     
  10. You say the bike is only a few miles away in a garage - could you not legitimately swing past it on your way whilst out shopping etc ? If so then you could slowly move the bike, in gear, gently to turn the engine over (rear wheel in gear). I'm doing this on mine (900SL) to reduce chance of flatspots on tyres and cambelts sitting at 1 position for months on end. Could your mate whose garage its sat in be trusted to do this ?
     
  11. Ah, just read your update - no chain = my suggestion being null and void!
     
  12. Any suggestions always welcome, but as you rightly point out, not possible on the bike right now. The fact that the engine has not been turned in over 9 months, is concerning me.
     
  13. plugs out and spin it over by hand is the immediate thought from my side, but that really depends on how long this all goes on for, I would think the heads would be bone dry by now so worth thinking about.
     
  14. Unless its been sat thru the frost etc, if you can spin by hand off the rear tyre in gear great if not start and let idle. Alternatively empty off all fuel so it will turn but no are, which may help the oil get about first
     
  15. Have you got a push bike? Youre allowed to go for a ride on a bike. So take a few bits at a time and get it finished. Keep at least 2 metres from the house owner.
     
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  16. Single file riding remember
     
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  17. Bit of a stretch explaining that one to plod as it's over 12 miles away. That and I don't have a pushbike right now.
     
  18. It will be fine, just start it up when you can next access it and let it idle up to operating temperature then dump the oil and refill it

    My cousin has a 1998 R1 from new with about 10k miles on, it’s been stood for more than 2 years at a time on just an optimate in a “normal” garage, then oil changed and ridden, no problems at all and it’s still like a new bike
     
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  19. You don’t have a pusho? Hope you’re going to remedy that once everything is tip top on your end bud.

    what Wassy said.
     
  20. That must be worth 3 to 5 (years, jail term) in itself! Of course no one on this forum would commit such a heinous crime. Haha
     
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