Winter Project: Getting my motorcycle operational again

[Rob]

I have a 2003 Yamaha Road Star VX16ALER bike that I use to use to commute when I worked in DT Seattle.  Around 2010 commuting was no longer really needed as I changed companies so I parked it with intent to keep using it from time to time.  Time passes quickly and it has not run for at least 11 or 12 years.  I plan to try to get it running again over the winter so I can take it out this spring/Summer so I thought I would post my journey to get advice etc.

A word about me...  You know how some people grew up in families who never hunted, and then later in life they want to hunt but have no idea where to start or how to go about it?  This is me, only with automotive skills.  Nobody in my family was into cars or motor repair.  As far as I was concerned, what happens under the hood of an auto is magic and when it breaks, you take it to a magician to fix it.  Until last year I had never even done an oil change myself.  I have recently been trying to teach myself how to do some basic maintenance on small motors (oil/filter changes, Carburetor replacements, etc).  I have a Ford Superduty that I have started to do oil changes and fuel filter changes on as well.  Baby steps...

Anyway, that background is to say, I know next to nothing about what I am about to get into with this project.  I may end up doing terrible damage to the bike (visualize the 10 year old who disassembles a calculator and then realizes they have no idea how to put it back together...).  Feel free to mock my ignorance but try to be kind!  Use small words if offering advice!

With that out of the way, here is my situation.
-The bike sat for several years with about 3/4 of a tank of unleaded gas in it (it was not ethanol free gas of course). 
-The battery of course died somewhere around 2015 or so I am guessing
-When I moved from Bothell to Monroe in 2017, I thought it would be easier to move if I could start it up and use the engine to maneuver it rather than push it.  I replaced the battery and it would not even turnover.  I believe the dash would light up, but nothing happened when I turned the key.  No clicking, not trying to turn over.  just silence.   
-Fast forward to this month.  I have purchased, but not installed a new battery.  I want to do some other tasks before I try to turn it over again.   My plan is to:
     -Remove the old nasty gas
     -Change the plugs
     -do an oil change
     -clean the carb well
     -replace the air filter

Using you-tube, I have figured out how to remove the fuel tank and removed all the gas from the tank.  I have also removed the oil filter and drained all the oil (left it overnight to drain since it is cold out and I cannot run the oil to heat it up).

Over the next few days I will replace the oil filter and oil.  Replace the spark plugs (properly gapped and torqued).

Then I will pull the carb off and start the cleaning process.  I ordered a kit with new o-rings, jets, etc and will likely replace most if not all of those parts.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9MLMQFZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I will replace the air-filter since I will have the carburetor out anyway.

At this point I am guessing (hoping) I can put it all back together, install the battery and see what happens from there.  It worries me that it would not turn over last time I tried so I might have a stuck starter?  I figure I will cross that bridge once I get the obvious and easy stuff done.  I also figure I will need to replace the tires since they have been sitting so long.

I am assuming there is more nasty gas in the engine somewhere.  Are there other places I need to go to remove the old gas?  (and I will use ethanol free whenever I can going forward...)  Or does this not really matter since I will have cleaned the carburetor? 

Photo of where I am currently at.

[Skyvalhunter]

run sea foam in it.

[Sandberm]

Hmmm...

Ive got an old BMW motorcycle that hasn't run in about the same amount of time so I'll be curious how this goes.

Come to think of it,... Ive got a shed full of old boat motors, lawn mowers and motorcycles....in the same state. Im proud to say i don't have any dead cars up on blocks or parked in the weeds however. 

[Rob]

run sea foam in it.

I have that in my Amazon cart!

[TommyH]

Not familiar with that specific bike but is there a kick start? It may have semi seized up, rings in the cylinder slightly rusted. Bump it loose with kick starter or roll it forward in gear and let the clutch out and see if it’ll free up, (I’d try it easy first). If it comes free, then you’ll know it’s the starter or electrical if nothing tries to turn over. Good luck on your project. 

[Encore 280]

Pull the spark plugs first before trying to roll it over, it'll be easier. Maybe even spray some WD40 in the cylinders.

[Rob]

run sea foam in it.

I have that in my Amazon cart!

Will the seafoam take care of any remaining stale gas?  I know it cleans things out.

Great idea on trying without plugs.  I figure something has siezed due to sitting with stale gas in it so I will try the clutch popping idea (it is an electric start though). 

I had someone recommend putting some of "Mikes Mystery Oil" ontop of the cylinders to see if that helps.

[TommyH]

run sea foam in it.

I have that in my Amazon cart!

Will the seafoam take care of any remaining stale gas?  I know it cleans things out.

Great idea on trying without plugs.  I figure something has siezed due to sitting with stale gas in it so I will try the clutch popping idea (it is an electric start though). 

I had someone recommend putting some of "Mikes Mystery Oil" ontop of the cylinders to see if that helps.

Yes on the oil in the cylinder. Also Make sure your fuel lines are not clogged up, pull and push some air threw.

[Rob]

run sea foam in it.

I have that in my Amazon cart!

Will the seafoam take care of any remaining stale gas?  I know it cleans things out.

Great idea on trying without plugs.  I figure something has siezed due to sitting with stale gas in it so I will try the clutch popping idea (it is an electric start though). 

I had someone recommend putting some of "Mikes Mystery Oil" ontop of the cylinders to see if that helps.

Yes on the oil in the cylinder. Also Make sure your fuel lines are not clogged up, pull and push some air threw.

 

First of many dumb questions  How does one do this?  Compressed air in the hose near the petcock and wait to see it blow out in the cylinders?  or perhaps out of the hose that leads into the Carb?

[hunter399]

run sea foam in it.

I have that in my Amazon cart!

Will the seafoam take care of any remaining stale gas?  I know it cleans things out.

Great idea on trying without plugs.  I figure something has siezed due to sitting with stale gas in it so I will try the clutch popping idea (it is an electric start though). 

I had someone recommend putting some of "Mikes Mystery Oil" ontop of the cylinders to see if that helps.

Yes on the oil in the cylinder. Also Make sure your fuel lines are not clogged up, pull and push some air threw.

 

First of many dumb questions  How does one do this?  Compressed air in the hose near the petcock and wait to see it blow out in the cylinders?  or perhaps out of the hose that leads into the Carb?

I'd worry about the piston first .
If the piston stuck ,fuel and air won't help.
Alot of YouTube out there ,they may help ya.
The piston stuck ,put ATF in the cylinder head ,overnight and let it sit.

[Rob]

ATF = Automatic Transmission fluid??

[hunter399]

ATF = Automatic Transmission fluid??

Yup,in the spark plug hole,let it sit overnight.
Some people will make a recipe of junk to put in.
You can WD 40,ATF,oil, pb blaster , mystery oil, whatever,put it in there.
Mixed together.

[luvmystang67]

Sounds like you have a great start on this.

If you pull the tank and the carb, the only other place there should be fuel is in the fuel line between them, which will probably all run out on the floor when you pull the carb.  If there is an in-line fuel filter, you might replace that while you're doing all of this, because fuel could sit in that.  Otherwise, you should be good to go and I personally see no reason to run sea foam.  I run sea foam in things that I'm too lazy to do what you're doing.  It helps clean out the carb, when you're not manually cleaning it out.  I see no reason (and would not) run sea foam in the first tank of fuel, given all the work you're doing.  I suspect you could leave the plugs, do the fuel tank, fuel drain, carb part kit replacement... maybe a new fuel filter and battery and it'd probably fire right up.  New oil and filter is a must, but that shouldn't impact whether or not it starts.

I suspect your piston is probably NOT frozen up and is likely just fine.  When you take the spark plugs out, there is no compression, and it should make the bike VERY easy to turn over.  To test this and avoid hurting anything you could put it in gear, and do essentially a compression start on it (get it moving with the clutch held in, and drop the clutch) and that should turn over the piston.  All you want to do is verify that your pistons aren't seized from sitting, which... they are probably NOT seized if its been in a garage.  If it had a kick starter, you'd just pull the plugs and lightly push the kicker over... because it likely doesn't have a kick starter, I'd just put it in gear, roll it, drop the clutch, and validate that the pistons are free to move.  If you hear the pistons pushing air in and out of the sparkplug holes, you're golden.

I'd say 95%+ of the time, when a bike was put away running, with fuel in it, a simple drain of the old gas from the tank, carb and fuel lines... and a carb cleanout (or kit with new components) is enough to get the bike to run just fine.  The oil change is a must, just because you should change it.  Spark plug change is probably not required, but you might as well.  A wire brush to the existing plugs when you have them out would probably suffice.

One of the things we usually do when buying something like this is jump-start the battery, spray starting fluid into the air intake, and turn it over.  If it fires at all when you do this, it'll run once the fuel system is cleaned out... and most things do fire when you do this... and usually pistons are not frozen unless something was left outside.

good luck, take a lot of photos as you disassemble, and you'll be just fine.  It looks scary, but I promise its manageable.

[Chris57]

Sounds like the piston rings are stuck to the cylinder wall. Remove the plugs and add ATF or my favorite, Marvels Mystery Oil. It's available at any auto parts store. Let it soak for a couple days before attempting to turn it over, you might break the rings instead of freeing them up. With the plugs removed put it in gear and gently try rolling it forward. Patience is the key, too much force and you will break the rings.

[Rob]

This is all great advice - will get the oil change and carb clean done and then report back!