6 Months in a garage, What steps should I take?

Greetings GRiSO Experts,

I'm in the USAF and was tasked with a short notice deployment to Africa back in July, I only had a day to get my things in order and fly out so I just put her in the corner of the garage and hoped for the best. I'm going to be returning home in a week and a half and I want to take the proper steps to get my bike back in good order, from what I've looked up online I should drain the gas that is in the tank with a hand pump (There wasn't very much in the tank when I left.) and replace it, then take it to get the fluids changed. About two months into my deployment I sent my roommate a battery tender to hook up so I hope the battery is alright. What do you guys think, any glaring issues I should be worried about?

Nope. That's about it. In all honesty unless it's been sitting outside in a swamp I'd just drop the engine oil and replace it, get as much of the shitty fuel out as possible and then fill it full of new fuel and hit the button. It may run a bit rough while it pumps through the old fuel from the lines and filter but once that is flushed it should be good to go. People worry far too much about this, it's a motorbike, principally made of metal. Six months won't harm it, look how long new bikes sometimes sit on showroom floors! Delicate pixie wings and unicorn mane hair a GRiSO is NOT made of.

Pete

Thanks Pete, I was pretty worried. I am so excited to ride when I get home

Primitial wrote:

... drain the gas that is in the tank with a hand pump ...

I wonder, what will happen if he take out the fuel line from an injector, put it in a bottle, and turn the main switch on?
I think that the pump will drain the tank - I've never done it, its just an idea.
He will have to get a new clamp, as those are grimped.

And thanks, Primitial, for doing what needs to be done, in a place I wouldn't want to be, doing what I wouldn't want to do.

Bill

Thanks Bill, avgpetro a mechanic here told me the same thing but I've never done anything like that before.

Problem with pulling a fuel line off is that the pump will only run for four seconds without the crank spinning. You'd have to keep turning the key on and off endlessly, it would get very boring!

You should be fine.... Happens to me all the time ;-) Here is what I would do:

1 - Add Fresh fuel with some Seafoam of Lucas FI cleaner. Its good teh fuel is low, but even so, if you had 1/2 tank and topped off with some aditive and fresh fuel you will be good to go. I'd worry if it was over a year. I've done a couple 9 monthers and a year deployment with little notice, and no worries....
2 - Battery Tender should have the Battery Good
3 - Check tire pressures & adjust
4 - Start and run, go for a ride, get the engine and oil fully hot then change the oil & filter & ENJOY!

I love that the Guzzi's have a Polymer (non steel) tank. Really helps with the rust worries. If you want, you can run some Seafoam or Lucas the first couple tanks.

I bought a bike in SanFransico and got it transported home to Tasmania, it had sat for some 25 years, now that did need a petrol change .......