A relative of mine will be getting my 1990 Gen I out of storage this week and preparing it for my arrival (I need to haul a boat the day I arrive. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />)
It's been in a heated storage unit with the battery disconnected for 11 months. I changed the oil immediatly before putting it in storage and topped off the tank but it has not been turned over at all since it went in.
I know that this wasn't the best way to store it and it should have been turned over every few weeks but believe me I had no choice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

So is there anything in particular that I should be on the lookout for before or after I fire it up (assuming it does)? I'll change the oil, check the fluids, and check the belts, boots, and hoses. Anything else that I should be aware of on the Gen I or in general? Should I flush out the fluids or just leave them?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like you covered most of it.Id say its fine.

Be prepared for stale fuel unless you added some fuel stabilizer when you stored it.... won't hurt anything, but power may be down a little and the fuel has a tendency to turn a little gummy when stale. I'd suggest adding some Techron injector cleaner or BG-44K to the gas.

If the tires developed flat spots from sitting, you'll feel it.... if so, keep the speed down until they warm up and quit bouncing.

Put a full charge on the battery as soon as possible.

When you get a few minutes, find a dirt road and put it in 4WD for 10 minutes or so.

Frank

Since you'll be towing, pay particular attention to any indication of spark knock/detonation with aged fuel. It might be smart to also add some octane booster (available at parts houses) to be on the safe side, since fuel can lose some octane rating over time.

After you burn around half of the tank, fill up with fresh fuel to dilute the old. After a couple of tanks have been burned, repeat the BG-44K treatment.

Frank

yup... schlack sucks. id also keep a close eye on all your seals & gaskets, they tend to dry up during storage and start leaking after you start rolling again. may the wheelin gods smile upon its resurection <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />!

11 months isn't that long to have it in storage but you may want to disconnect the plug wire to the coil and ground it manually on the plenum when you first crank the engine. This will keep it from getting spark and let the oil pump prime and pump some oil up onto the heads before starting the engine.

If you get a lot of tapping, do the "3 minute fix" for tapping to get oil into the lash adjusters.

Good luck,

Powell

Check the interior for bugs. The Gen 1 is sealed up nice but you never know. You don't want to find out at 60 MPH that you really do have ants in your pants. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

...or mice...

This is a great way to get the oil circulating and get surfaces coated with lubricant before the ignition is turned on and engine forces grind the rings into the cylinder walls. It is commonly said that most engine wear occurs within the first 10 seconds after each startup.

Here is another approach - I'd love to hear what the engine wizards say about this!

An engineer I know mothballs a inboard marine engine by choking it with motor oil. This is a carbureted gasoline engine. He gets it started each spring without difficulty.

If he has a stored engine, he removes the spark plugs and pours some engine oil into the cylinders. Then he cranks the engine to lubricate the cylinders. He rarely has trouble starting the engine.

Do you think he's also doing a bunch of other things I don't know about?

Is this just crazy, or "crazy like a fox?"

SOP for storing a boat with a carbureted engine over the winter is:

1) Fill the fuel tanks and include fuel stabilizer.
2) With the engine running, slowly pour motor oil into the carburetor until the exhaust begins to smoke, then rapidly pour in enough oil to choke the engine.
3) Remove the spark plugs and squirt about a tablespoon of motor oil into each cylinder. Replace the plugs.
4) Drain the block.
5) Disconnect the battery.
6) Loosen all drive belts.

The same drill is appropriate for any vehicle to be stored for an extended time. Startup poses no problem, though there is some initial smoke until the oil is burned off.

Crazy? Not at all - good practice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Frank