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Storing my engine correctly
JekRankin - 7/10/09 at 11:50 AM

Just wandering whether there's anything I should be doing to look after my engine whilst it is stored as my build progresses.

My R1 engine was supplied emptied of fluids a couple of months ago. I have taken out the plugs and sprayed a little WD40 into the cylinders and intake to prevent condensation.

Should I turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out periodically? I tried this once, but my weak arms couldn't seem to shift it!

Jek

speedyxjs - 7/10/09 at 11:58 AM

You will need to turn it over. Normally done with tool rather than by hand

Theshed - 7/10/09 at 12:44 PM

I am not sure about this. What is achieved by a couple of turns? no oil would reach the bearings so they would turn over dry. You might stop the rings from sticking but not from rusting.

I would be more tempted to fill the engine up with oil. You can get special storage oil from LAS Aero and natty plugs with silica for the bores.

Bluemoon - 7/10/09 at 12:54 PM

^^ There is always a little oil left.. Moving it just stops things sticking, I put teaspoon or so of engine oil down each plug hole (WD40 might do, but I would rather use engine oil). I just put rags down each sparkplug hole to stop rubbish falling in. Ours was layed up for 5 years, turned over by hand once in a while (using a socket and T bar, turns over easy enough)..

Dan


[Edited on 7/10/09 by Bluemoon]

Benzine - 7/10/09 at 01:55 PM

Place the engine in a crate made of well-seasoned willow and pack with feathers of the Kakapo.

Then use the OBJECT PROTECTION SPELL


With the first and middle fingers (or your Athame, if you have it
with you), trace a pentagram over the object to be protected.
Visualize electric-blue or purple flame streaming from your fingers
(Athame) to form the pentagram. Say this as you trace:


With this pentagram I do lay
Protection here both night and day.
And to the one who should not touch
Let the fingers burn and twitch.
I now invoke the Law of Three:
This is my will, so mote it be!

nick205 - 7/10/09 at 01:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Theshed
I am not sure about this. What is achieved by a couple of turns? no oil would reach the bearings so they would turn over dry. You might stop the rings from sticking but not from rusting.

I would be more tempted to fill the engine up with oil. You can get special storage oil from LAS Aero and natty plugs with silica for the bores.



Turning it over also allows you to leave it in a different position each time - i.e. a different set of valves open and closed.

A drop of fresh oil down the bores before turning helps coat the bores too.

nick205 - 7/10/09 at 01:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
Place the engine in a crate made of well-seasoned willow and pack with feathers of the Kakapo.

Then use the OBJECT PROTECTION SPELL


With the first and middle fingers (or your Athame, if you have it
with you), trace a pentagram over the object to be protected.
Visualize electric-blue or purple flame streaming from your fingers
(Athame) to form the pentagram. Say this as you trace:


With this pentagram I do lay
Protection here both night and day.
And to the one who should not touch
Let the fingers burn and twitch.
I now invoke the Law of Three:
This is my will, so mote it be!




oh aye....some of that too!

(been on the sauce have you?)

Benzine - 7/10/09 at 02:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
oh aye....some of that too!

(been on the sauce have you?)


Nah, just fruit juice and alpro soya today

Canada EH! - 7/10/09 at 02:51 PM

Agree with oil not WD40, turn over once in a while, plug the spark plug holes and if possible tape off the intake and exhaust. Try to keep moisture out of the engine, no moisture no rust. A nice warm dry storage place would be good.

splitrivet - 7/10/09 at 03:50 PM

quote:



With the first and middle fingers (or your Athame, if you have it
with you), trace a pentagram over the object to be protected.
Visualize electric-blue or purple flame streaming from your fingers
(Athame) to form the pentagram. Say this as you trace:



DONT USE THIS SPELL !!!
My curtains caught fire and killed my grannies cat that I was looking after while she was away on a hang gliding holiday.
Cheers,
Bob

BenB - 7/10/09 at 04:58 PM

Each to their own. I wouldn't turn it over too much. You won't have any oil anywhere important so it's not going to thank you for spinning it's crank round and round in dry bearings....
I might be tempted to turn it a 1/8 / 1/4 turn once every couple of months just to stop everything seizing up but not more than that.

And when you do come to start it up don't forget to take out the sparks and spin it up until you get oil pressure before trying to start it. Also helps get any oil out of the bores that might still be down there from the lay-up.

I'd also agree that something heavier than WD40 is probably a good idea. If you spray / pour WD40 into an open container it reasonably quickly evaporates.

bigpig - 7/10/09 at 05:44 PM

quote:
I have taken out the plugs and sprayed a little WD40 into the cylinders and intake to prevent condensation.


Noooo. Use a table spoon of fully synth down each bore for storage. Get a proper oil fill in the engine too. When it comes to using your engine do an oil change first.

WD40 will wash the oil coating off the bores [1] which given the bores are nikasil plated (I assume they still are) could get expensive,

Given you have put WD40 in I'd be tempeted to give each bore a whole table spoon or two of fully syth.

quote:

Should I turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out periodically? I tried this once, but my weak arms couldn't seem to shift it!

If you are storing for a good few months over reasonably easily with no plugs and a decent wrench on the crank. The reason to occasionally turn it over to give the valve springs a bit of a rest. If you turn it over by hand you won't get sufficient oil pressure (as has already been mentioned).

I was once told by someone who used to maintain park lawn mowers that his other preparation was to drain the carbs of petrol and put some diesel in them. After winter he would then drain out the diesel. This prevented both corrosion and the build up of petrol varnish layers.


As Ben says, post lay up, get some new oil in, new filter, & spin it up without plugs for a bit to get oil to the top end. I'd be tempted (as its out the car/bike) to take the rocker box off and pour a few table spoons of fully synth over the cam lobes before spinning it up too (I used to do this on my old GSX).

[1] If you get sikaflex on yourself, WD40 is quite good at cleaning it off before it sets, let alone other general grease/oil.

BenB - 7/10/09 at 06:58 PM

WD40s also good at getting mascara out of carpets Don't ask how I know... Spray it on, wipe it off....