Hi everyone, I picked up a new Hayabusa (brand new '03 left-over, found at a small dealer in upstate New York) back in September. Last week, I thoroughly washed it (at times using a tooth brush and q-tips!!) to get it ready for winter storage, and have a few general maintenance/storage questions.
I'm looking into possibly bringing the bike inside, keeping it in my basement for the winter, but that will depend on how feasible it'll be to get it down (and then back up) a flight of stairs. If I do get it inside and drain the gas tank completely, is there still any danger of rust in the tank? The house is dry as hell over the winter, but the basement can get a bit damp during the early spring months with the warmer temperatures and melting snow.
When I prepared it for storage, I also cleaned, oiled and adjusted the chain. The manual states that it should have 20 to 30mm of play - how much force should this be measured with? I have it adjusted for 25mm of play, but have to put a fair amount of pressure, up and down, on the chain to get that. I have a feeling the chain is too tight.
Also on the topic of chain, it's been said that the chain should be adjusted while the bike is on the kickstand as opposed to the rear stand. Is the rear stand referring to the bolt-on center stand? I picked up one of those rear spool-type swingarm stands, and this is what I adjusted the chain on. It seems more likely to have the full weight of the bike on this stand than on the kick stand.
Finally, when I cleaned behind the front sprocket cover, I had to remove the coolant overflow tank and noticed some "stuff" (for lack of a better word) in the bottom of the tank. It was a lighter color, cloudy substance. If I rocked the tank back and forth, it would flow with the coolant, so it wasn't a solid. Just wondering what it might be. Probably a good idea to flush the coolant and put in some fresh, no?
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking into possibly bringing the bike inside, keeping it in my basement for the winter, but that will depend on how feasible it'll be to get it down (and then back up) a flight of stairs. If I do get it inside and drain the gas tank completely, is there still any danger of rust in the tank? The house is dry as hell over the winter, but the basement can get a bit damp during the early spring months with the warmer temperatures and melting snow.
When I prepared it for storage, I also cleaned, oiled and adjusted the chain. The manual states that it should have 20 to 30mm of play - how much force should this be measured with? I have it adjusted for 25mm of play, but have to put a fair amount of pressure, up and down, on the chain to get that. I have a feeling the chain is too tight.
Also on the topic of chain, it's been said that the chain should be adjusted while the bike is on the kickstand as opposed to the rear stand. Is the rear stand referring to the bolt-on center stand? I picked up one of those rear spool-type swingarm stands, and this is what I adjusted the chain on. It seems more likely to have the full weight of the bike on this stand than on the kick stand.
Finally, when I cleaned behind the front sprocket cover, I had to remove the coolant overflow tank and noticed some "stuff" (for lack of a better word) in the bottom of the tank. It was a lighter color, cloudy substance. If I rocked the tank back and forth, it would flow with the coolant, so it wasn't a solid. Just wondering what it might be. Probably a good idea to flush the coolant and put in some fresh, no?
Thanks in advance.