Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Q reg winter storage

[polarexpress]

Living in bloody Norway bike season's hopelessly short

While you fortunate gentlemen are still wearing shorts in sunny Britain we northeners put on thick layers of sheep's wool and reindeer skins

Hence, my precious Duke got wrapped in cotton and put away in a garage ages ago (sob). The poor thing has been sitting for a while and I'm wondering if I ought to engage 6th gear and turn the back wheel a few revolutions once in a while in order to lubricate all the little bits and pieces inside the engine.

Would this be a good or a bad idea?

Btw, I sprayed a little 2-stroke oil down the spark plug holes before parking it for the season. Don't know if turning the engine will blow the oil out of the cylinders, though...

[phil_h]

Condensation is your biggest enemy, followed by varnish from evaporating fuel.
You can combat the first by using dehumidifier or a vac-bag, and if you use a synthetic oil it will stay put much better than mineral oils.
The second evil is a gradual build-up and can be combatted by draining the tank then trying to start the engine to empty the injectors/carbs OR by using a fuel stabiliser and running the engine for 10mins to get the new mix through to the injectors/carbs.
(I assume you removed the battery and brought it inside)

[keefer]

I would echo what Phil has said.
its a good idea to put the oil down the bore but I wouldn't go trying to turn it over it wouldn't get a chance to do any good.
and like wise its not worth running it for a short time.
A vac bag is a great idea once all the petrol and engine oil have been drained off.
and finally before you start it when your summer arrives .Give it another squirt of oil in the bores and turn it over a few times without the fuel pump switched on, so it will get a good coat of fresh oil before running.

[bradders]

condensation...put mine all back together after a couple of months and found the dzus are now knackered! should have out them in the house...

[HellOnWheels]

I have placed my bike in a warm garage with stable tempratures. Every now and then I start it up to hear the roar and miss the summer... The only thing I`ve done to the bike was to change the oil/filter and wash/polished it.

Is this a good way to store the bike? Does any of the above issues apply to me?

[keefer]

the garage bit is fine.
running it for a short amount of time is bad though

[HellOnWheels]

Even if I make shure it get real hot before I turn it off? It`s a really big garage (about 40meters) so it`s also possible to ride it a few meters... Good fun in the winter

[keefer]

you need a wall of death then you can ride it as far as you like

[HellOnWheels]