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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
I have a 2015 FLS that has been sitting for a couple of years. I had some family member health issues that I had to attend, causing all life extracurricular activities to pause. This has never happened before, so I am not sure to continue on if the bike starts or drain the tank first. The tank was close to full before the unexpected happened. So full tank of 2-year-old gas. Has anyone just used up 2-year-old gas, or should I just drain it? Also, if I need to drain it what is the most efficient way to drain the tank? I would prefer not to have to disassemble. Thanks for your input!
Fire that puppy up, if it does not start, then go from there. I expect it will fire right up. Make sure the battery is in good condition and if she starts, put a couple of tablespoons of Seafoam in there and run the gas out, then fill with new.
Drain the fuel, refill with good brand name fuel amd run it. Maybe some injection cleaner. Change the fluids. Then I would take the bike out for a good days ride, say 100 miles, With at least one stint with the bike running for at least 30 minutes. Making sure the engine get to temp and remains there for the duration.
Start the bike and take her for a ride, get her good and warm, figure at least 20 miles. Then change the other fluids. As long as she starts, you will be good using the old but not ancient fuel. 2 years is not that bad, good luck.
I wouldn't want two year fuel passing through the pump and fuel injectors if I could avoid it. So I'd drain the tank and look inside with a flashlight to verify no gummed up fuel or rust has accumlated. If it looks good, I'd rinse it out and them fill with enough fresh fuel to take it to a top tier gas station and fill it up and go for a ride long enough to get the engine and trans fully up to temperature. Getting things up to full temperature in cool or cold weather will take longer than expected.
Then change the oil in all three holes. You should also check the moisture content of the brake and clutch fluids, and likely just flush the fluid since it's been two years anyway.
Given the 50/50 responses, I plan to siphon half of the fuel out, add half fresh, and treat with Redline fuel system cleaner. Shake the bike side to side then back and forth with hand brake and go for it. I will take a long ride to run it all through. I will post back the results. I plan on doing this tomorrow (Saturday). Thanks for the input!!!
Pgreer I did not think of the brake fluid. I will look into that procedure. I do not think that has been done since I have owned it . I did have the first "once over" performed by the local HD dealer, so they probably did the check then. I hope they did, I thought I was going to have to take out a loan to have that done. Ever since I have been doing my own fluid changes. Unfortunately those fluid changes have not included brake fluid.
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Old gas
. I did have the first "once over" performed by the local HD dealer, so they probably did the check then. I hope they did, I thought I was going to have to take out a loan to have that done. Ever since I have been doing my own fluid changes. Unfortunately those fluid changes have not included brake fluid.