Taking Rotax out of Storage

Jaime Cardenas · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 24

I will be taking my Rotax engine and kart out of storage later this summer. It has been 5 years since I ran it and I was a beginner back then. I stored it without fluids (oil, water, etc). What things should I look out for before firing it up? The engine had ~10hours on it since brand new. Can I expect to run it without needing some work inside the engine? Is it reasonable to expect the battery to still work? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jaime

Adi RocK · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 63 Location: Brunei,

Engine shd be fine. Best to check your carb internal. Batt might be dead tho..

Nick Weil · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject:

You'll need a new battery unless the old one has been charging the whole time.

It would be wise to completely disassemble the carb and clean it, as well as the fuel pump. There's lots of gaskets and robber o-rings that don't like sitting for extended periods of times (with or without fluids in them). If you're lucky, the water pump seals are still good. If you're not lucky those may need replacing. That requires a service center unfortunately.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to remove the spark plug and put a few drops of two stroke oil into combustion chamber and then slowly turn the motor over by hand 10-20 revolutions using the clutch nut and a wrench. Once done then put the spark plug back in. This will help insure once you do start it, that it's got some lubrication and prevent some potential metal on metal wear.
_________________
Nick Weil
Authorized Rotax Service Center and Dealer since 2002
2004 Team USA Rotax Worlds Finals DD-2 Driver

Want to save money AND grow the economy? www.fairtax.org

Jaime Cardenas · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 24

Thanks for the replies. How will I know that the water pump has problems? Will it just leak water? Will the engine get too hot?

As for the new battery, should I get the new kind (I think it's expensive) or can I (should I) get the old type like the one I have?

Peter Zambos · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:19 am Post subject:

Both. It will leak water and then, eventually get too hot as it runs out of coolant. There is a seapage hole, and there will be water coming from it if your seals have gone bad.

The only thing to gain from the lighter battery is weight savings, ultimately.