Hello one and all. Have been having a good look around the site before joining and am amazed how much information and knowledge is on here.
I have just bought a partially stripped K1100. The bloke was going to mod to a cafe racer but I am going for the the scrambler look.
So the bike hasn’t been started for 2 years but hasn’t had the fluids bled out.
I was going to disconnect the tank and empty and clean and replace the fuel filter. Should I change the oil also? Anything else anyone would recommend.
Also the battery is obviously old. Is it worth trying to charge it or just replace.
Lastly (for now) there wasn’t a key and he has already freed up the ignition barrel but not disconnected. Have seen threads how to dismantle that but wondered where is best to get a replacement. (Maybe something smaller that can be located to the side somewhere.
Apologies for the essay as an introduction!!!!

WelKome!

Starting with an oil thread?  Mighty bold of you.

I've brought a few Ks back from the dead and MY approach has always been to start them with the old oil and let them idle a little while with a few short revs before changing the oil. My theory being that this will get some of the crud that has built up into suspension in the oil so that it drains out with the first oil change.

I probably wouldn't do it for a bike that's only been asleep for two years but for bikes that have slept for a longer period of time I pull the plugs and spray in some fogging oil so the first few strokes aren't completely dry.

Then I run a diesel dino oil (like Rotella T4) or other oil with lots of cleaning additives for the first few hundred miles and then do another oil change.

Great advice will give it a go with the old oil to start.

Also, do not be alarmed if it smokes a lot on initial startup.  Due to the flat inline design of the engine, especially if it's been on the side stand, oil will seep past the rings into the combustion chamber.  It'll take a few minutes for that to burn off and after that things should be OK.

Haha. Am glad you mentioned that cos I would have definitely panicked.

Here's what it could look like...

Point-Seven-five wrote:Here's what it could look like...

Ha!  Been there, done that!

Point-Seven-five wrote:Here's what it could look like...

Best done outside when there's a wind blowing in the direction of your least favorite neighbor.