Curvy won't idle without choke, won't do mid throttle, will rev

[johnnyrod]

Bibio is right on every point. As said above, old fuel makes starting hard because the lighter stuff has evaporated and left the heavier stuff behind, almost regardless of octane ratings. Also leave it long enough and it does leave some muck behind that needs cleaning out. Some of you guys have had far more success with Redex than the rest of us. Back in the days when I worked in fuel additives it was a generation behind what even Tesco were putting in their 95 RON, it was basically mineral oil (for cleaning the backs of inlet valves) with no dispersants or anything else unless you count redness. I'm sure they've moved with the times so I don't know about now. TBH unless you're on commission I'm not sure why you're getting so aerated about it all.

Unless you've exhumed your bike then ultrasonic cleaning isn't necessary, the usual whizz round with a toothbrush and WD40 or whatever your spray of choice will be sufficient. Redex or anything else won't shift particles of rust, hairs, spiders, water droplets etc. like a blast through a straw.

Windy, you still with us?

[SV650rules]

Redex is not mineral oil, it is mainly kerosene with other active stuff, it is for cleaning injectors, carbs and fuel system these days - not an 'upper cylinder lubricant' any more, and has not been for decades. Gone are the days of tipping redex in through carb and filling whole street with oily white smoke.

It really is a no-brainer to try it, it is the least effort and for a fiver even if it does not work it ain't the end of the world. And yes I have had a lot of success with it, and no I don't work for the company.

As for Redex shifting hair, spiders and water - you need Mr Muscle drain cleaner for that. Never found hair or dead spiders in my fuel system, but have found gum and lacquer - which is what Redex really loves.

[daveangel]

When I put my curvy away for winter I use a Draper fuel syphon to easily draw all the fuel left out to put in the car/other bike for commuting. I give the tank a light spray round with WD40 then mix half a litre bottle of Aspen fuel (ethanol free, available from garden centres/garden machinery specialists) with a drop of two stroke oil to pour in the tank and shake around. When spring comes I fill the tank full with fresh fuel which waters the two stroke mix to almost nothing then away we go.

You have to treat all modern fuel like milk, use it don't store it as it has a fairly short shelf life.

[Bibio]

kerosene (paraffin) is heating oil so its mineral. it comes from the same process of making petrol, diesel, tar etc.etc from crude oil.

btw, my bike gets kept outside without a cover all winter, most of the time i dont even take the battery out and i never drain the tank. come the start of the season it fires up first or second push of the button. the bike has only ever let me down once with electrical problems and that was the connectors on the RR. i have only been through one battery in the 7 years 37k i have owned it. oohhh and it only ever gets used once a week on a sunday apart from my annual tour up north which is a long weekend.

[Chris_SVS]

Originally Posted by Bibio

kerosene (paraffin) is heating oil so its mineral. it comes from the same process of making petrol, diesel, tar etc.etc from crude oil.

btw, my bike gets kept outside without a cover all winter, most of the time i dont even take the battery out and i never drain the tank. come the start of the season it fires up first or second push of the button. the bike has only ever let me down once with electrical problems and that was the connectors on the RR. i have only been through one battery in the 7 years 37k i have owned it. oohhh and it only ever gets used once a week on a sunday apart from my annual tour up north which is a long weekend.

Same thing but difference class, jet fuel being a heavier distillate. Redex is sold containing 60%+ of the stuff

[northwind]

Well that stayed impressively ontopic

In proper Northwind form, I've derusted the subframe, removed all the plastics and started refurbing my spare petrol tank, and not actually looked at the crabs. Oh and ordered about 6 different sets of indicators from aliexpress because I couldn't decide which ones looked nicest, and my Buell ones have dissolved and fallen off. And taken the front brake lever off, for reasons I'm not clear on.

Thing about additives is while they can work if you put them in before you park it, once things are blocked up they generally don't get to where you want them. It has bp ultimate in which is generally pretty stable but, it is about 7 years old soooooooo

In the name of keeping myself on target for fixing the fuelling, I am now looking at 3D printing some brackets for a headlight. That'll sort it.

[johnnyrod]

Classic Windy

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by northwind

Well that stayed impressively ontopic

In proper Northwind form, I've derusted the subframe, removed all the plastics and started refurbing my spare petrol tank, and not actually looked at the crabs. Oh and ordered about 6 different sets of indicators from aliexpress because I couldn't decide which ones looked nicest, and my Buell ones have dissolved and fallen off. And taken the front brake lever off, for reasons I'm not clear on.

Thing about additives is while they can work if you put them in before you park it, once things are blocked up they generally don't get to where you want them. It has bp ultimate in which is generally pretty stable but, it is about 7 years old soooooooo

In the name of keeping myself on target for fixing the fuelling, I am now looking at 3D printing some brackets for a headlight. That'll sort it.

Yep sounds about right lol