Laying up a Honda for several months

[Stevo]

Stevo the photo does indeed show a fecked piston that looks like it has been thrashed with poor maintenance.

@vlad, so in your learned opinion... does this piston look "fecked, like it has been thrashed with poor maintenance"?

I would imagine a new 4 Stroke will do 25-30 k before rings are worn if its been looked after.

The piston in all these pictures is the same one! it's the piston from 'Wizzwanger's Wave which had done 85,000 Km of moderate riding, not thrashed, and had the oil changed every 3,000 - 4,000 Km.
The piston wasn't 'fecked', it just needed cleaning with a brass brush to remove the burnt oil stains and mild carbon build up around the crown and in the ring lands. The cylinder was hone just to break the glaze. Engine now burns no oil.

[fatbob]

How to store a Honda Wave, simple, make sure the tank is full, and full of Benzine only, not 95 gasohol, don't add anything to the fuel. Disconnect the battery. Spray the whole bike except rubber and seat with 'Sonax' or similar, cover bike and jobs done, certainly not rocket science.

[vidmaster]

Ok & thank you for reply fatbob
But where can I get Sonax please?

[Aardvark]

Just use WD40 you can't go wrong ...

[fatbob]

As Aardvark says, WD 40, Sonax, it's all the same, any hardware, even Lotus has the stuff.

[Philrjones]

Re mileage on these little things. I stopped our postie on a Wave 110i and had a look. He had 79,000 kms on it and when I asked him he said, oil changes all the time, and his was due to be replaced at 80,000 kms. We've a Wave 100 in the family with 60,000 kms and another 125 model with 50,000 and both are still going strong.

[Stevo]

Regular oil changes are indeed the key, Phil... as it's already been mentioned, these engines don't have a cartridge type oil filter, but instead they have a centrifugal oil spinner (plus a mesh gauze in the crankcase that the oil is drawn through). The semi-auto models (i.e. not the Wave Z) actually have 2 clutches, a regular type one and a centrifugal one, so naturally you would expect more clutch debris in the oil... changing the oil more often than the service book states is required simply keeps the oil cleaner, therefor keeping more of the fine debris from circulating through the oil passageways and also prevents premature build up in the centrifugal spinner.
I have 2 Waves in my household... my wife's 100S that she's had from new now with 48,000 Km on it, and my 110i which is 5 years old and has 95,000 Km on the clock (it used to be a Wall's ice cream delivery bike with a cooler box side car attached to it). Bulletproof bikes!

[vlad]

stevo couldn't see any score marks or pitting on the Piston because of the oil deposits on your pics. Oil or dirt hides a multitude of probs is all im saying.

[Lone Star]

Stevo the photo does indeed show a fecked piston that looks like it has been thrashed with poor maintenance.

@vlad, so in your learned opinion... does this piston look "fecked, like it has been thrashed with poor maintenance"?
rftp.jpg

I would imagine a new 4 Stroke will do 25-30 k before rings are worn if its been looked after.

The piston in all these pictures is the same one! it's the piston from 'Wizzwanger's Wave which had done 85,000 Km of moderate riding, not thrashed, and had the oil changed every 3,000 - 4,000 Km.
The piston wasn't 'fecked', it just needed cleaning with a brass brush to remove the burnt oil stains and mild carbon build up around the crown and in the ring lands. The cylinder was hone just to break the glaze. Engine now burns no oil.

Good stuff, Stevo. Learn something new hanging around you.

[jimbeamm36]

Has anyone ever bought or located fuel stabilizer in Thailand? I have asked many shops for it and they have no clue.
Thanks; JB

[vidmaster]

Ive decided to just fill up with benzene 95 & keep fingers crossed as cannot find any stabiliser

[old timer]

my 110i which is 5 years old and has 95,000 Km on the clock...

Blimey that's surprising. Good thing about honda waves is parts are cheap
How much do you think you've spent on the bike over the last 5 years Steve? You must have gone through some of what I call consumables like tyres, brake pads/shoes, batteries, chain and sprockets etc those kind of things.
Also Steve, as your a bit of a bike man, can you give your opinion of the best New Honda Wave model on the market today, thanks.

OT....

[fatbob]

Has anyone ever bought or located fuel stabilizer in Thailand? I have asked many shops for it and they have no clue.
Thanks; JB

Most esso fuel stations, auto sections at Big C, Home-pro etc have it. Just use benzine and you don't need it as that is a stable fuel.

[vidmaster]

Thanks fatbob
But if I do buy some stabiliser how much should I add to my Honda Wave 125cc tank pls
Someone advised as I'm laying up my bike for 6 months, b4 padlocking & putting cover on it, spray "everything " ( apart from the saddle) with Sonax
Would that include chrome exhaust pipe?
Also when I come back and take the cover off, will I need to wipe down the areas Sonaxed or will it have dried out naturally
Sorry for asking basic questions, but as you can tell I'm not mechanically gifted
I really appreciate your spending time to answer
If anyone needs help with golf I would be pleased to reciprocate
Cheers

[fatbob]

Forget the stabiliser, use benzene, if not follow the instructions, especially chrome, plastic dosent really matter, clean your bike when you come back.

[vidmaster]

Thanks again

[panmotor]

One thought. If you have a garage or dealer that you trust, why not leave the bike with them to take care of. We have done it on a few occasions (with cars as well) and our mechanics will make sure the bike is maintained and started regularly. For the sake of a few quid, the bike will also be securely stored.

| would offer our services but our location probably makes that impractical particularly as I am out of the country enjoying a British winter whilst I sort out a few things

[vidmaster]

Thanks Paul
I will enquire

[vidmaster]

Thinking about it, is there any dealer I can trust in LoS?

[Stevo]

Don't you have a friend you can leave it with? always better to keep the wheels turning and run the engine once a week or so.