[Shop-talk] Well, I knew it was coming! (very shop related)

[scott.hall at comcast.net]

> Now, I fully expect to get the emails likeb&  bLet me have them, and Ibll
> use them while you are gone!b  So donbt bother sending them.  8>)

let me have them, I'll use them while you're gone!

seriously, that might be the best arrangement--have a friend come over every so often and actually use stuff that lends itself to it.

I'd do all the stabil/draining/etc. that everybody else mentioned, and for the bikes, I'd get front and rear stands to get the tires off the ground, cars and trucks on jackstands, etc., batteries on tenders (but you'll probably lose them anyway) and (if they're carbed) drain tank and run them on ~5 minutes of stabil-ed gas until it runs dry.  you might still be looking at a carb rebuild when you get back, but at least the teardown won't be as bad.  all I've learned from putting stuff up long-term is that it depends entirely on which gas formulation you got in the tank when you put it up.  I've had a few bikes and a car fire right up after years of sitting, one didn't make it six months before the carb was too gunked to use.  I store everything dry now.  I had one that the remnants of the fuel (apparently) dried on the slide and needles and still needed cleaning, but at least it wasn't as bad.  the rest were fine.  now I rev the snot out of them before they croak in an effort to get
 as much airflow as possible to dry everything out as it's going out.

I wouldn't over-inflate tires, just to normal pressure (if they're up in the air).  I think I remember reading that old-style batteries can have their electrolyte drained, but I've never tried it.  my bikes all have user-serviceable batteries, though, if yours do, might want to try it.  my bike batteries don't like the battery tender anyway.

yard equipment I don't trust any farther than I can throw my mother-in-law, generally, and she's got enough mass that things go into orbit around her.  stabil & gas until run dry on full throttle, hose down every control pivot and cable with whatever protectant you've got (that stuff boeing developed seems popular), put a tractor on stands off the wheels and go.  or just sell all the yard stuff and replace it when you get back.  if you've got a tractor with a tank vent (my old snapper had one), plug it--stuff (bugs, grit, dust) gets in there and you *still* have to clean it out.  I started wrapping my son's, er, my (I don't let him ride it, honey, honest) minibike carb in a baggie for the same reason--the inlet capped by the oiled filter which'll gunk up pret'good in a dusty area over a winter.

if it's in a garage pop the hood(s) and don't cover anything--mice like covers, apparently.  mothballs and traps.  good luck.  don't get yourself shot/blown up/burned out.