Restarting Harley After Long Term Storage

Question for Fix My Hog 2002 Harley FLSTI…Due to a automobile accident in 2008 I have not been able to touch my bike at all. It has been sitting. Now I want to get it back up and running. I just bought a new battery and all the gas has been drained. My question is before I try and start this bike should I remove the plugs and squirt some mystery oil or Harley oil in each cylinder? And if so how many squirts? The bike is fuel injected. This bike has less than 8000 miles on it.

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Fix My Hog Answers We would only suggest oiling the cylinders/piston rings if the m/c was stored some place damp. If so, only use a small amount of oil. Lift the rear end of the bike – put in 5th gear and turn the motor over by hand 1st (Roll the back tire). Before reinstalling the spark plugs put the m/c in neutral and hold down the start button until the oil light goes out. If it does not go out after aprox 10 seconds; let the starter rest a few seconds and go again. When the oil light goes out, install the spark plugs and start.

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5 Responses to “Restarting Harley After Long Term Storage”

  1. Rick

    2002fatboy been sitting for a long time put a new pump in and I need to no what nexts

  2. Jason

    My bike has been seating for a few years when I bought it I was told it just needed a stator got that done now it turns over but will not fire and I’m not getting any gas to the spark plugs

  3. gtiff1

    Just what I needed to know. My 1998 Heritage Softail Springer Anniversary model has been sitting for a year & I was concerned about starting. Thanks for the information.

  4. Dana

    bike sitting up for a year started it oil leaking ran out of gas filled the bike back up with gas and bike won't start but leaks oil while starting

  5. Evon Alexander

    Where is the fuel pump on a 1991 Fatboy?