Long-term Rotax Engine Storage?

[Donny]

Hallo All;

I picked up two low mileage Rotax 500E engines last week and will stroe them for spares. Can you all offer any help in preparing these engines for long time storage? Danke, Don

[pitu]

- remove all liquids
- remove the Spark Plug, fill in some engineoil and rotate the crankshaft a few times
- take oil impregnated towels around the whole engine and look for a dry, clean place
- rotate the crankshaft every few weeks for 180°

sorry for my bad english

[zweitaktschraubaer]

Good morning Don!
How´s the weather like at your´s, especially the humidity?
If it´s rather dry you can skip the part with the towels.
Just place them in a nice place with low humidity and enough airflow, you don´t have a barn, do you?
Like Pitu wrote: remove the spark plugs, drip in some oil and turn the crankshaft a few times.
Turn the shafts regularly to spread the oil again.
Somewhere I´ve read about special oils for the preservation of oldtimer engines,
but I think that´s not really necessary.
Maybe it´s helpful to keep some oil in the gear so that it doesn´t rust.
Regards
Jan

[Donny]

Thank you. The humidity in Alabama is quite high in the summer, so it might be a good idea to wrap it up with the towels as pitu suggested. I'll need to seal the carb intake and the exhaust ports also somehow too I think. And guys, your English is MUCH better than my German, and thanks for responding.

[zweitaktschraubaer]

I'll need to seal the carb intake and the exhaust ports also somehow too I think.

You´re right, I knew I forgot something...
An old rug torn into pieces and stuffed into the intake/exhaust should do well...

Regards
Jan