2008 Yam Stratoliner S

It is always nice to have friends that know what kind of project bikes you like. Yes, they also know how to make you spend money.

Here is a good example of a bike that falls into your lap. Has been sitting outside sense 2018.
7WhDz0TQ by Tim Brown, on Flickr
PeS73Yxi by Tim Brown, on Flickr
DooPOVH8 by Tim Brown, on Flickr

Because it was sitting outside for so long, the mice got into the wiring. Spent most of the morning correcting those issues. There was also some interesting PO wiring for power with the older male and female lighter type adapters front and back. I think it was used to power an intercom system.

Battery was toast, we had some good winters here in Wisconsin over that time, with weeks in the -30 temps. The chrome is or was discolored but took some 0000 steel wool to most of it and almost all of it cleaned up. Fuel was good but just in case fuel additive was added. Being a fuel injected bike, I just checked the oil, air box and made sure all the fuses were good.

Car batter and some good jumper cable and turned the key. Nothing smoked, all lights that should have work did and even heard the fuel pump prime. It took a few cranks, but I heard it try to fire. Kept at it a little bit and the bike fired right up.

I hear good things about this bike. I know they are heavy as heck, have issues with water or moister getting under the speedo glass (this one has not yet). Heat sumping the starter if you are doing a bar hot ride, and last but more for safety, the aux lights suck from factory. They are controlled by their own switch on the right bar control.

Will pick up a batter in the next few days. Getting ready for some more snow this weekend, but after that might be able to road test it.

Anyone else had/have one of the bikes and want to add to this thread for what I need to look for. Thanks in advance.

 

I have not been exposed to those bikes but that sure looks like a nice project. Any idea what to do about the tank dent? Do you have any Paintless Dent Repair guys in your area? Good Luck and have fun with it.

 

The dent might be easy to get at from the inside. Looks like it was from a dropped item, it also dented the right side read exhaust chrome cover just a bit. The dangerous part is getting a good tool down there or as @Fuller56 has mentioned, Painless Dent Repair. I like to think of them as the glue and pull folks. If it works it works. With the tool, looks to be almost a straight shot to work on the dent? Was hoping to get a battery today, but all local folks don't have a good priced AGM battery in the area. Seems like so many of the stores you want to spend local no longer carry what we need.

Ordered another Motobattery and replacement driving lights, be here in a few days.

 

All the mice chewed wiring is fixed. I think four small wires and then one of the big ground wires. The big wire cold have been cut for another reason by the PO, but not sure. Checked the air filter, and gave the rest of the bike a good look over. Tires needed air but I was shocked to find the brake fluid good and front and backs were working.

The right bag lock was stuck down and very rusty, got some blaster in that and worked the lock for a good while. Back to working order.

Cleaning and polishing the bike. I know why I don't like a lot of chrome on a bike, cleaning this bike just reenforced that line of thinking.

New Motobat battery install and the LED driving lights came in today. I was going to get out for a road test if the temps got above 40f, didn't happen. Now here comes the snow again.

Guwxlzsk by Tim Brown, on Flickr

Leather looks all wet because of the Yam mink oil that the PO had in the side bag. Let it soak in overnight and wiped off the excess today.

 

@Timbox, looking good. If the chrome isn't rusty it isn't too bad. If it is it is hard to get decent looking, and then for only a moment or two before it uglies up again.