Whether you're parting out a bike or sitting on a parts collection, storage matters. The wrong conditions can turn a $200 NOS carburetor into a $20 paperweight in a few years.
Clean machined surfaces and coat with a thin layer of oil or ACF-50 before storage. Engine cases, covers, and brackets stored dry will surface-rust. A light wipe with a rag and WD-40 is better than nothing; a proper coating with ACF-50 or cosmoline is better still.
Store in a climate-controlled space if possible. A heated shop is ideal. Unheated metal buildings with temperature extremes are the worst case.
NOS rubber — gaskets, O-rings, diaphragms, boots — should be stored away from light and heat. A sealed plastic bag in a cool, dark drawer is ideal. Rubber stored on a shelf in sunlight will crack within a few years even if never used.
Test all rubber before installing regardless of NOS status if it's been stored more than 10 years.
Never store carbs with fuel in them. Drain completely, blow out the passages, and seal the inlet and outlet with tape or plugs. A carb left with ethanol-blend fuel for more than a few months will have plugged pilots and varnished passages.
Keep electrical parts dry and sealed. Coils, CDI units, and switches stored in humid conditions develop internal corrosion that causes intermittent failures. Dielectric grease on electrical contacts before storage is good practice.
If parts came in original Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Suzuki packaging, keep them in it. The original factory bags and boxes are moisture-resistant and protect the part. A NOS part still in factory packaging is worth significantly more than the same part loose.
Questions about a specific part? Contact us or call (203) 300-7562 — we've handled a lot of old parts and are happy to give an opinion.