Author Topic: Winterizing (Read 2544 times)

GRIMJIM · « **on:** December 04, 2008, 05:39:18 AM »

It's about time to put my bike up for the winter. I usually run some stabil through it for a while, hook my battery up to a tender and cover it.

Anyone else do more?

I ran into a problem last year. I got a flat tire. I think just from the temp changes, anyway it would hold air for a couple of days and go flat again. I had to put a new tire on it (it was a pretty new tire to begin with) and don't want to have to do that again anytime soon.

Any ideas to avoid this in the future?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2008, 06:46:23 AM »

Winterize?

I usually wear a scarf under my jacket and chaps... maybe insulated boots... $:-\$ Oh wait!

you mean the bike!

Sorry, I don't have any experience putting up a bike!

Well there was that time I was laying low from the law...

Cheesehead · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2008, 07:45:40 AM »

What was wrong with the tire, specifically, that required replacement?

Cheese

myronman3 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2008, 10:11:41 AM »

also plug the exhaust/s. mice will make homes up in there and create a helluva mess and really cause some serious damage.

S.E.Ak · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2008, 11:22:16 AM »

Stud the tires and ride that sucker.Winterizing don't really work. Evey week you need to start it up and let it run some. When you finish warming it up turn off the petcock and let it run out of gas unless you got FI. When you let it set all winter you got no oil covering the inside that likes oil once in awhile to fight rust.When buying a used bike the worst thing to hear is it was running three years ago when I parked it. even in Texas if you don't run your bike for a month or two you will have problems.

Dirt Bag · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2008, 12:19:46 PM »

Still haven't brought them in this year - The snow caught us flatfooted - Will shovel a path this weekend and get them both rolled in for the winter.

.
They hibernate better that way.
Respect;
D.B.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2008, 01:40:23 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on December 04, 2008, 07:45:40 AM

What was wrong with the tire, specifically, that required replacement?

Cheese

I have no idea. I thought maybe the bead just came loose or something but when you only have the two tires, better safe than sorry.

myronman, that's a good idea. I hope you didn't learn that from personal experience.

dirtbag, I usually do run it every once in a while over the winter just to spread the oil around. That bike looks good in the living room.

myronman3 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2008, 03:26:41 AM »

Quote

myronman, that's a good idea. I hope you didn't learn that from personal experience.

no i didnt thankfully. a friend told me about that, and it makes good sense. he is an old biker from the 70's and one of the 'posse'. i have a truck that the mice crawled into the transmission housing and built a nest in which required the transmission to be rebuilt. and if the vermin will get into a transmission, they will certainly go for a tail pipe.

myronman3 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2008, 03:31:51 AM »

Quote

and if the vermin will get into a transmission, they will certainly go for a tail pipe.

which may be what happened to richard gear....

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2008, 04:22:40 AM »

I believe the only way to stop tires from doing that is to get the bike up off of them. Not an easy thing to do with a big bike.

hogrdr · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2008, 05:54:44 AM »

Only thing I do different in winter is plug in battery tender put cover on. At least every two weeks put on gore tex clothing and for sub 32 degrees neoprene face cover ride 5 miles and park it. Then shot of Crown shake a little and wait till next time!

S.E.Ak · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2008, 07:00:18 PM »

Folks have no trouble jumping on a snowmobile and running around at fifty in the cold.You can do the same on your scoot and if folks ask if you are crazy just say no I'm a Biker

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2008, 02:40:48 AM »

Twenty six degrees is the coldest day I went riding. Let The Fatboy warm up for ten minutes in the Garage and it still did not run well, neither did I.

Cheese

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2008, 10:25:58 AM »

Once upon a time all I had was a bike. Rode to work on the highway everyday in the teens. People will look at you funny.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2008, 01:19:43 PM »

Mine went up for the winter two or three weeks ago. Stabil-ed the fuel and let it sit for a day or two. Ran the carbs dry and pushed it into hibernation 'til spring. Batteries gets tendered on a rotating schedule.

jager · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2008, 03:02:26 PM »

I've been using SeaFoam instead of Stabil in both my cycles and ATV for the last couple of winters without a "hitch". I think it does a better job of countering the effects of ethanol in the fuel than Stabil (I try to find non-ethanol sources when possible). Ethanol in the fuel initially absorbs any water present in the tank, but after a few weeks the water separates out and can attract rust in the cylinders as well as causing problems with other parts of the fuel system. (This is one of the reasons it is not approved for "marine" use or aircraft piston engines utilizing "auto fuel STC's".)

I've found the biggest problem I have in the middle of winter is keeping the batteries healthy. I try to start the engines at least every week if it's too cold to run on the road and usually forget to charge the batteries until too late

.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2008, 03:05:51 PM »

Another vote for Seafoam, for every motor.

Cheese

Swampman · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:38:37 AM »

I got mine out and washed it yesterday. Then I rode for awhile. I have to keep the (Gulf of Mexico) salt off of it.

hogrdr · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2008, 09:15:50 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on December 16, 2008, 05:38:37 AM

I got mine out and washed it yesterday. Then I rode for awhile. I have to keep the (Gulf of Mexico) salt off of it.

Brutal you and your Florida weather! Utah 27 and snowing

Hog

AtlLaw · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2008, 09:19:59 AM »

Quote from: hogrdr on December 16, 2008, 09:15:50 AM

Brutal you and your Florida weather! Utah 27 and snowing
Hog

Tell me about it! I was going to ride to a Club meeting Saturday and it was so cold my bike wouldn't start! Musta been down to the mid 40's!

My fault, I forgot to hook up the battery tender...

Cheesehead · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2008, 10:30:54 AM »

Last night 20 below, today blizzard.

Cheese

1911crazy · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2008, 02:03:36 PM »

I would change the oil in the engine and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank. But everytime the temps would rise i'd start her up just to get the juices flowing and keep the battery up. With this new gas we must be very careful and make sure we use a good fuel stabilizer.

Then we would put the ice screws in our street legal dirtbikes and wait for an ice storm. Then we would ride down town right thru the center of town and have a ball. There's nothing like the smell of two stroke in the cold weather. Its funny at 10 degrees we were the only ones out there and heck were not even hardcore. It was lonely at 150mph on the rockets too.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2008, 05:12:16 AM »

Quote from: myronman3 on December 04, 2008, 10:11:41 AM

also plug the exhaust/s. mice will make homes up in there and create a helluva mess and really cause some serious damage.

An old boss of mine had this happen but it was with a Snowmobile...the thing was locked up and when they tore it down they found that mice had filled the crankcase with Soybeans!
He said that when they removed the (by that time-Mash) Everything in there was incredibly clean!...small consolation due to having to tear it down but was interesting.

Tn Jim · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2008, 05:55:10 AM »

I do the Stabil and battery tender deal also. The bike is stored in my garage but it still gets pretty cold in there. Plus I start it every couple of weeks and let her run for 10-15 minutes. Got a gnat in my a$$ yesterday and went for a little ride...at 22 degrees! The ride only lasted for about 5 miles, but I needed some therapy.

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:15:09 AM »

I'm still managing a couple of rides a week.

deernhog · « **Reply #25 on:** January 22, 2009, 02:27:57 PM »

It hit 70 here today and I just parked it after running about 30 miles in my vest and t-shirt. Tomorrow 37 is the high. I to have fix the damn sporty again the dang front exhaust bracket broke and I almost lost the whole pipe. I don't park either one of mine thru the winter but a little Seafoam goes in the tank regular and as far as ethanol is concerned it will not touch the tank of either of my bikes. Bad mileage and the carb fouled up in the Yamaha when I was using Love's fuel without them posting the %10 ethanol content. I want to know how a mouse can get into the crankcase without a wrench?

Tail pipe for sure but how the crankcase ?

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** January 22, 2009, 02:37:16 PM »

10% ethanol content is all we can get.

Dirt Bag · « **Reply #27 on:** January 23, 2009, 02:50:01 PM »

Sounds like that sportster's got your number D&H - givin ya grief.

We stay away from the ehtenol too - v power 93 in the 'King, and for the Springer, we get 100 octane from the airport. They can't put it in the bike, but will fill your cans. Some say money wasted - don't know for sure if there is a big difference in mileage with the 93, but it definatly runs better. The Springer (10.5-1) will run on the 93 - but way better with the av gas.
Figure that mouse got them soybeans down in the cases with one piston at BDC (all ports open - 2 cycle engine). Must have been an ambitious little #@!@!
Good that you got in some riding yesterday.
D.B.

deernhog · « **Reply #28 on:** January 23, 2009, 03:24:46 PM »

Oh by the way when I was looking at the damn bike today to build a new bracket I noticed she had also thrown my gremlin bell during our little excursion. Brand new bell that I got for my birthday in December. That bike hates me I swear. That was a lot of effort by that wee little mouse to have soybean paste.
Damn temperature dropped from 61 this evening to 35 in about two hours so it's trying to get winter again.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #29 on:** January 23, 2009, 03:57:42 PM »

Quote from: deernhog on January 23, 2009, 03:24:46 PM

I noticed she had also thrown my gremlin bell during our little excursion.

Somebody send the boy a new bell!

QUICK!!!