 Winter Storage
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 25
Greenhorn
|
OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 25 |
I'm in the NorthEast and I'm getting close to storing my bike for the winter. Other than putting a stabilizer additive in the gas tank, unplugging the battery terminal and jacking up the bike, is there anything else I should be doing before I cover it up?
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
|
|
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Will the bike be in warm storage? Suggest pulling the battery and putting it where it won't freeze. Throw it on a charger once every couple o' months for good measure.
Live to love, love to live.
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
If you aren't going to use a battery tender on the unit in storage I'd pull the battery and keep it indoors. As Keith stated, throw it on a charger every so often.
Mine will be parked sometime this weekend. Same plan as you.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
|
|
Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Along with adding fuel stabilizer, make sure the tank is as full as is practical. The less air space, the less condensation will collect.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 570
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 570 |
My well respected Triumph tech gave a winterizing seminar last year. One of his suggestions was to run the bike with the gas shut off in the OFF position. As the motor stalls, pull the choke all the way out....motor will surge and quickly die. Apparently this helps drain all the gas out of the carbs. I've followed this procedure and my Speedmaster fired up real quick this spring.
"You're a long time underground!"
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 106
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 106 |
My local dealer swears by adding Octane booster to the gas. This stabilizes it better than stabil.. He's been doing this for years with good results. V.
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1 |
if yer gona jack it up,use the locks on the jack not just the pump.
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
I've been wondering if these bikes might like a teaspoon of oil down the spark plug holes
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
|
|
Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
My garage is damp and we get a lot of slush and cr*p on the floor so I usually fog the exposed metal with WD-40 in hopes of holding off corrosion. If nothing else it means the bike gets a real good wash in the spring!
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 25
Greenhorn
|
|
OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 25 |
Thanks for all the advice. I'm still hoping for another ride this week before storage but more rain coming and the temp will drop by halloween.
|
|
|
Re: Winter Storage
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 473
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 473 |
In addition to what's been mentioned, I always do an oil change with filter just before storage. If you can't jack up the bike, put mats under the tires (rubber or carpet) and pump up the tires to maximum PSI as stated on the sidewalls of the tires. If you do keep the bike on the ground, its also wise to move the bike every month or so. This is help minimize flat spots.
Hope this helps,
H.
2010 Speedmaster Black/New England White
|
|
|
|
|
