Winter storage prep.

[John Schmidt]

Had some good luck in looking for a storage unit for the trike. It's only 3.5 miles away with access straight up the road...maybe five minutes away. It's a 10x20 for $85/month and just went to check it out since everything was done online and phone. Problem...there's still some furniture in there from the prior occupant. The only thing of value possibly would be an old Zenith floor model tube type radio similar to what I used to listen to back in the mid 40's. I remember building a table model back in grade school and it actually worked. The old Zenith cabinet is actually in pretty fair shape, might be kinda fun to use it as a winter project...just to see if I could get it working, then sell to a collector.

So...back to storage! The unit looks to be quite weather and rodent proof but one never knows. They are quite new so I'm wondering what can be used as a last line of protection against mice, I don't need them setting up housekeeping by chewing into my hand-tooled leathers or wiring. I could remove all the leather and keep it at the house, but that won't guarantee anything either. Any suggestions?

[Rams]

Suggestions?

Yeah sure.   Save the monthly rental and concern about mice, store that fine machine in my shop at no cost.  While everything would be free, you might have to refill the gas tank if you showed up without notice. 

Rams

[98valk]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

[six2go #152]

Mice hate the smell of mothballs. I sprinkle them around under the bike & around the perimeter too. Some say that dryer sheets work also. I normally cover the ends of the exhaust with aluminum foil & rubber band in place. Never have had a mouse problem in my unheated garage.

[Jess from VA]

Many of those storage units have no electric for you to use.

Lighting becomes battery leds.

Besides mothballs (or other deterrents), I'd set a few traps with good bait just to see if they're around anyway.

And if any other unit renters are around when you're there, ask them if they have any mouse or other issues.

[John Schmidt]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

I did take it for a ride this past winter, had a blast doing power slides in the snow. 

[98valk]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

I did take it for a ride this past winter, had a blast doing power slides in the snow. 

Nice!!!   

[Jersey mike]

Tomcat mice killer.

It comes in 1”x1”x2” blocks.

In the package or bag I get it comes with a small plastic box to put the poison in so it’s not exposed to anyone or any other animal but in my garage I just take several blocks and place them on the floor around the overhead garage door rails and around the inside perimeter of the garage.

Sometimes I use a razor and cut them in half and crush them into smaller pieces and a little dust crumbs for the rodents to eat.

Use disposable rubber gloves and some soap snd water on your hands when done.

It’s easy to tell if anything is eating it, they either get moved a little or there’s chew marks and if you crush some up the smaller pieces and dust disappears.

[cookiedough]

yah, mouse traps, tomcat blocks for them to eat although not sure it kills them all the time?, and mothballs are all good suggestions for sure cannot hurt.

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

[Jersey mike]

yah, mouse traps, tomcat blocks for them to eat although not sure it kills them all the time?, and mothballs are all good suggestions for sure cannot hurt.

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

The tomcat works by drying them from the inside out. They eat it and the poison interacts with any water or moisture in their stomach. Long time ago I was told it interacts when they eat it and go to a water source. So I’m guessing any water or fluids in the digestive system does the job.

[0leman]

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

Only problem with this idea, this is for winter storage, think cold temps.  Water would get stiff. 


Many years ago when I was a lad, we used corn meal plaster of paris to take care of rats and mice.  It would create a lump in the stomach that wouldn't go away.  They would go some where else to die.  It was not a problem for cats and dogs. 


Moth balls do work.  I am told that critters really don't like them.   

[Jersey mike]

Also glue traps.

I was surprised the first time I ever saw just how sticky they really are.

Putting a few around the base of the trike would be a nice touch but beware the little critters don’t just die it takes a long time for them to die of exhaustion, thirst and whatever.

Put them down and check every week at first to see just how many may be sniffing around and then adjust as time goes on.

[thedon]

John,
I've been using Bounce dryer sheets. Just put a few in the trunk and stuff some into the engine. Under the seat as well. They don't like the smell. Just remember to take them out before you start up.
Don

[Jess from VA]

The one time I had a mouse problem, I bought a few of each type of mouse trap.  Expensive electronic to the cheapest glue traps.  I caught them all in one night, and nearly all of them in the glue traps.

They were still alive (who cares) until I smooshed them with a two by four.

[mbramley]

  I used to buy cheep glass salt and pepper shakers from the dollar store to put mothballs in then put in and around my boat. It makes finding and picking them up in the spring easier.

[TJ]

What is this storage thing you are talking about old man ???   

[John Schmidt]

What is this storage thing you are talking about old man ???   

Nancy said it's for me, not the trike. 

[old2soon]

    $85 a month??  Same size here in SoMo $35 a month and I got the ol fart or Veterans discount!!  Friend of mine has room for my Trike and my 60" rollaway tool box.  Bout 14 mile away or so But He's out in the Country and with him now cutting meat at his place be home most days. John I've mentioned this before and I have lived N of the windy city and in Colorado! NEVER Not Once have I ever stored a M/C for winter! I'd hafta look up How to do that!  RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

    $85 a month??  Same size here in SoMo $35 a month and I got the ol fart or Veterans discount!!  Friend of mine has room for my Trike and my 60" rollaway tool box.  Bout 14 mile away or so But He's out in the Country and with him now cutting meat at his place be home most days. John I've mentioned this before and I have lived N of the windy city and in Colorado! NEVER Not Once have I ever stored a M/C for winter! I'd hafta look up How to do that!  RIDE SAFE.

Dennis, I've never stored one either but if I don't do this, my car sits outside all winter. I was able to get both cars in last winter but was quite an ordeal. Had to back the trike in clear to the back wall, pull my car in on the left of the trike and Nancy's car on the right. Absolutely no wiggle room and she was afraid to move her car with only 2-3 inches clearance on either side. I had to move my car in order for her to open the door to get in. So this year I moved the three largest things into storage plus the trike, leaving enough room for both cars without issues. Besides, without heat in the garage I don't work out there anyway so no need to keep the trike here. Come next April or May when it stops snowing(maybe), I'll run the trike back here so it's close for whatever.

The reason I said "maybe" on the snow issue...it snowed on Mother's Day in May not too long ago.

[old2soon]

    I wuz able to git the Grand Prix and Phatt Ghurl in my garage/shop together. Did some finaglin and was able to git the Gold Wing trike and the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix in the garage/shop together. BUT that are no longer an issue as the cage will now sit out All th time and the Gold Wing Trike will be garage kept. All my Motorcycles have Always been garage kept!  RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  John , you have two bedrooms.
  A dab of peanut butter on glue traps makes for a great contortion show.  Mice have no respect for the dying or dead. They will crawl over and then get their face stuck. Rush hour traffic jamb.

                                                        da prez

[Rams]

The reason I said "maybe" on the snow issue...it snowed on Mother's Day in May not too long ago.

Whoa!   That "S" word is still a four-letter word!   I don't even want to think about such events. 
The last indecent "S" fall I saw was in Colorado years ago.   Rode my KZ 1000 through it.   Hopefully, never again.   

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Well...for the first time in many years(make that decades) I don't have a bike in the garage. The storage unit is only 3 miles down the road and yesterday had nice weather so figured it was time to tuck it in for the long haul. For some reason I had to take the long way around to get there.   The Wing motor has a slight miss at low rpm but still runs like I had hoped when I made the switch...hit the throttle and it scoots as always. I'll address the miss next spring when I wake her up. I still need to go pull the seats and battery out, and will probably spread some moth balls around just in case. As you can see, there's still a lot of room left so I'm quite sure "we" will find something else to go in there. I plan to siphon the current gas out and replace with some 91 ethanol free with marine sta-bil and maybe take a short ride around the block, that means at least a mile in each direction. Figure that will mix it up real good.

The old motor is at the front right on an hydraulic table and I left room purposely on the right side in case someone decides to buy it. Flash a couple C's under my nose and it's gone. 

[cookiedough]

u still got a few weeks left of cycle riding left...  I attempt to find room in my trailer and 2 car garage, yet 3 vehicles sit still in the driveway all year long. I usually start fiddling with the re-arranging garage and trailer a few days before it snows in late November, early December.  Not looking forward to that either.

[John Schmidt]

Today I did what I feel would be the final winter prep on the trike. I picked up about 4.5 gals. of 91 octane(no ethanol), some moth balls(suckers are hard to catch), and a special funnel. Grabbed my wife, my siphoning doodad and an extra gas can, plus a few hand tools. Went to the storage unit and siphoned the present gas out, 87 octane with 10% liquor, dumped a healthy dose of Marine Sta-bil into the tank and filled it with the fresh 91. I then started it and let it get nice and warm. At first it still had a slight miss and Nancy noticed the exhaust on the left had plentiful exhaust coming out but the right side, barely noticeable. You could put your hand near the left side and it was hot, as was the edge of the pipe. The right side was quite a bit cooler, you could lay your hand on the end of the pipe and it barely felt warm. She asked if that told which side had an issue so I had her hold her hand in front of the pipes, and it was "wow, it really is cool" and wondered how I knew that side was the problem. Told her she just answered her own question. Looks like I have at least one project for next spring. After gunning the motor a few times it started to run more stable but still not 100%, but a definite improvement. Shut it off and pulled the battery, sprinkled some moth balls on the floor around the whole trike and in the battery box. Laid some on top of the motor and set the rest on the floor behind it. Going by the smell, I think I'm safe. Loaded up the car and then covered the trike once more, gave it a pat on the rear and said I'd see her in six months. I then thought about giving blondie the same but was warned.  

I did give some thought to picking up a Valk that has some issues and build a bobber for just me to ride around town. Don't want an I/S, just a "nekid" Std. or Tourer for cheap to play with and it won't take up too much room. A Tourer for that purpose won't need the saddlebags, just 2 wheels, a seat & handlebars to go with the motor. I'll cut down both fenders and add my own lighting, lower it with some shorter shocks in back, slap a car tire on it...would like to have a windshield, I've eaten enough bugs in my riding years. Not sure about the carbs, I've always given thought to adapting an FI system to a bike so who knows. Probably have more dreams than money and ambition...but who knows.  

Cookie, I've lived up here for six years now and I've never seen it have a first snow in late November. My first winter here it snowed twice before halloween...and went downhill from there. My last radiation treatment was November 13, 2019 and I drove through 6" of fresh to get there. The temps now are cool enough that I won't be riding and I can't afford to wait until mid-Nov. to move things out of the way so I can get both cars in.

[Jersey mike]

John I see you left your exhaust pipes uncovered, little rodents like to sneak into such places and nest.

Some steel wool will stop them and still let the air flow in and out.

That’s a nice clean unit. You probably will not have any rodent issues.

[Hook#3287]

John I see you left your exhaust pipes uncovered, little rodents like to sneak into such places and nest.

Some steel wool will stop them and still let the air flow in and out.

That’s a nice clean unit. You probably will not have any rodent issues.

Cool, that's good advice 

[Jersey mike]

Hey John, if your storage unit is not climate controlled you may also want to get a few of those DampRid moisturizer absorbers (used in basements, closets, laundry rooms, etc) that hang or are self standing containers.

We’ve used them innthe basement before and they work pretty well.

If there’s no fresh air being exchanged on a regular basis or if there isn’t any climate control it could get pretty humid in there.

[Oldfishguy]

And . . . We are done for the year.  Pulled the last battery today.

[Robert]

These work for me.

Battery powered, easy to remove rats and mice, has killed 10 or more rats. Some at home some at work.  If I see a rat I put one down with some peanut butter and the next day they are dead. Reusable, cleanable and have not failed me yet.

One in your storage unit should do the trick, its like a high powered taser that electrocutes them.


OWLTRA Indoor Electric Mouse Trap, Instant Eliminate Rodent Zapper with Pet Safe Trigger, Black, Small

https://www.amazon.com/OWLTRA-OW-2-Electric-Instant-Trigger/dp/B08DCYHSZN/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WrmNEyRhuUyhhgLJogT0PvULtnvpiCDhZizvgfbxO2TOoQPB3ATCDv7uhIKMp0Lf6w2LEzeBv38Ukwd7WjrglSEHxz35qyONu0qapXGn4j0PRQ6ZrB2Q-lJjUhgF902n8hdqnNTQFpYjfUOyeicqCMf3thkAgSTItPnplwoOX0FguCxNz9iUwS3G0riPAvD-WeVngk-C5XF4Y8V5JqGMvkuku96PfPfFDe58oHygNzAOtvVlshW_zHJJ3toG6PiXgGGNY90elAi_LQVDRuwN1zniKyMzSVnDCjNnaQocNO4.gk7BKRzD_TI3iHEn4VpIMqqCfFShg4rIfsiSN9iiq4I&dib_tag=se&keywords=electric%2Bmouse%2Btrap&qid=1764542211&sr=8-7&th=1

[cookiedough]

And . . . We are done for the year.  Pulled the last battery today.

better put some covers over those cycles with the snow blowing in, hate to get that clean shiny red/black Valk dirty..

In MN,  how much snow did you get the other day up there?  We got, for once, I think more than upper WI/MN did in southern WI, a mighty 10.5 inches of snow all day Saturday, probably the 4th or 5th largest snowfall that I can remember.  Sunday,  AFTER the snowfall and spending few hours shoveling/snowblowing it all,  I being the procrastinator, finally put snow tires on my car figured it was about time and need them.  Another 1-2 inches later today of the fluffy white stuff....

[Jersey mike]

And . . . We are done for the year.  Pulled the last battery today.

That’s a nice little showroom of toys ya got there.