Winter Prep.

[dreamaker]

I just want to put this out there incase. Couple of the guys in the neighborhood with their motorcycles, quads and lawn mowers, think dumping some stabilizer in the tank winterizes the vehicle.  Some use, I think it is called Sta-bil.  Correct me if I am wrong!  I explained to them, that I use Seafoam because it has light oil in it, and helps stop any rust from forming in the tank.  Also is the reason you fill your tank full for winter. You should empty the carbs. of fuel, so it don't turn into varnish, and also should take out the spark plug, shoot a few drops or fog some light oil in the cylinder, rotate the engine a few times, to prevent rust. I couldn't believe they did not know that for minimal winter prep. Myself far as battery trickle charging, I don't do and never had an issue it, but I do disconnect the ground cable to the battery.  From my experiences, if your vehicles has a device in it that runs in the background, like maybe a clock in the radio, or what ever. I have had them kill and trash my battery over time.

[Patrick]

I'm not a fan of Stabil, I've had it go bad. I've used Sea-Foam for over 40 years.

A mistake some make is just dumping the stabilizer in the tank and thinking they are done. It needs to be put into the gas can and then filled to insure its mixed well. [ I also use non-ethanal] . Then I fill the tank and run the engine to make sure this mixture goes thru the carburetors, then I run them empty if I can.

Pulling the sparklers and squirting some oil in holes and then spinning the engine over is a good thing.

I overfill the tires by about 5#

I charge the battery before storage and then before usage in the spring. On newer vehicles [with a draw] I set a low amp charger away from the vehicle or anything combustible and on a timer for a couple hours each day.

I try to store things over paper or plastic with an old caged drop light under it and then cover them with a breathable fabric, like old sheets.

[Kirb]

Good stuff, Thanks. I have never winterized a Bike before  Bout time to start. I have a good bit of work to do on it over the winter. Almost looking forward to it. Gonna go through wheel bearings, head bearing and try to find the shimmy in the front end. Only happens on deceleration. The rear tire cupped like crazy so swapping tires and that could be the shimmy issue. But seems to make sense to check the bearings while the wheels are off. Check all that when the wheel is off.

In addition I will be winterizing :-)

[dreamaker]

In addition when I go to fill the tank, I put the Seafoam in before I go to the station, that way it slashes around.
Reminded me of something when reading Patrick reply. Another thing people do sometimes when they store, is cover with plastic, or material that can't breath. I did it once many many years ago on a bike, in the spring when I uncovered the bike, everything that was chrome, turn gold. Its OK for a bike to get wet or damp, as long as it can breath, and evaporate. Even an old bed sheet is OK.

[RainMaker]

Winterizing in Texas:

1. Fill up the tank.
2. Ride vigorously.
3. Repeat.

[Oss]

is there an advantage to having the tires on cardboard over the concrete floor?

Last winter I had almost 8 weeks I could not ride, that had not happened in all the years I owned it
(2002 is when I bought the  1st interstate)

I check the air in the tires at least once a month during the winter and before every ride, but that is
just my own personal checklist stuff

+1 on seafoam or techron

[old2soon]

Good stuff, Thanks. I have never winterized a Bike before  Bout time to start. I have a good bit of work to do on it over the winter. Almost looking forward to it. Gonna go through wheel bearings, head bearing and try to find the shimmy in the front end. Only happens on deceleration. The rear tire cupped like crazy so swapping tires and that could be the shimmy issue. But seems to make sense to check the bearings while the wheels are off. Check all that when the wheel is off.

In addition I will be winterizing :-)

           Head shake on decel MIGHT be shock bushings. Pull the upper bolt on each shock bushing and if NOT centered-replace. RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

My winter prep, consist of zipping the shell over my mesh jacket, digging out the chaps and winter gloves, and start using Sta-bil in the gas tank.   this is what I have done for the last 10 years.  The longest I have had not riding during the  winter was 6 weeks, ice on neighborhood roads.  No problem with the carbs yet.  And as OSS says check the tires before each ride.

Just dumping Sta-bil in the tank without mixing it or running bike long enough to get into the carbs is worthless. 

[dreamaker]

Tire thing is kind of interesting, I live north of Detroit, and before I retired I use to ride the bike to work in the really cold weather. One guy that I worked with had a sport bike, he told me he took his bike off the road when it got really cold, because his tires would get hard and not grip the road and almost went down several times, because of it loosing traction. I never seemed to have an issue, but of course something in my head tells me not to do those café leans on the way to work and back home. So I never had an issue.

[Alpha Dog]

Tire thing is kind of interesting, I live north of Detroit, and before I retired I use to ride the bike to work in the really cold weather. One guy that I worked with had a sport bike, he told me he took his bike off the road when it got really cold, because his tires would get hard and not grip the road and almost went down several times, because of it loosing traction. I never seemed to have an issue, but of course something in my head tells me not to do those café leans on the way to work and back home. So I never had an issue.

There was a guy on the volusia forums last winter that went down just after leaving his house on  a sport bike due to cold tires.  He was out of action for months.

[Michvalk]

Ride to as station,, add half can of seafoam,,ride home,,ride bike into garage,,turn off motor,,close garage door. DONE!