Winterizing tips?

[dbmb0416]

Any good tips about winterizing. I empty tank and run her while petcocks off to run gas out out carbs. Take tank off and battery to put in cellar. Then put her on the center stand in garage and cover her up. I need new front tire next year so I'll change oil and filter when I do that. Anything I might of missed. I did the same last year except front tire of course. It fired right up this spring when I replaced all the gas hoses. Thanks

[motoman]

Any good tips about winterizing. I empty tank and run her while petcocks off to run gas out out carbs. Take tank off and battery to put in cellar. Then put her on the center stand in garage and cover her up. I need new front tire next year so I'll change oil and filter when I do that. Anything I might of missed. I did the same last year except front tire of course. It fired right up this spring when I replaced all the gas hoses. Thanks

Kept in garage for winter........what you've done bout' does it.

[rover]

Winter

I keep my tank full and ready to go, cause when the driveway and road is clear, I take a ride. Been doing that since 1980, and never had a rusty tank. I use 5W30 oil in the winter, 10W30 spring and fall, and 20W50 in the hot summer months. When I parked the special eight years ago, I drained the gas tank, and every year I put a pint of 90 gear lube and turn the tank to coat every part of it. I filled the cylinders with oil. One day I hope to do the second gear fix and ride her again. This special took me over 90K miles so far. I like my F better, seems to fit better with the floorboards, XJ bars ands the custom seat, and full touring gear.

[jetmechmarty]

I ride mine all winter. Works fine!

[rombat]

My routine for Sask. winter- oil change, drain carbs, fuel tank 100% full with quality fuel stabilizer, battery removed stored warm on maintainer.

[MarkD]

N. MI prep for mine: Lay vinyl tarp down on garage floor and ride bike over tarp (to prevent moisture from reaching bike). Put on center stand. Change oil. Fill tank, add StarTron fuel stabilizer, run engine a bit to add to carb bowls. Take spark plugs out and squirt engine fogger in all cylinders, crank engine over a few revs to coat cylinders. Remove battery and put inside on tender. Cover, and wait until May.

[motoman]

N. MI prep for mine: Lay vinyl tarp down on garage floor and ride bike over tarp (to prevent moisture from reaching bike). Put on center stand. Change oil. Fill tank, add StarTron fuel stabilizer, run engine a bit to add to carb bowls. Take spark plugs out and squirt engine fogger in all cylinders, crank engine over a few revs to coat cylinders. Remove battery and put inside on tender. Cover, and wait until May.

Interesting........but of course no humidity/moisture here(and almost zero rust issue).

As for a batt. tender......all I can say is batt. tender and batt. manufacurers must be in cahoots with each other. Whether U know it or not, a wet cell battery is only as good as the amount of times it is re-charged(includes a batt. tender also).
BTW, I get 8-10yrs. use out of automotive/motorcycle batteries with no re-charge and refuse to own a battery killer tender

[skids]

This is the fist year that I will not store in a garage where I can periodically run the bikes. They will be stored in an out-building, not heated. I filled the tanks and used stabilizer and ran the engines to put that mixture into the carbs. One bike has pods so no mouse issue with the airbox. The other has an airbox, so I duct-taped the inlet snorkel to keep out the mice. I brought the batteries into the garage and storing them on their plastic base plates. I will periodically charge the batteries. The bike in the heated garage is the Honda 1300ST. I plan to do a lot of maintenance to her, so she gets the space.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Skids,
I have heard that dirt floors can cause condensation/rust issues so if your out building has a dirt floor place a tarp under some plywood below the bike. Lack of heat is not an issue. Condensation caused by changes of temp and humidity are a concern.
Phil

[motoman]

This is the fist year that I will not store in a garage where I can periodically run the bikes. They will be stored in an out-building, not heated. I filled the tanks and used stabilizer and ran the engines to put that mixture into the carbs. One bike has pods so no mouse issue with the airbox. The other has an airbox, so I duct-taped the inlet snorkel to keep out the mice. I brought the batteries into the garage and storing them on their plastic base plates. I will periodically charge the batteries. The bike in the heated garage is the Honda 1300ST. I plan to do a lot of maintenance to her, so she gets the space.

Good ideas,.......just don't set batteries on the man-cave concrete floor for storage aea, as they WILL quickly discharge.

[donebysunday]

Hey

hay, I've heard putting a bale of hay in the bikes storage area absorbs the moisture out of the air, keeps the bike dry.

Wife goes north I go south, whatever comes in the garage with her car seems to permeate the air and cause corrosion even to things in the roof.

Anyone ever used the hay bale trick ?

[red bandit]

A lot of old bikes & things/stuff are found in old barns in very good condition.

[donebysunday]

Hay

in the barn or just good ventilation, with no cars carrying salt/chloride mixed with salt melting and mixing with the air.
Not everyone has a barn, I don't anymore, used to and back then I had no problem with pitting and corrosion over the winter. Now I must park at least the wife's car in with the bikes.

A lot of old bikes & things/stuff are found in old barns in very good condition.

[skids]

Hi Skids,
I have heard that dirt floors can cause condensation/rust issues so if your out building has a dirt floor place a tarp under some plywood below the bike. Lack of heat is not an issue. Condensation caused by changes of temp and humidity are a concern.
Phil

Thanks Phil