A definitive winter storage thread?

[muzikill]

Can anyone give me a few pointers? or even a list would do.

Things i found so far.....

Clean it down & ACF50 it.
Battery out & keep it optimised.

But i come across threads that say fill the tank to the brim/dont fill it. Dont occasionally start it. Oil down the spark plug holes/dont bother. Drain the old oil and fill it to the brim then change the oil again before you put it back on the road. Depends how long its off the road for etc. etc.

Can someone who is in the know, just list the right procedure/steps? It's being stored in a garage btw.

Ta.

[DJ123]

are you going to ride it at all, the odd hour a week here or there?
Ideally if you are not then filling the tank and adding a fuel stabiliser is a good idea, as is trying to raise the tyres off the ground-front and rear paddock stand, take the wheels off/leave it on jacks.
Oil isn't that much of an issue i *don't* think, unless it due a service very shortly. I would simply change it before you start riding it regular again.
Give it a good clean prior to it being stored away and i would copper ease sliding movements. I would remove the chain and keep it in a tub of oil, if its possible for you to do so.

[davegixer1300r]

Just a thought How many dealers fart about with their second hand stock. Yes I know it is in a show room but their stock over winter doesnt move that quick and you will see the same bike in there for months, even new bikes, sat on its side stand probably with the battery off but that is all. Essentially if it is dry it should be okay. If you're worried then two paddock stands turn the wheels 1/4 turn every six weeks stops chain setting in position push the bake cylinders back in the calipers to prevent brakes seizing onto discs I would change the oil before storage as old oil can be slightly acidic. as for fuel tank, well fuel nowadays i believe has a shorter life span and does go off so a full tank would probably be not too good if you leave it three months or more If the garage is dry and temp stable i cannot really see it being red rusty in a couple of weeks if it is not full.
My Bikes, well the hayabusa is ridden year round weather permitting but the SVs sit there with batteries on optimiser for a week every 2 months on stands as they've no side stand with their tanks empty [Fuel drained and put into road bikes].
Do not claim to be an expert but it is what I do and have done especially in the Army we used to leave vehicles in hangers for 6 months when on tour. they were serviced before, batteries off job done turn wheels occassionally. Hope this is off some help.

[andrewsmith]

Muz

- Clean the bike down properly and give it a polish.
- ACF50 the lower part of the bike (rag on areas near the brakes)
- Oil Change, depending on when its due (Mine will probably be done just before as mines due in about a 1,000 miles)
- Check the coolant level if you're not sure on condition change it (you should be ok as you've just rebuilt it)
- Coat the chain with lube
- Tyres, up the PSI to around 40 and leave
- Put the bike up on the front and rear stands to stop egg shaping the tyres
- Fuel Tank: if its not sealed top up and add some stabliser to keep the fuel form going off.
- Battery off on the optimiser leave the bike until the spring

I'd be tempted (as a few orgers are thinking) to take the time to seal the tank.

Dave the wheel and brakes is a good tip.

[suzukigt380paul]

and if your not going to use it for months and you want to get it out in the spring in the same condition you first left it then buy one of those bike vacuum bags that you stick the whole bike in,have been told they work very well

[hongman]

Mines been sat still pretty much since the AR, started it once to warm for an Oil change it was overdue, that was it.

What is this about sealing the tank? Worthwhile even if its not leaking?
Also going to look at this vacuum bag, sounds interesting, as mine is stored outside.

I need a new C&S + rear tyre before spring, but time permitting I will also stick some new springs in the front and redo the calipers. Just cant drag myself out in the cold to work on it, so southern of me!

I fully expect to have to buy a new battery as well. Was an absolute pig to start at that last oil change, and I probably flattened it even more by cranking it over for so long. Low charge + cold will probably = dead battery. It's still the original so its not done that bad I guess...

[muzikill]

What i did today................

Fuel Tank was about 50% full chucked some stabiliser in and swirled it around and ran it until the engine was warm enough to do the oil change. Then i topped it up with fuel from the jerry can until full adding stabiliser as i went and swirling it around to make sure its mixed.
Oil Changed
Checked the coolant - fine.
Put the bike up on the abba stand
Coated the chain with lube
Tyres up to PSI 40
Battery off & into the house and on the optimiser.

The bike will be meticulously cleaned and coated with ACF50 as i go. Ive got chewies replacement bolt kit for the whole bike to fit as i go round it. Lube for the moving parts. Goodridge brakelines & overhaul the brakes.

Tips: As far as oil change goes i filled it up after getting rid of the old with the bike on it's side stand. I filled it it up the normal level you would do at a oil change and started the bike again and let it run for 2 mins to let the engine suck up the oil back into all the bits it needed to. Then i levelled the bike and filled it so the whole window was full. I then started the bike for around a minute to let the extra oil fly around and quickly turned it off. I put the bike in the garage on the abba stand and topped it back up so the oil covered the oil level window again. Doing it this way there should be enough oil chucked around the gears to keep it soaked and because i havent topped it to the brim if i want to turn it over it's still an option, so no 11L of oil wasted. With it being on the stand i can hand turn the engine giving the gears a lesser chance of going dry.

Ta for the advice so far.

[picquant]

Hmmm. I just take my K2 out for a little spin once a month or so. She sits in my garage which is relatively dry and seems absolutely fine, (and is a little beauty!)

[muzikill]

With the amount of work ive done on mine im not taking chances over the winter period!

[BanannaMan]

Hmmm. I just take my K2 out for a little spin once a month or so. She sits in my garage which is relatively dry and seems absolutely fine, (and is a little beauty!)






+1

I find an occasional ride in the winter month's keeps the bike in better condition than all the storage prep in the world.

[muzikill]

Thats all fine giving it the occasional run but my prep involves cleaning it down in places where most dont know about and ive got repairs and new parts to fit. Ive come to realise i actually enjoy doing stuff to the bike just as much as going out on it. Its takes the edge off it being mothballed and a bigger smile when i get back on the road when my works done.

[BanannaMan]

Thats all fine giving it the occasional run but my prep involves cleaning it down in places where most dont know about and ive got repairs and new parts to fit. Ive come to realise i actually enjoy doing stuff to the bike just as much as going out on it. Its takes the edge off it being mothballed and a bigger smile when i get back on the road when my works done.





Although somewhat limited, I ride through the winter and do all that early spring.
Partly due to not having a heated building to store/work on the bike.

[Kirkybhoy]

Ive come to realise i actually enjoy doing stuff to the bike just as much as going out on it.


wana do mine as well ?;)

[muzikill]

Well having a garage for your bike helps...... Youve got an engineering background you can easily learn.

[-Ralph-]

Why the tyres up to 40psi if the bike is off the ground?

I thought you had to increase the pressures if you were leaving the bike on the ground to prevent the tyre deforming as much under the bikes weight and hence prevent egg shaping, but if you were lifting the bike off the ground, then let down the tyre pressures (not sure what the latter achieves though).

Tyres could be a year or more between manufacture and being fitted to a bike, so what harm would low pressures do if the bike is lifted?

[andrewsmith]

Why the tyres up to 40psi if the bike is off the ground?

I thought you had to increase the pressures if you were leaving the bike on the ground to prevent the tyre deforming as much under the bikes weight and hence prevent egg shaping, but if you were lifting the bike off the ground, then let down the tyre pressures (not sure what the latter achieves though).

Tyres could be a year or more between manufacture and being fitted to a bike, so what harm would low pressures do if the bike is lifted?

I do it incase it need to be moved in a hurry during bad snow (It stuck outside near the worst bit of the roof) and avoids having to pump the tyres up. Last winter mine lost around 8 PSI over 12 weeks.

[-Ralph-]

I do it incase it need to be moved in a hurry during bad snow (It stuck outside near the worst bit of the roof) and avoids having to pump the tyres up. Last winter mine lost around 8 PSI over 12 weeks.

OK, I think I'll leave mine off the ground and at 10 psi, my garage is not going to collapse due to snow ;)

[andrewsmith]

OK, I think I'll leave mine off the ground and at 10 psi, my garage is not going to collapse due to snow ;)

Good point

2 ton of snow accelerates quite impressively off a slate roof.

[TamSV]

Muzikill, you know what you need to do.

Take bike to bits. Put bits in boxes. Stack boxes in wardrobe. Rebuild in Spring.

Simple. :p

[muzikill]

Muzikill, you know what you need to do.

Take bike to bits. Put bits in boxes. Stack boxes in wardrobe. Rebuild in Spring.

Simple. :p

Never again!............ hopefully.

EDIT: but if i needed to i would! ..... after rebuilding the engine ive got the bug to 'fix' everything now.

[andrewsmith]

Muzikill, you know what you need to do.

Take bike to bits. Put bits in boxes. Stack boxes in wardrobe. Rebuild in Spring.

Simple. :p

Tam

I thought that was your idea ;)


*runs and hides in wardrobe until spring*