Winterization Tips

[Warpdrv]

I never winterize, I tend to ride all year - down to 25-30 degrees, in between snow up here.... Remember that salt is slippery as well is cold rubber, so be careful those that do ride in the cold.

It was a great morning today, 45 degrees at wakeup and and will be 60 today - I love riding in the cooler weather with the fall color changes, Full dress gear is also so much more pleasant to wear

 

[na1g]

1- I don't know where to find non-oxygenated fuel around here, so I go with regular pump gas. So far, so good. There are new fuel stabilizers made for oxygenated fuels (StaBil makes one but it's hard to find.)

2- Instead of steel wool, try copper wool (like a kitchen scrubber). It's much coarser and tougher to chew (I would imagine!) Also try a rubber stopper from your local home store. But never underestimate the commitment and motivation of Mickey's friends. They have more time to spend on the problem than you do.

3- Mothballs seem to repel mice. I put several in frozen dinner trays and place them on both sides of the tires and center stand. Again, so far so good.

pete

Hey Afast03nNJ! Boonton, eh? I'm a BHS grad, class of '61!! :yahoo:

 

[NightShine]

These are all good tips, people. And so this year, I'll follow the same winterization plan with my FJR that I did last year.

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Nothing!

:yahoo:

 

[oldryder]

you're right, the "sidestand" was a typo, should've been centerstand.

other tip re: putting petcock on "reserve" on bikes so equipped while running the engine was a good one!

Oldryder,
An excellent winterization outline only I'm a little confused about the chain and the side stand. If it is a "universal" guide then the part about the chain makes sense, but I would suggest getting as much weight off of the tires as possible. If the bike in question doesn't have a center stand then blocks under the frame/engine and swingarm should be considered.

OBD

 

[oldryder]

last tip:

keep about 6 cats. leave them outside. put their food in a place where the dog can steal it regularly. Hungry cats WILL hunt. fat ones that have all the food they can eat not so much.

I saw a very functional mouse trap that could hold dozens of mice:

1. take a 5 gallon bucket. locate it somewhere that allows a mouse to access the open top.

2. punch a hole along the long axis of a pop can and put a coat hanger thru it. it needs to spin freely.

3. run the coat hanger across the top of the bucket.

4. put some peanut butter on the can.

5. mouse crawls out, pop can rotates, mouse falls in bucket.

works really well and a 5 gal bucket will hold a lot of mice. (good treats for the cats.)

 

[firewalker]

How often does the FJR's coolant need to be replaced??????

 

[rbentnail]

other tip re: putting petcock on "reserve" on bikes so equipped while running the engine was a good one!

Thanks. Running on reserve was something I did purposely about once a week when I had carbed bikes to keep the gas from deteriorating in the lines and petcock, so it made sense to do the same thing when winterizing.

 

[RadioHowie]

Florida Winterization Tip #1:

Keep fresh coolant in so it doesn't overheat.

:finger:

 

[twistedcricket]

How often does the FJR's coolant need to be replaced??????

your owner's manual should cover that topic...

has anyone used an oil fogger as referenced in LINKY

that's the only thing I've never done and I'm curious about it...not to the extent that I might do it, but maybe I will. i've never plugged up the intake or exhaust ports, but I might this year.

EDIT: UPDATE LINK

 

[chrisflock]

other tip re: putting petcock on "reserve" on bikes so equipped while running the engine was a good one!

Thanks. Running on reserve was something I did purposely about once a week when I had carbed bikes to keep the gas from deteriorating in the lines and petcock, so it made sense to do the same thing when winterizing.

On my carb'd bikes, running on reserve was something I did about once a week because I had used up the other gas...

your owner's manual should cover that topic... smile.gif
has anyone used an oil fogger as referenced in LINKY

that's the only thing I've never done and I'm curious about it...not to the extent that I might do it, but maybe I will. i've never plugged up the intake or exhaust ports, but I might this year.

Your linky doesn't...linky...

 

[Moon Man]

In the words of Cartman:

"Screw You Guys, Imma Ride All Winter"

I'll spend my sta-bil money on heated grips you Nancy's.

 

[oldryder]

I've never it found it necessary to fog a four stroke for winter storage. For extended storage ( a year or more) I would fog the engine.

However, I do fog my 2 stroke toys for storage.

I read once the valves on the 4 strokes make the fogging unnecessary but on a multicylinder engine one or more cylinders going to be open to atmosphere so I'm not sure thats a valid argument.

maybe someone out there has a better explanation........

++++++++++++++++++++++=

How often does the FJR's coolant need to be replaced??????

your owner's manual should cover that topic...

has anyone used an oil fogger as referenced in LINKY

that's the only thing I've never done and I'm curious about it...not to the extent that I might do it, but maybe I will. i've never plugged up the intake or exhaust ports, but I might this year.

EDIT: UPDATE LINK

 

[Moon Man]

I've never it found it necessary to fog a four stroke for winter storage. For extended storage ( a year or more) I would fog the engine.
However, I do fog my 2 stroke toys for storage.

I read once the valves on the 4 strokes make the fogging unnecessary but on a multicylinder engine one or more cylinders going to be open to atmosphere so I'm not sure thats a valid argument.

maybe someone out there has a better explanation........

++++++++++++++++++++++=

How often does the FJR's coolant need to be replaced??????

your owner's manual should cover that topic...

has anyone used an oil fogger as referenced in LINKY

that's the only thing I've never done and I'm curious about it...not to the extent that I might do it, but maybe I will. i've never plugged up the intake or exhaust ports, but I might this year.

EDIT: UPDATE LINK

I only use fogger on my boats and jet ski's, and the only reason I do that is because the Malibu dealer said to, or maybe because my father has since forever. It doesn't seem to hurt anything, and who doesn't enjoy taking the spark arrestor off of a 350 MPI now and again? unk:

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

has anyone used an oil fogger as referenced in LINKY

What would that do to the catalytic converters?

 

[James Burleigh]

It's 46 degrees here today, windy, and raining [Central MN]. We'll get a few more nice days this year and then it'll be April before the bikes come out again.

Think positive! Sunday looks o.k., and we should have at least 4 more weeks of occasional decent days. Then 5 months of winter.

I exchanged text messages earlier this week with my son, who's in Minneapolis, but who was born and raised in California and just moved there a couple months ago:

Him: Huge blizzard last night! Almost one eighth of an inch! Send help!

Me: What's a blizzard?

Him: It's when any snow falls, right?

Me: What's snow? :blink:

 

[whataboutbob]

I put the liner in my jacket

 

[RadioHowie]

I put the liner in my jacket

Well it DOES get blisteringly cold over there in Bradenton.

 

[rbentnail]

I put the liner in my jacket

I put a jacket and gloves in the saddlebag. Haven't used them yet, tho

 

[whataboutbob]

I put the liner in my jacket

Well it DOES get blisteringly cold over there in Bradenton.

well I am in northern Bradenton

 

[Bustanut joker]

Northern Bradenton? Ha that's nuttin! I once wintered in Gibsonton (just 'round the corner from Howie, literally) an about froze ta death.. :lol:

:jester: