WINTERIZING YOUR WING
By Stu Oltman
Article also applies to other bikes.
The Battery
If the bike will not be used for several months during the winter,
the battery should be connected to a charger/maintainer such as the various
models tested previously in these pages. I used to recommend trickle charging
once a month, but I don’t anymore. Those who use the once-a-month routine
often forget it’s been a month (time flies when you’re having fun) since
the last charge, and the battery suffers. Battery maintainers are reasonably
priced and widely available. Examples include the Battery Tender, Battery
Doc, and two new units from Yuasa. If you won’t be using a maintainer,
disconnect the battery cables to eliminate any parasitic drain, and test
the voltage at least monthly. Recharge if the voltage is 12.4 volts or
less. This is especially important in sub-freezing weather, as a discharged
battery will freeze at around 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your bike is stored in an area where it’s not possible to run a
power cord, bring the battery into your garage, basement, or wherever you
do your maintenance, and keep it plugged in there. If your battery is not
of the sealed variety, make sure that the electrolyte level is topped up
to the full line with distilled water before placing the battery in storage.
Never attempt to open a sealed battery for any reason.
There’s an old tale floating around that warns of rapid battery discharge
if the battery is stored on a concrete floor. Dirt or grime on the top
of the battery, especially if it’s moist, is what actually accelerates
battery discharge regardless of the storage surface. The dirt and moisture
create a path for current flow, and the battery behaves as though it had
a very small load placed across the terminals. Insure that your battery’s
exterior is clean and dry whether it’s in storage or not.
The Fuel
Automotive gasoline stays fresh for a surprisingly short period of
time, and stale fuel causes running problems as well as deposit buildup
in various parts of the fuel system. Also, a partially empty fuel tank
left to heat and cool with the range of daily temperatures, especially
in a humid environment, will accumulate moisture as a result of condensation.
This moisture can cause rust in the fuel tank and can plug carburetor jets.
Since water is heavier than gasoline, any water that gets sucked into a
carburetor jet is not likely to be displaced by the fuel.
To avoid these problems, keep your fuel tank filled, and mix the fuel
with fuel stabilizer such as Sta-Bil following instructions on the container.
Just prior to final storage, allow the engine to idle with the fuel supply
turned off until it stalls from fuel starvation. If turning off the fuel
supply isn’t possible, as with the GL1500, then drain the carburetor float
bowls using the drain screws provided. They need not be completely removed,
just open them a turn or two, and close them when no more fuel runs out.
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The Oil
Before a period of uninterrupted seasonal storage, your engine oil
and filter should be changed to eliminate the accumulated acids, moisture,
and other crud which would otherwise have the entire winter to work on
your engine’s internal parts. While you’re at it, remove the spark plugs
and squirt a teaspoon full or two of engine oil into each cylinder. Then
turn the engine kill switch to “off” and spin the engine for a few seconds
with the electric starter to distribute the oil on the cylinder walls before
putting the spark plugs back in. The same condensation that affects the
fuel tank can also occur inside the cylinders, and this oil will protect
them from harm.
Covering and Cleaning
Dirt and moisture are the number one enemy of electrical components,
fuel systems and upholstery. If you park outside over the winter and your
bike ends up looking like the iceberg that sank the Titanic after every
snowstorm, you need to understand what happens as that snow melts. Just
like a glacier, that pile of snow has a lot of water accumulating under
it as it melts. The water doesn’t run off quickly as after a rainstorm.
Instead, it sits there slowly seeping into all of the switch gear, instruments
and upholstery stitching, and carrying any dirt it picks up along for the
ride. It can also permeate exposed fuel system linkages and get down into
the engine in extreme cases. If parked outdoors, thoroughly wash and wax
the bike and protect all the bright metal trim with a light lubricant spray
such as WD-40. Treat
the upholstery with a vinyl protectant, then cover the bike.
Never apply a cover over a wet bike, as the cover will greatly increase
the amount of time the bike is exposed to moisture. Those without garages
or carports might consider a product such as the Bike Barn to avoid weather
related problems or possible vandalism.
If parked indoors, the bike need not be covered. As a matter of fact,
I recommend leaving it uncovered to avoid possible moisture accumulation.
Just clean and protect as described above.
Tires
Ozone cracking of tire sidewalls is a problem that can be slowed but
not totally eliminated. If your bike is parked outdoors, a bike cover should
provide adequate protection from the effects of the sun. Indoors or outdoors,
the tires should be cleaned and properly inflated before storage. Clean
them only with a mild soap and water, and never apply any type of tire
protectant dressing to motorcycle tires. Store the machine on its centerstand
(if equipped) to remove as much weight as possible from the wheels.
How often should I start my bike during storage?
Never. That’s right – once properly prepared and placed in uninterrupted
storage, you shouldn’t start the bike at all. To do so does several things.
It removes the protective oil you squirted in the cylinders. More importantly,
it accumulates moisture due to condensation in the crankcase and exhaust
system. This accelerates oil contamination and promotes muffler rust-out.
You’d have to run the engine for a minimum of 30 minutes after full warm-up
to insure that all the moisture had burned out. Why bother with all that?
You prepared it properly. Now, just kiss it good night, and turn out the
light till next spring
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