Winterizing

[Alaskavan]

Actspaul asked me a good question today, so I thought I would share it. Some of us live in climes where the bike will have to be parked for the winter. What to do to insure that she will be ready to go come spring?
Up here there are lots of mines etc, that only operate in the warmer months. Lots of equipment has to survive in the elements 'til spring. There is at least one product on the market made to deal with this. Mac's Fogger (there are probably others, and I'd like to hear about them). It's made to spray into the carb until the motor dies. It puts a coating on the interior of the cylinder to prevent rust, varnish, etc.
Anybody else got stratagies for winterization?

 

[beast775]

yup

move to a climate where you can ride all year long!i use fogger in outboard motors also,but i ride all year here,its just wet in the winter here.isopropyl alcohol mixed with your fuel is good for a 4-6 mnth spread.thats what i used in northern ontario 40 below zero and i rode never a problem.

 

[Large Filipino]

Heated garage.
I would like to ride in the wintertime. I would get looks for shure!

 

[Jim H]

I ride in the winter here too. We don't get winter weather like we used to, just cold, little snow. I keep the shed heated in cold months so as to keep paints and chemicals from freezing so is a good place for my bikes and motors.

 

[JemmaUK]

While the UK is not the nicest place for anything mechanical because it can get fairly cold Anita is in good hands, as she spends her time when not on the road stored in the bedroom of my flat.

I dont feel safe leaving her outside especially as some people round here have a case of light fingers as there are some rough areas fairly local to me.

The thing I am wondering regarding two stroke engines is what, if any, effect cold (ie -degrees temperature) have on an engine that is regularly run... would it add to engine wear? would it be worth warming the cylinder with a hairdryer or similar to help with starting and durability?

Jemma xx

 

[larymor]

Hey All!!
I'm gonna keep my 4 stroke in the garage with the car and just run it once a week to keep it limbered up. It gets really cold here..like -30 centigrade and the car survives so why not the bike engine? I,m gonna try and ride it a bit this winter even though its soo cold here. Ya gotta be tough to live here....or crazy.........

 

[Alaskavan]

Got up yesterday to find a beautiful blue-sky day. Got all my gear on and went out and started the trike. The throttle and brake cables were frozen solid. Had to change back into regular clothes and drive the Subaru to town. Arrgh. Guess it's time to winterize.

 

[astring]

AZ will get down to 45 or 50 this Winter.

 

[Mountainman]

an engine can get PRETTY DARN COLD without any adverse effects when started

when started in the very cold -- that's the time to go easy until warmed up

I realize this is not for storing durning winter but - riding at times durning winter


here's a wild thought --- ELECT HEATING PAD
wrap over or around engine -- put it on low -- in the cold morning -- ready to go !!!

makes it nice when we Ride That Thing Mountainman

 

[Zev0]

AZ will get down to 45 or 50 this Winter.

Man, I don't know what part of Glendale you're in, but I recall a 22 last year.