Winter Chill - Kills! *Prepairing for Cold Storage*

[RedLdr1]

Working with older classic cars I learned to not set the park brake during long term storage. Setting the park brake for several months can cause tension issues with springs and problems with rust in the brake drums... H-D may have engineered around those issues, I admit I haven't looked at the design, but just in case I would leave the park brake off and chock one the rear wheels front and rear so she can't roll...

[msocko3]

Working with older classic cars I learned to not set the park brake during long term storage. Setting the park brake for several months can cause tension issues with springs and problems with rust in the brake drums... H-D may have engineered around those issues, I admit I haven't looked at the design, but just in case I would leave the park brake off and chock one the rear wheels front and rear so she can't roll...

Your doing the right thing by not leaving the parking brake on long term, the rotors will rust and possibly the brake pads may stick to them. Just sitting in the garage there is no reason it can't be left in 1st gear and be just fine.

[Ozarkryder]

[quote=Bikerbozo;127399]

Drain summer air out of tires and install proper winter air for our area.[/QUOTE
Summer/winter air? Either I am dense and missing the joke or I am a clown and missing the reason for different seasonal air?

Haven't checked the thread for a few days - was wondering if someone was going to catch that. You can get it here: Seasonal Tire Air - $28.90 : KaleCoAuto.com, Your home for the rare, unusual, and hard to find auto parts.

It was a running joke on the Harley Email Digest, or HeD, an email message board that seems to have gone dormant. Every spring and fall someone would post about changing from winter to summer air or vice versa and start a cascade of messages about taking the bike out of storage or putting it up for the winter. Plus once in a while someone would think it was serious and we would send them to bike shops to look for seasonal air, adjustable power bands or grip wax.

[onahog]

Would they sell studded rear tires & a block heater there too???
And if needed, can i use ether ta get the MOTOR RUNNING Ta HEAD OUT On THE HWY!!!...LOL..

[Sloufoot]

I was recently advised by my small engine shop to run engine till it runs out of gas if am to store equipment over 30 days------He said over 80 % of his repairs is carburetor work caused by ethanol---also advised against the use of sta-bil with ethanol fuel----

Not a good thing to run a fuel injection system out of fuel. Might work for a carb unit but the fuel pump running dry causes un-necessary wear.
I haven't ever ran into trouble with Sta-bil. I always use it in case I can't get the bike out for an extended time. Sometimes we have a real winter !
ALWAYS change fluids, filters & wash & wax. Don't forget the float charger ! Then only ride if you can get the oil up to temp. Otherwise it causes condensation. I try to ride at least once a month in the winter.

[OlManRivh]

I should get my Trike just as winter arrives. Fat chance I'm gonna wait 'til Spring. I'm going to learn to ride in the snow . . .lol!

[427dave]

I put the trike on a trailer and head for Florida so I can keep on riding

[iaff84]

Clean Bike / I hate that part. WAX /BIG Hate
Change fluids / When needed.
Liked the part about changing to winter air in tires!
One thing I like about now having a trike is to ride all winter long. We don't have no winter in Indiana.
I enjoy some brisk riding during the winter. As long as they plow the roads well, I will ride.
Like most, I do not mind wet or cold riding, just when they happen
together.
I am jealous of those who follow the sun year round, someday maybe.
Enjoy all, regardless of where or when you ride.

[kimber45]

I'll just ride mine all winter.

[rhino 2]

One thing that should be mentioned if your putting a bike up for the winter,
Make sure you fill the tires with at least 78 Percent Nitrogen.

[iaff84]

One thing that should be mentioned if your putting a bike up for the winter,
Make sure you fill the tires with at least 78 Percent Nitrogen.

And don't forget the 21% oxygen,0.003% carbon dioxide, that is the most imprtant parts. The other small stuff is what gets ya!!!!

[iaff84]

And don't forget the 21% oxygen,0.003% carbon dioxide, that is the most imprtant parts. The other small stuff is what gets ya!!!!

rhino 2, I guess our sarcasm about our "magic" air compressors put a stop to this thread. <O

[rhino 2]

rhino 2, I guess our sarcasm about our "magic" air compressors put a stop to this thread. <O

Give it enough time and it will reappear in a new Tread.
Bye the way what Octane do you use in your bikes.

[BladeRunner]

Lots of great info..and FUN!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, many exhaust systems on bikes have a drain hole at the lowest point..often that gets overlooked & can plug up allowing condensation to sit in there and...RUST is usually the result
I just poke a bit of wire in there to be sure they are open.

[iaff84]

Give it enough time and it will reappear in a new Tread.
Bye the way what Octane do you use in your bikes.

is this also a trick question?

[rmrc51]

If you dress for it, it's not that bad riding in the winter.

Ditto! You can always dress for the winter and be comfortable. You can't do that in the hot summer! Or at least I can't and be comfortable.

[rhino 2]

is this also a trick question?

Is the Pope Catholic.

[Phu Cat]

If you live in snow country, avoid the temptation to take the bike out until a good rain has washed the salt off the roads. Salt will attack the tiniest areas that are scratched or scrapped down to bare metal.

It is also a good idea to avoid starting the bike 'just to circulate the oil'. Condensation is a by product of combustion. If you're not going to ride far enough to get your oil temperature to atleast 160 degrees F and keep it there for 60 minutes or more, you'll do more harm than good.

Phu Cat

[FRR]

Cleaning can't be overlooked. Interesting story;;; Had a buddy of mine who several years ago road his Classic to Sturgis in August, never cleaned it, put it in the garage and didn't pull it out until May. When he called me is said the fairing had "pits" in it and he couldn't figure out why. Turned out the bugs that committed suicide on the front of his fairing coming back from his trip were still there in May and the acid had eaten through his clear coat. He tried everything and could never get that fairing to look good again. Bad move and expensive lesson to learn.

[GARYD]

Bug guts and bird crap = worst things for a paint job.