Winterizing

vet_stingray · 11-30-2009, 10:50 PM

I'm sure this a process for winterizing has been posted before but i haven't found any. What should i do with my Gy5 So i can start her up next spring?

Weldangrind · 11-30-2009, 10:55 PM

I'll start.

Keep it out of the weather if you can. Supporting the bike on a stand is better for the tires. Change the oil, remove the spark plug and add a teaspoon of oil in the cylinder. With the ignition off, slowly kick the engine over a couple of times to circulate the oil.

Some believe in Sta-bil fuel treatment, but I believe in draining the tank and carb bowl.

Remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger from time to time.

Lube the chain to prevent rust over the winter.

That's all that comes to mind. Anyone else?

vet_stingray · 11-30-2009, 11:22 PM

Is it ok to leave the battery on a maintainer all winter?

SpudRider · 12-01-2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vet_stingray

Is it ok to leave the battery on a maintainer all winter?

Yes, you can leave the battery on a trickle charger. If the motorcycle is stored outdoors, it is best to remove the battery, and take it inside your home. Then you can maintain the fluid levels in each cell, charge, and inspect the battery periodically throughout the winter months.

Spud

Weldangrind · 12-01-2009, 01:43 AM

I choose to connect a battery to a trickle charger only when I'm home and awake.

Yes, I can be over cautious. :roll:

SpudRider · 12-01-2009, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I choose to connect a battery to a trickle charger only when I'm home and awake.

Yes, I can be over cautious. :roll:

I don't blame you, WG.

I have left a trickle charger connected for several weeks at a time, without any difficulties. However, I prefer to remove the battery, and take it inside my home. I then attach the trickle charger every week or so, and remove it after it fully charges the battery.

Spud

lego1970 · 12-01-2009, 08:21 AM

I ride my bike all year and as mentioned in other post I kinda like winter riding. If you ride in the winter be sure to clean your bike often or the de-iceing stuff will pit your aluminum and rust out your frame, so I wash often and coat the bike with a film of oil often. Also I always put a tinfoil wrapped cardboard piece in front of my engine when it dips down into the single digits.

As far as my lawn mower, generator, and weedeater goes. I just get out there every two or three weeks and start them up and let them run for 10-15 minutes. I put the trickle charger on the lawn mower every couple weeks too.

katoranger · 12-01-2009, 10:13 AM

I used my all year too, but if you are planning to not ride at all the I recommend the W/G method with draining the gas and the carb. Take the battery inside and keep it warm.

Its that or take is for a guick spin every couple of weeks. It doens't get the cold in Chattanooga.

Allen

PCD · 12-01-2009, 02:24 PM

I'm not a huge fan of starting something up for a short peroid of time in the winter, primarily due to condensation formed, if not in the engine, then for certain in the exhaust where it sits and rusts things out. That being said, for anything under a garden tractor its probably not a big deal.

I also run fuel stabilizer all year long in small engines. You never know when something may break, forcing your bike or whatever to sit for awhile before you get around to fixing it, so I consider it cheap insurance against yanking off the carb.

Batteries come inside. Lawn tractor, lawnmower, weedeaters, blowers, etc live in the shed, expensive stuff gets heated storage because I have access to it, and the quads are going to be driven in the winter

11-30-2009, 10:50 PM	#1
vet_stingray Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 114	Winterizing I'm sure this a process for winterizing has been posted before but i haven't found any. What should i do with my Gy5 So i can start her up next spring?
	0

11-30-2009, 10:55 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I'll start. Keep it out of the weather if you can. Supporting the bike on a stand is better for the tires. Change the oil, remove the spark plug and add a teaspoon of oil in the cylinder. With the ignition off, slowly kick the engine over a couple of times to circulate the oil. Some believe in Sta-bil fuel treatment, but I believe in draining the tank and carb bowl. Remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger from time to time. Lube the chain to prevent rust over the winter. That's all that comes to mind. Anyone else? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

12-01-2009, 01:43 AM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I choose to connect a battery to a trickle charger only when I'm home and awake. Yes, I can be over cautious. :roll: __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

12-01-2009, 10:13 AM	#8
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I used my all year too, but if you are planning to not ride at all the I recommend the W/G method with draining the gas and the carb. Take the battery inside and keep it warm. Its that or take is for a guick spin every couple of weeks. It doens't get the cold in Chattanooga. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

12-01-2009, 02:24 PM	#9
PCD Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newmarket On Canada Posts: 382	I'm not a huge fan of starting something up for a short peroid of time in the winter, primarily due to condensation formed, if not in the engine, then for certain in the exhaust where it sits and rusts things out. That being said, for anything under a garden tractor its probably not a big deal. I also run fuel stabilizer all year long in small engines. You never know when something may break, forcing your bike or whatever to sit for awhile before you get around to fixing it, so I consider it cheap insurance against yanking off the carb. Batteries come inside. Lawn tractor, lawnmower, weedeaters, blowers, etc live in the shed, expensive stuff gets heated storage because I have access to it, and the quads are going to be driven in the winter __________________ Good, Fast, or Cheap....Pick Two.
	0

11-30-2009, 11:22 PM	#3
vet_stingray Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 114	Is it ok to leave the battery on a maintainer all winter?
	0

12-01-2009, 08:21 AM	#7
lego1970 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri. United States Posts: 505	I ride my bike all year and as mentioned in other post I kinda like winter riding. If you ride in the winter be sure to clean your bike often or the de-iceing stuff will pit your aluminum and rust out your frame, so I wash often and coat the bike with a film of oil often. Also I always put a tinfoil wrapped cardboard piece in front of my engine when it dips down into the single digits. As far as my lawn mower, generator, and weedeater goes. I just get out there every two or three weeks and start them up and let them run for 10-15 minutes. I put the trickle charger on the lawn mower every couple weeks too.
	0