Winterizing my Lifan GY5

jayg · 12-09-2008, 05:22 PM

OK, I am past the riding season and I want to prep my bike for the winter. IS there a process or do I just drain the gas and remove the carb to move the pin for better fuel flow? I know that it not part of the maint but I need to do it.

Willys · 12-09-2008, 05:26 PM

Get some fuel stablizer and add it to your tank of gas...run it for 10 minutes or so...just to get the mix into the carbs and all the fuel passages. then shut it off., take the battery out, keep in a warm spot, off the concrete, oil anything that needs oiling...done! This all depends upon where you live too. If you have a water cooled machine,,,antifreeze is a thought too. Maybe even put the battery on a tender too?? check it's fluid levels alone with the bikes levels.

katoranger · 12-10-2008, 08:05 AM

Fill the tank full of gas also. After you have run it like Willys said turn the fuel off. This will prevent all the gas from running into the engine if the carb needle was to leak.

The full tank of gas keeps the moisture out and prevents it from rusting.

Allen

IronFist · 12-10-2008, 10:57 AM

I drain my carb bowels. Tend my battery every two weeks or so. I shove rags and or metal window "screening" into all holes like muffler. That should keep out the field mice. We have an abundance of squirls, my neighbor's air box was FULL of sunflower seed shells, 2 years back. Hours of extra work cleaning. I tarp my bike though it's well protected, I'd rather not clean months of dust.

This year my bike will winter in the house with me. Stripped as it is, it only weighs about 50 pounds. I'll be working on every part before spring.

red2003 · 12-11-2008, 12:33 PM

Chinese rubber is REALLY poor, so I also spray down anything that looks like rubber or plastic with Armorall, including the tires. Winters here are COLD and tires like to weather crack if not treated. Shut off petcock and drain float bowl.

VinceDrake · 12-11-2008, 09:47 PM

Sorry Mr.2003, but I have to disagree, *NOT* armorall! Babyoil, or Neetfoot oil, or somethingsimilar, but Not Armorall. Armorall is an alcohol-based product, and tends to dry things out more than anything.

Dry, brittle China-Plastic is never a good thing.

--Vince

jayg · 12-13-2008, 11:25 PM

Thanks for all the info. I live in Louisville and my bike is garage kept. I will get the gas stabilizer and stay away from the Armor all. I noticed that Armor all does dry rubber out. Not that it matters because I will be getting more street friendly tires for next riding season.

IronFist · 12-14-2008, 11:13 AM

I like what armoral does for the rubber on my bike and makes my seat shine. The down side is that, like Pledge, the stuff is too slippery. After doing my seat, it's like sitting on a banana peel. Seriously I almost fell off and I was clamping the tank with my knees hard. If you use a slippery product to winterize your tires, remember to wash it off in the spring. :wink:

tigertamer · 12-18-2008, 07:16 AM

Silicone spray is what I use on the cheap Chinese rubber.

TT

warrior91 · 12-18-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceDrake

Sorry Mr.2003, but I have to disagree, *NOT* armorall! Babyoil, or Neetfoot oil, or somethingsimilar, but Not Armorall. Armorall is an alcohol-based product, and tends to dry things out more than anything.

Dry, brittle China-Plastic is never a good thing.

--Vince

Mabey it is just a Sask. thing , but I agree.
Armorall has done absolutley no long term good in any of my vehicles.
Cracks dashboards ,removes the fake chrome around my old chevy gauges, and after sun baking in my truck, causes the plastics to turn gritty on my door panel and rub off every time I touch it. Never mind the fact that my steering wheel feels sticky, no mater how many times it is washed...I have not used that armorall crap for the last 10 years...
Mothers makes a more expensive version, but it doesn't wreck/dry out/change chemical composition like the "good ol" armour all does.
Mabey it has something to do with the fact that we have a 80 degree temp range???

Willys · 12-19-2008, 08:45 AM

If you want to use something oily...rust check!

But I have found lemon pledge to get plastics to shime and come to life is best!

Tires ...there are many commercial tire snake oils that work well, look in the cleaning section at CTC and such places.

IronFist · 12-19-2008, 09:46 AM

:roll: Hmm, maybe I should stick to Simple Green and Pledge and stay away from armoral.

Now I'm off to polish my rear wheel spacers till they shine like chrome. 8O . When I clean a bike over winter, I go all out.

Willys · 12-19-2008, 09:49 AM

Your bike will thank you!

katoranger · 12-20-2008, 10:50 AM

My tires usually only last one season so I don't worry about any preservatives.

Your weather in Louisville should be good enough to ride nearly year round too. I would just pull it out and ride it once a month.

Allen

frostbite · 01-09-2009, 11:57 AM

I too have heard that Armorall is bad for rubber, particularly tires.

I only use it on motorcycle/ATV plastic during the 'For Sale' period.

12-09-2008, 05:22 PM	#1
jayg Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	Winterizing my Lifan GY5 OK, I am past the riding season and I want to prep my bike for the winter. IS there a process or do I just drain the gas and remove the carb to move the pin for better fuel flow? I know that it not part of the maint but I need to do it.
	0

12-10-2008, 08:05 AM	#3
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Fill the tank full of gas also. After you have run it like Willys said turn the fuel off. This will prevent all the gas from running into the engine if the carb needle was to leak. The full tank of gas keeps the moisture out and prevents it from rusting. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

12-10-2008, 10:57 AM	#4
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	I drain my carb bowels. Tend my battery every two weeks or so. I shove rags and or metal window "screening" into all holes like muffler. That should keep out the field mice. We have an abundance of squirls, my neighbor's air box was FULL of sunflower seed shells, 2 years back. Hours of extra work cleaning. I tarp my bike though it's well protected, I'd rather not clean months of dust. This year my bike will winter in the house with me. Stripped as it is, it only weighs about 50 pounds. I'll be working on every part before spring. __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
	0

12-11-2008, 12:33 PM	#5
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,230	Chinese rubber is REALLY poor, so I also spray down anything that looks like rubber or plastic with Armorall, including the tires. Winters here are COLD and tires like to weather crack if not treated. Shut off petcock and drain float bowl. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
	0

12-11-2008, 09:47 PM	#6
VinceDrake Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Saskatchewan Posts: 491	Sorry Mr.2003, but I have to disagree, NOT armorall! Babyoil, or Neetfoot oil, or somethingsimilar, but Not Armorall. Armorall is an alcohol-based product, and tends to dry things out more than anything. Dry, brittle China-Plastic is never a good thing. --Vince __________________ "Sometimes it is better to say nothing, and let people think you're an idiot, than to open your mouth and prove it."
	0

12-09-2008, 05:26 PM	#2
Willys Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Just north of Toronto Posts: 68	Get some fuel stablizer and add it to your tank of gas...run it for 10 minutes or so...just to get the mix into the carbs and all the fuel passages. then shut it off., take the battery out, keep in a warm spot, off the concrete, oil anything that needs oiling...done! This all depends upon where you live too. If you have a water cooled machine,,,antifreeze is a thought too. Maybe even put the battery on a tender too?? check it's fluid levels alone with the bikes levels.
	0

12-13-2008, 11:25 PM	#7
jayg Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	Thanks for all the info. I live in Louisville and my bike is garage kept. I will get the gas stabilizer and stay away from the Armor all. I noticed that Armor all does dry rubber out. Not that it matters because I will be getting more street friendly tires for next riding season.
	0

12-14-2008, 11:13 AM	#8
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	I like what armoral does for the rubber on my bike and makes my seat shine. The down side is that, like Pledge, the stuff is too slippery. After doing my seat, it's like sitting on a banana peel. Seriously I almost fell off and I was clamping the tank with my knees hard. If you use a slippery product to winterize your tires, remember to wash it off in the spring. :wink: __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
	0

12-18-2008, 07:16 AM	#9
tigertamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wheeling, West Virginia Posts: 683	Silicone spray is what I use on the cheap Chinese rubber. TT __________________ 07 H-D XL883C 06 LF 200GY-5 Yin and Yang CAUTION Obey The Traffic Regulation. Always Wear a Helmet. Don't Ride After Drinking Wine. Before Operation, Read The Owners Manual Carefully.
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12-19-2008, 08:45 AM	#11
Willys Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Just north of Toronto Posts: 68	If you want to use something oily...rust check! But I have found lemon pledge to get plastics to shime and come to life is best! Tires ...there are many commercial tire snake oils that work well, look in the cleaning section at CTC and such places.
	0

12-19-2008, 09:46 AM	#12
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	:roll: Hmm, maybe I should stick to Simple Green and Pledge and stay away from armoral. Now I'm off to polish my rear wheel spacers till they shine like chrome. 8O . When I clean a bike over winter, I go all out. __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
	0

12-19-2008, 09:49 AM	#13
Willys Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Just north of Toronto Posts: 68	Your bike will thank you!
	0

12-20-2008, 10:50 AM	#14
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	My tires usually only last one season so I don't worry about any preservatives. Your weather in Louisville should be good enough to ride nearly year round too. I would just pull it out and ride it once a month. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

01-09-2009, 11:57 AM	#15
frostbite Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada Posts: 1,744	I too have heard that Armorall is bad for rubber, particularly tires. I only use it on motorcycle/ATV plastic during the 'For Sale' period. __________________ Frostbite "The beatings will continue until moral improves"
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