Author Topic: Motorcycle Winterizing (Read 8936 times)

Triple Bob · « **on:** November 22, 2020, 10:25:45 pm »

I've never had a carb'd bike before Elliots Yamaha (TTR-230). Normally I'd just top the bikes up with fuel and remove the batteries. What should I do with the Yamaha, run it with the fuel off to use up everything in the carbs? Anything else?

Also my garage is separate from the house and can get pretty cold, it has seen below -20C. I think all the bikes have decent coolant, but is there anything else I should be doing to make sure they are ok during the Winter.

Gurgie · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2020, 10:30:14 pm »

Thats all I ever did with my carb'd bikes in the past. Turn off the fuel & run them till they die. Ad some stabilizer in the fuel as well & fill the tank as full as possible

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

HeliDriver · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2020, 10:49:44 pm »

Like clockwork!

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=85980.msg941884#msg941884

https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=94622.msg1147822#msg1147822

bridgecity · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2020, 11:05:49 pm »

I always check the coolant freezing temperature. Can get the gauge for less than $10.

blur911 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2020, 11:09:22 pm »

Put fresh air in the tires

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2020, 12:42:28 am »

to be honest, if you run top tier ethanol free fuel, you can likely skip the stabilizer, but it's cheap enough it won't hurt anyway...top up the tank, shut the fuel off and either drain it or run it until it stalls (empties the supply)...if the engine is liquid cooled, it would be a good idea to ensure the coolant is in good condition (as was mentioned, the gauges are pretty cheap too)...remove the battery and bring it inside and put it on a tender and you're good to go.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2020, 10:38:30 am »

Quote from: HeliDriver on November 22, 2020, 10:49:44 pm

Like clockwork!

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=85980.msg941884#msg941884

https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=94622.msg1147822#msg1147822

LOL, IT'S A NEW SITUATION! (Carb'd bike in an outside garage)

I agree, I only use the highest octane fuel, so skip stabilizer now.

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2020, 10:45:39 am »

Quote from: HeliDriver on November 22, 2020, 10:49:44 pm

Like clockwork!

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=85980.msg941884#msg941884

https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=94622.msg1147822#msg1147822

LOL. Funniest thing I've seen all day.

blur911 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:05:28 am »

Quote from: Triple Bob on November 23, 2020, 10:38:30 am

Quote from: HeliDriver on November 22, 2020, 10:49:44 pm
Like clockwork!

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=85980.msg941884#msg941884

https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=94622.msg1147822#msg1147822

LOL, IT'S A NEW SITUATION! (Carb'd bike in an outside garage)

I agree, I only use the highest octane fuel, so skip stabilizer now.

I imagine you know this, but octane has nothing to do with whether it has ethanol or not, EG., Petro-Can's highest octane has ethanol.
I have no problems with my DRZ over winter with no stabilizer, just start it early in the spring to get some new gas through the carb.

I hadn't rode my G450X since July and it took a bit of cranking to get started last week, it's injected.

HeliDriver · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:20:27 am »

Just having a laugh.

I drained the carb on the KTM last winter and it was a

to get it running in the spring. I think probably there were a few drops left and it gummed up over the winter. No biggie, though, just took maybe a dozen kicks and a few extra minutes of running before she cleared out.

This year, I flipped the petcock at the end of my last ride and let it run dry.

In the past, I’ve also just put stabilizer in the tank and ran it a bit to get stabilized fuel into the carb, then parked it for the winter. Never had any problems doing that.

I still like the stabilizer. I’ve never felt any downside to using it, and I’ve had a tank of old/bad fuel ruin a day’s riding. Admittedly though, that fuel was more like a year old. The KTM only gets ethanol-free 91.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:28:41 am »

Quote from: blur911 on November 23, 2020, 11:05:28 am

Quote from: Triple Bob on November 23, 2020, 10:38:30 am
Quote from: HeliDriver on November 22, 2020, 10:49:44 pm
Like clockwork!

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=85980.msg941884#msg941884

https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=94622.msg1147822#msg1147822

LOL, IT'S A NEW SITUATION! (Carb'd bike in an outside garage)

I agree, I only use the highest octane fuel, so skip stabilizer now.

I imagine you know this, but octane has nothing to do with whether it has ethanol or not, EG., Petro-Can's highest octane has ethanol.
I have no problems with my DRZ over winter with no stabilizer, just start it early in the spring to get some new gas through the carb.

I hadn't rode my G450X since July and it took a bit of cranking to get started last week, it's injected.

Interesting, I thought the higher octane fuels didn't contain ethanol. Are there any that don't?

HeliDriver · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:40:28 am »

Ethanol is a cheap octane booster, so you’ll find it in lots of premium fuels.

Around here, Shell V-Power is ethanol free. Can’t remember 100%, but I think Esso 91 is as well?

Don’t know about choices back east.

Here you go: https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=ON

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:45:15 am »

Shell 91 for sure. Costco premium on the other hand has ethanol

It's usually marked on the pump

Triple Bob · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2020, 12:27:24 pm »

OK, I usually use Shell.

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2020, 01:57:44 pm »

Quote from: PJungnitsch on November 23, 2020, 11:45:15 am

Shell 91 for sure. Costco premium on the other hand has ethanol

It's usually marked on the pump

Costco reg has ethanol, but not the premium (at least in ON).

and yes, Shell 91 is fine (which is in Acton).

dkaz · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2020, 02:05:05 pm »

Ethanol free fuel and fuel stabilizer, battery tender, you're good.

DriverJeff · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2020, 09:39:17 am »

Allie's bike (and her parents' bikes) are carbed and they never do anything special with them. Top 'em up, put the battery on charge and fire 'em up in the spring. Her dad has been building and racing bikes since before many of us were born, so there's a bit of experience there.

Scott runs the Bultaco dry, and then usually hauls it into the studio here for the winter.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2020, 12:54:20 pm »

Quote from: DriverJeff on November 26, 2020, 09:39:17 am

Allie's bike (and her parents' bikes) are carbed and they never do anything special with them. Top 'em up, put the battery on charge and fire 'em up in the spring. Her dad has been building and racing bikes since before many of us were born, so there's a bit of experience there.

Scott runs the Bultaco dry, and then usually hauls it into the studio here for the winter.

rrocket · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2020, 01:30:31 pm »

Quote from: Triple Bob on November 23, 2020, 12:27:24 pm

OK, I usually use Shell.

Bob..check here if you care.
https://www.pure-gas.org/

Also, the reason I use fuel stabilizer is to keep the fuel fresh. Was told fuel stays fresh for "about 3 months". Usually not a problem...but some winters longer than others. Plus it's cheap to buy and I already have it on hand for storing lawnmowers, snowblower, etc

Have also seen condensation...though less likely with a completely full tank.

YMMV

HeliDriver · « **Reply #19 on:** November 26, 2020, 03:57:15 pm »

^^ Top Tier does not mean ethanol-free.