WINTER PREPARATION TIME! tips?
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Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 296
From: East Cleveland
WINTER PREPARATION TIME! tips?
hey all.... here in cleveland im lookin outside and i got a few inches of snow on thanksgiving. . . time to put away the hawk.
i would assume the best way to drain the carbs on the hawk would be to putt the petcock vacuum line off(little one) , and run the bike till the gas dribbles down the 2 gas lines and the float bowls are empty, then put some gas conditioner in the tank.
well , wondering if theres any other prep that i should do for the winter. ... other than yanking out the CV carbs and tucking them in bed next to me all winter , so i can be near her heart at all times
i like my bike 
i would assume the best way to drain the carbs on the hawk would be to putt the petcock vacuum line off(little one) , and run the bike till the gas dribbles down the 2 gas lines and the float bowls are empty, then put some gas conditioner in the tank.
well , wondering if theres any other prep that i should do for the winter. ... other than yanking out the CV carbs and tucking them in bed next to me all winter , so i can be near her heart at all times
i like my bike
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
Winterize let me see, oh yeah in Fla it means ride, ride, ride and then ride some more. 
Sorry that doesn't really help you does it. I know I have a Cycleworld mag around somewhere that has a long article about that subject I'll try to find it for you. Other than that I'd say get a battery tender to keep the battery fresh and you could probably drain all other fluids as well.
Sorry that doesn't really help you does it. I know I have a Cycleworld mag around somewhere that has a long article about that subject I'll try to find it for you. Other than that I'd say get a battery tender to keep the battery fresh and you could probably drain all other fluids as well.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 147
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: WINTER PREPARATION TIME! tips?
Remove plugs and put a bit of oil in each. turn over a couple times and put plugs back in. I had a mechanic tell me draining carbs not necessary as long as fuel preservative is used. Of course you would have to run it long enough to be sure fuel in carbs has preservative.
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,553
From: South Texas
83F here today!
I've seen this ask enough that even I know the answer. Fill the tank with fresh gas/stabil, run bike up to full operating temp, shut down. Oil cylinders. Put battery on a tender. Air up tires. Another good tip I've read: plug up your airbox and other openings that critters can get into to build nests.
I've seen this ask enough that even I know the answer. Fill the tank with fresh gas/stabil, run bike up to full operating temp, shut down. Oil cylinders. Put battery on a tender. Air up tires. Another good tip I've read: plug up your airbox and other openings that critters can get into to build nests.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 818
From: Thornwood, NY
Re: WINTER PREPARATION TIME! tips?
Getting cold here in NYC as well.....
I second the Stabil and fresh gas over draining the carbs.... over the last 10 years running bikes, that has been the best method I found (I've tried the others and always had trouble getting the bike going come spring time....) Plus if you catch a nice week mid Jan or Feb, you can run the bike around town a bit.... I try my best to run my bike anytime the temps over 50 in the winter just to keep it alive... since I've been doing that, I haven't had any problems lasting through till spring. (I'm sure some will tell me why running the bike 1 time a month is bad , but it's worked well for me, so take it for what that's worth)
J.
I second the Stabil and fresh gas over draining the carbs.... over the last 10 years running bikes, that has been the best method I found (I've tried the others and always had trouble getting the bike going come spring time....) Plus if you catch a nice week mid Jan or Feb, you can run the bike around town a bit.... I try my best to run my bike anytime the temps over 50 in the winter just to keep it alive... since I've been doing that, I haven't had any problems lasting through till spring. (I'm sure some will tell me why running the bike 1 time a month is bad , but it's worked well for me, so take it for what that's worth)
J.
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I use stabil, so any gas left in the system is stabile.. but still drain the carbs.. BUT leave the tank FULL to prevent rust.
You can pull the plugs and use some fogging oil to keep rust away from the cylinders. Always do a fresh oil change to rid the motor of built of contaminates in the oil. If it will be a dry storage area,, you done,, other that washing and waxing the bike.
Sexual Daredevil
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 597
From: Mother Earth- orbiting around Charlotte, NC. But now over the border in S.C.
Get the tires off the ground. Use a front and rear bike stand. This will prevent the tires from getting a flat spot. Plus ditto on what is listed above.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 758
From: Laurel, MD
This is a three month layup, not long-term storage. Fill the tank and add Sta-bil Run the bike until the treated gas is in the carbs. Change the Oil/Filter and put a float charger on the battery.
Have a rum tottie.
Even the Sta-bil is probably optional for a 90 day lay up. Use the winter to take care of all the lubrication points and any tuning you need.
Have a rum tottie.
Even the Sta-bil is probably optional for a 90 day lay up. Use the winter to take care of all the lubrication points and any tuning you need.
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