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Message started by franch on 03/07/07 at 07:20:42

Title: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/07/07 at 07:20:42

:-[
my hopes were to ride the bike at least every couple of weeks so i never bothered to winterize.
got tied up with other vehicle issues and spent every free minute working on anything i owned that has a piston.
anyway i did put stabilizer in the full fuel tank and have charged the battery periodically but hav'nt ridden it since January 5th.
should i drain the carb ?
thanks
franch

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Kropatchek on 03/07/07 at 07:28:35

Yes!

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/07/07 at 08:08:10

franch wrote:

That's only 2 months. Have you tried to start it?

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/07/07 at 08:22:28

yes and it didn't want to start but i didn't want to drain the battery. plus it was real cold.
it's supposed to be 50 in mass sunday so i would like to try then.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/07/07 at 10:50:21

if'n it was me - I'd pull the fuel line off the carb - then drain the carb - next I'd put the fuel line in a bottle turn the petc0ck to pri and see if the gas was clear - if it was - close the carb drain and hook the fuel line back up flip it to pri to fill the bowl (total time for the process about 5 minutes) - pull the choke maybe to the 1st stop and hit the starter

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/07/07 at 11:06:33

If I remember correctly, that stabilizer should be good for 2 months.

Do as Reelthing suggests and if all looks clear then I'd give it a try.

Another thought...if you don't like all this fuss, then next time just drain the tank and the carb before storage. That is what I always do, anyway.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/07/07 at 11:13:39

i was under the impression that by leaving the tank full it would help prevent condensation forming and then rusting on the inside of the tank ?
good suggestions though and i will drain carb bowl and let some fuel run out of the tank till things look good
thanks all

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/07/07 at 11:20:04

franch wrote:

Yes, that is what it's supposed to do. That's why I figure that you don't have a problem.

Is your bike stored outside and you live in Mass.? I imagine the oil is kinda thick if so.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Sportster on 03/07/07 at 11:46:03

I just topped my tank off and rode it. Mine had been sitting for 2 months. It ran like a champ.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/07/07 at 13:01:44

I think it depends on what type of fuel you have - was it's octane enhanced with MTBE or 10% ethanol likely nothing worry about if it's MTBE other wise I'd sure check first - problem is E10 sucks 10 times the amount of water from the air as MTBE - once it does this it sinks to the bottom - now you have a rust producer setting in the bottom of your tank - I'd check it's easy to do and install a inline filter to catch the crud the e10 is breaking loose in the tank on older bikes

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by TVR on 03/07/07 at 16:44:14

I used to disconnect the fuel line from my boat and run the gas out of the carb. Had a boat mechanic tell me that it wasn't such a good idea. A little bit of gas varnishes up before a whole lot of gas does. He said to leave it full and you'll have fewer problems as you can never get it all out. Don't know if that principle applies here or not.

Did that for a couple years until my buddy hit a friggin tree in the lake and sent my Phantom to boat hill (boot hill). He's still my buddy, btw.

Reelthing, how long had the gas sat that you showed in the Cuervo bottle? And was it regular or premium? ;)

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/07/07 at 17:01:34

mid-grade and somewhere around 3 months - really going to keep the tow boats and engine shops busy this spring I believe - some hope for a couple of the non-ethanol stabilizers on the market to prevent this stuff.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by barry68v10 on 03/07/07 at 17:53:44

If ya'll ran your boats on propane, it wouldn't be a problem ;D

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/07/07 at 18:10:59

I sure might think about it if a mainstream outboard maker had one - really don't want to go fast - about 25 knots in 3-5ft seas and I'm happy!

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by mickthelimey on 03/08/07 at 00:04:38

Did that for a couple years until my buddy hit a friggin tree in the lake and sent my Phantom to boat hill (boot hill). He's still my buddy, btw.

Hit a tree in the lake ??? you would think they would put up sime kind of sign "beware of tree in lake" or some floating yellow lines going around the tree, better yet put a traffic cop up the tree.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/08/07 at 04:24:40

well, when many of these better bass fishing lakes are built all trees are left with boat lanes cut through them at most, over time the top of the trees rots off - the fun really starts when the water level changes and now what was far below the surface is only a few inches

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/08/07 at 05:06:59

Gee, it sounds like you guys are up a tree without a paddle!

:P

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by azjay on 03/08/07 at 06:20:36

i run the fuel out of every engine i plan to store for any period of time. the little bit of fuel left in the carb has never been a problem, as the fresh fuel will readily dilute it. a carb full of old fuel will absorb water, promoting corrosion, and out here in the desert, the liquid evaporates off, leaving behind a solid goop of additives to clog every port and jet in the carb. my fuel tanks get emptied also, and stored indoors if i'm concerned with outdoor moisture.
i would drain the fuel from the carb, top the tank with premium, and let her rip! go for a 100 mile putt, burn all that old fuel out, and reload it with your fuel of choice.
my tunnel hull only drafts 12" of water at speed and i run a stainless screw, falling off the water ski is a bigger problem. ;)

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/08/07 at 07:16:31

I dare you to run a 12" draft across ToledoBend or SamRayburn at speed if either of those lakes are down a bit - hoooboy!

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Scottwerty on 03/08/07 at 15:01:51

Shouldn't be a big problem. i didn't put stabilizer in this winter. just started it up, ran like a champ. I did start it every couple of weeks though.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Trippah on 03/08/07 at 19:53:15

franch- just start'er and ride, I'm hoping to ride this weekend also, last ran Mid Jan. Will try to start mine mana pm, almost 40F predicted. I would wait until almost 40 to try and start, give the battery a chance. I'm planning to heat her up with my car exhausted before hitting the start button. We'll see what happens..good luck.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/08/07 at 21:11:25

Trippah wrote:

There were a couple times past where I took a small electric space heater and put it under the engine to warm it up before trying to start it after a cold winter.

I'm thinking that all this is just a matter of attitude. What ya think?

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Trippah on 03/09/07 at 05:28:47

Yikes. 1 degree F this am, startup may have to wait a day >:(

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Greg_650 on 03/09/07 at 12:57:15

Is Franch ever coming back ???

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/09/07 at 14:04:34

i'm here Greg, thanks for your concern.

i've just been busy with a toyota pickup motor,which incidently had 2 handfulls of what i believe were hunks of nylon timing chain guide pieces in the bottom of the oil pan. there were chunks of aluminum as well .
the frustrating part is that this was the motor i was installing and had just bought from a junkyard.

wah wah wah, i digress, and there are enough cam chain discussions going on.

it's going to be a balmy weekend here in new england and i so look foreward to working on the joyfully simple savage.
i've got new pads and fluid going in, then i'll do what i gotta do to start her and ride.

i'll keep ya'll posted

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by justin_o_guy on 03/09/07 at 17:31:29

Fanch, Man, that's a lousy deal. Hope it works out without costing you too much time & $$$.

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by georgekathe on 03/09/07 at 17:56:08

Franch - when installing the new pads you may well want to put some anti squeal grease on the back of them if you weren't intending to do so - fellow on site said had trouble with squealing & this was what he was advised to do. when I did mine bought some @ the local car place (checker) in a little toothpaste type tube - enough to do the job easily.

also, when I put in new fluid & replaced pads (& installed steel brake line but that is another story) I used 800 grade grit on the rotor - another way to minimize squeal.

have fun working on the Savage - bummer about the truck!

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/09/07 at 18:23:44

thanks,

i always put silicone sealant (permatex)
on the backs of automobile pads to prevent squeeling.
anti squeel grease sounds like it might be easier to clean off between pad changes.
any other pro's or cons ?
i actually bought a little tube of the grease and was wondering if it really works ?
i somehow picture it melting or washing away in summer heat/use or in wet riding conditions.

by the way the junkyard guy will refund me or get me another motor.
as far as my time into it i'm probably S.O.L. (anyone have a pregnant dog term for that ?)

i am going to try to give him a wish list of tires, batteries etc. that i know i'll need in the future.
who knows maybe he'll do the right thing

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by georgekathe on 03/09/07 at 21:50:58

not had to change pads since I put in on them so can't really answer question. as far as washing off in rain - it rains so rarely here in the high desert in western CO I've never been in the wet on the bike (& no, after 25 years riding in England I'm not just a dry weather rider!) :)

not a squeak from my pads with it on so seems to work (these are not eom but ebc pads so not sure if that makes a difference).

just make sure you don't get any on the face of the pads! ;D

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/11/07 at 09:10:30

o.k.
drained the carb bowl, and a little outta the tank then hit the start button. fiddled with the choke and vroom within about 5 seconds she was purring.

adjusting the decomp. cable over the winter helped.
pads and fluid went in without a hitch.
off i go, it's partly cloudy and 44 degrees in central mass.
yeeha

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by Reelthing on 03/11/07 at 10:56:54

was the gas clear or cloudy - just curious - very nice music to hear! :)

Title: Re: help, failed to winterize
Post by franch on 03/11/07 at 18:05:51

it was cloudy out of the carb bowl but not out of the tank.
my little cousin was having trouble with a shadow 600 that had sat for 2 years, even though it only had 5k on it he cleaned and cleaned the carb but i finally told him to replace both pilot and main jets (v-twin/2 carbs). once he did it fired right up (14bucks later)
am i glad i was able to avoid carb work.
is it me or did the dialogue on winterizing never make it to the tech section ?