Topic: Winter Prep, Again!

[BenelliSEI]

It snowed here yesterday. The salt and sand trucks are out, so the bikes get put away. Here’s what I did to the K1. I feel today’s crappy fuels, left in anything for more than 4-5 months, create problems. This routine only takes me 45-60 minutes and guarantees fast starts in April-May.

1. Pulled both fuel lines from the petcock and replaced them with an 8” loop of clear hose. If the valve “drools”, no mess. Repair later.
2. Popped off the 4 float bowls, cleaned and dried them out.
3. Dropped the floats, main and idle jets. Blew out the jets and let all the parts dry before reassembly. One emulsion tube had some crap in it. Soaked and cleared.
4. Filled the tank with zero ethanol fuel. I always drain it in the Spring and “share” it out across our cars and garden equipment. Fresh fuel goes in when I “first start” the bikes.
5. Pull the battery. It sits on a shop shelf, charged up every 6-8 weeks.
6. My shop never freezes, so up on the centre stand, indoor cover.....

Anybody do anything else they feel is a “requirement”?

[JDrider]

what is the reason for: "Pulled both fuel lines from the petcock and replaced them with an 8” loop of clear hose"
I don't understand

[newday777]

what is the reason for: "Pulled both fuel lines from the petcock and replaced them with an 8” loop of clear hose"
I don't understand

The K0-K4 have 2 outlets on petcock,  the clear line connects to both outlets as a loop to contain any drips from the petcock.

[34barab]

Nice work, John.  Very helpful.

[ekpent]

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe plug the end of the exhaust pipes if you have any mice around and set up a trap line. Your shop John does not look like it has any rodents hanging out.

[newday777]

Saturday we had the last of Indian summer here in NH so I took the K5 out for a warm up ride while it was still in the high 60s in preparation for the snow over night last night.
Back to the shop, petcock off the last 200 yards to burn off fuel in the carbs and idle until it sputters so there's less to drain off.
Then dumped the oil and filter while it was still hot. Fresh oil and filter, then kill switch off, circulate oil with starter until the oil light goes off. This way there isn't any combustion gasses in the oil over the winter, then the bike is ready to ride in the spring.
Next is empty the fuel tank, rinse with a gallon of diesel fuel several times(dump into 5 gallon bucket to get any water separation to reuse the diesel fuel again later once the water settles to the bottom).  Then put in a pint of 2 stroke oil and coat the whole tank for it's winter storage. This works great. I've coated the tank in the past using Marvel Mystery Oil which has worked well too. I've also flooded the carbs with MMO in the past once drained off the gas to keep the rubber parts fresh.(in the spring just drained the carbs of the MMO and the tank, then fresh gas and it starts easily.)
Then usually push it in the heated 10x11 store room, battery tender and cover on the bike. This late winter I will be pulling the Hooker header off and installing the 341 exhaust that I bought and am also going to ultrasonic the carbs, rejet, maybe a few other things to the bike like putting spoked wheels back on and new sneakers before pulling it out for the summer.
Over the winter I'll be working on the other project 750s that I bought in May and June.

[PeWe]

Both my CB750's get Shell V-Power with not much ethanol if any.
I usually start both bikes midwinter and let them idle warm. 
I miss the sound waiting for spring.

Parked warm and dry. Garage is part of the house and never under 20*C, mostly 21-23*C.

Charge batteries a day or 2 every 2nd month.

I have fuel stabilizer to use, have not used it yet.

Fuel "booster" added into my K6 tank before last ride last Saturday.
But I wonder how carb boots will like it during a longer period. Stronger mix to clean during a longer ride now and then.

[BenelliSEI]

what is the reason for: "Pulled both fuel lines from the petcock and replaced them with an 8” loop of clear hose"
I don't understand

The K0-K4 have 2 outlets on petcock,  the clear line connects to both outlets as a loop to contain any drips from the petcock.

Exactly..... I’ve seen a few petcock that “drool” a bit..... the loop makes it visible.

[BenelliSEI]

I do have a few mouse traps, but so far no takers.

More snow over night, so the K3 is next.

[BenelliSEI]

Both my CB750's get Shell V-Power with not much ethanol if any.
I usually start both bikes midwinter and let them idle warm. 
I miss the sound waiting for spring.

Parked warm and dry. Garage is part of the house and never under 20*C, mostly 21-23*C.

Charge batteries a day or 2 every 2nd month.

I have fuel stabilizer to use, have not used it yet.

Fuel "booster" added into my K6 tank before last ride last Saturday.
But I wonder how carb boots will like it during a longer period. Stronger mix to clean during a longer ride now and then.

PeWe..... I keep the KLR up at the house garage and ride it “late and early” so it just gets fired up occasionally. With stabil and non ethanol gas, it seems to survive too.

[PeWe]

I stored my K6 in a not heated barn for 19 years. Left with fuel in 1990. I had no plans when parked, time went by.

Carbs not corroded at all when opened them 2015. Very little white dust inside. A red slimy residue from fuel to clean. Old good fuel.

I made sure to kick around engine every year. When I opened the head I saw some rust spots on seats so head had to be refurbished 2014 by same guy that ported it 1983.

Spray the chambers with thin oil spray thru sparkplug holes would have been a good idea.

No humid storage room vital for avoid rust in tank, exhaust pipes and carb corrosion.

[Don R]

 I worked at a food warehouse once, they had a perimeter of rodent bait stations around the building. I rent a storage unit across the street now. 
 I use a little synthetic 2 stroke oil in the no alcohol gas but wouldn't cycle it through the car. I've been using 50/50 no alky and 110LL av gas the last two seasons and then use it.  An aviation mechanic I know said he has started airplanes after sitting 20 or more years on the same gas. A friend has done that with his vintage Simplex and Indian bikes for years.

[BenelliSEI]

When I built the shop, along side the existing 24’ X 48’ pole barn, a neighbour and his son were just starting their own spray foam insulation company. They used my build as a test for their new, trailer mounted equipment. In many spots, we had to scrape away foam to get the wallboard to fasten to the studs and rafters! But, the place is tight. I have yet to find more than a few dead flies in the place......

[Shtonecb500]

thanks for this, im storing both my 750s in a cold garage this year and the middle weights get to be in heated storage so they are ready for sale in the spring. I plan on keeping carpet under the tires.

[Bodi]

I have 2 stroke oil in a squirter can, 4 or 5 shots in each sparkplug hole, plugs in loose, and a few kicks. Foil over exhaust tied with barn wire. Tank off, drained, and dried (vacuum on blow in filler for 30 mins or so) then ~12 cup WD40 sloshed around inside. Carb bowls emptied and left off a few hours to allow innards to dry off. Lines disconnected and plugged with golf tees (frigging bugs make coccoons in there). Battery checked, topped up as required, left connected. Battery tender for a day once a month.
Smokes like a  bigger on spring start but this has worked well for many years.
Don't use a vacuum sucking, likely to explode or turn flamethrower, the brush motor makes a lot of sparks.

[BenelliSEI]

I usually fill the tanks, but draining and using two stroke blend or other stuff suggested seems like a very good idea! I end up draining all the fuel out in Spring to dump it in trucks or cars anyways……

[MauiK3]

We’ll, all I can say is I don’t winterize for obvious reasons. I just make sure I ride often enough to keep the fuel in the bowls fresh enough.
No ethanol in my fuel, makes it easier.

[Kevin D]

I have a broom handle, cut to 30 5/8”, one end rounded to fit bottom of triple tree
raises front tire off the ground until April.

[BenelliSEI]

I have a broom handle, cut to 30 5/8”, one end rounded to fit bottom of triple tree
raises front tire off the ground until April.

Excellent idea, will give it a try.

[newday777]

I have a broom handle, cut to 30 5/8”, one end rounded to fit bottom of triple tree
raises front tire off the ground until April.

Excellent idea, will give it a try.

Yes I like it too.

[MauiK3]

Great idea for other maintenance work too!

[BenelliSEI]

Great idea for other maintenance work too!

Played with this today, while winter prepping the K4. Great idea! I’m going to fabricate a “T” out of 1” tubing with an adjustable centre section (threaded screw with a jam nut?). The K4 has Lester wheels with dual sport style tires, so it sits quite a bit higher than my K1........

[Kevin D]

The broom handle is a rough prototype. OK for storage.
Turn the handlebars and lock the fork.
I wouldn’t take the front wheel off.
I’m sure you can improve on it, and make it solid.

[Prospect]

That's a great idea about taking off the float bowls and letting everything dry out. I might do that with my bikes.

I have a 50hp Honda outboard that I put away for winter. I just drained the bowls but didn't take them off. Everything is so tight spaced in there that I didn't dare.  I'm going to be wondering all winter whether it'll start in the spring.

[BenelliSEI]

Finished up “drying out” the K4 today. It takes a few minutes, but worth it. All my float bowl gaskets stayed in place. One nipple pulled out of the K1 petcock, so I brewed up a dab of JB Weld and pushed it back in...... not the first time. It’s a shiny aftermarket piece and the threads on the sediment bowl are not the greatest. Will probably replace it when I drain the tank in Spring.