Draining fuel and carbs for winter

[Nessism]

Condensation forms from the cold and hot cycles. Unless the bike can be ridden long enough to fully dry out the exhaust, for example, running the bike can cause rusting issues.

 

[Cipher]

Condensation forms from the cold and hot cycles. Unless the bike can be ridden long enough to fully dry out the exhaust, for example, running the bike can cause rusting issues.

Winter air hereabouts is dry. I use stabil and start my bike running it long enough to replenish the battery and fully heat the engine and exhaust.
40 plus years no rust or rot. As for exhausts they pack enough combustion byproducts that they are constantly being eaten by acids.

 

[Suzukian]

If you put a piece of wood under the side, or center stand, it will prevent the battery from draining as much (if you haven't disconnected it) If you have it on a tender check the fluid level as sometimes the tenders cause the fluid to evaporate out. If you start the bike once a month, in a dry garage, till the motor is hot, with a few revs, it will dry any condensation in the exhaust, and once it's off, and still hot, you could plug the exhaust to prevent moisture from getting any moisture, or critters in there. I just pull the battery out,, keep in on a tender on and off in the back room,, check the battery with a hydrometer (specific gravity tester) and top it off with distilled water if it needs it. I'm maintaining 3 batteries now, I get about 5 years out of a battery. Moisture in the exhausts acts like a catalysts to make all those acids do their evil deed even quicker.

 

[allojohn]

If you put a piece of wood under the side, or center stand, it will prevent the battery from draining as much)

???? What jiggery pokery is this!

 

[rphillips]

You said Whaaaaat???

 

[Cipher]

???? What jiggery pokery is this!

Charles Hawtery, Carry on again Doctor 1969

 

[bill_face]

Thanks for the input everyone. So it seems from the responses that filling the tank with zero ethanol, fuel stabilised petrol is a good move. Float bowls should be drained either when putting into storage or before starting back up after storage.

Seafoam additive question: I gather this is a cleaner and as it takes a while to get delivered to me I'm thinking I could add this when I return and run it through when i start riding again in the spring.
It seems to work wonders with the carbs and I have been building myself up to do a thorough carb cleaning owing to long-term poor starting and more recent loss of power. With a bit of luck the Seafoam might save me the bother

 

[Suzukian]

???? What jiggery pokery is this!

Batteries drain out of the negative side of the battery terminal when sitting a long time. Where do you think electrons come from?. The potential of Earth ground is far stronger than the Positive Potential. A charged battery are electrons pulled up from ground to fill the positive potential (nature abhors a vacuum) of positively charged plates in the battery. If the charged periodically, those electrons will go back to ground and your battery will be dead. Did you think they evaporated or something? If you do not understand electronics, fine, but that is fact. Rubber sheets work even better. The ground of your battery is connected to the frame, and the kickstand is connected to the frame, this is where the drain occurs. If you disconnect both leads, new battery plastic does not conduct like old ones did, so a battery tender will be more efficient with the terminals disconnected. If you leave the terminals connected, make sure you check your electrolyte level, as that will lower, evaporating out through the battery drain port from the heat the charger creates.

Honestly, I don't really give a crap what you do with your motorcycle, put the side stand with some Borax, in a stainless steel pot. Dumbing down on this forum is tiring.

 

[rphillips]

Thanks Suzukian. I 'm always skeptical of things I've never heard in my 68 yrs., 69 as of tomorrow. I'd never heard this discharge through the Neg. side thing. A quick click on Google showed me bunches of places stating exactly what you said. I love learning, just hope I don't forget it, forgetting has gotten a lot easier to do, these past few yrs.

 

[Suzukian]

I turned 65 last November. My head is full of all these things, and just want to pass some of it on, because I feel the sand running out. I like to help people when I can. I enjoy learning even more.

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!

 

[allojohn]

Dumbing down on this forum is tiring.

I'll go with the Borax and pot, thanks!

 

[Cipher]

I'll go with the Borax and pot, thanks!

Pot is legal here.

 

[Suzukian]

Not here, we're still cooking on campfires.

 

[allojohn]

Pot is legal here.

Medical only here right now but we are hopeful....

 

[Grimly]

???? What jiggery pokery is this!

Stops the electrons from rolling out. 'Sobvious, innit?

 

[allojohn]

Stops the electrons from rolling out. 'Sobvious, innit?

To some.. .. but to the unejumacated it's black magic...

 

[Suzukian]

Weed will be legal in Connecticut Jan. 10, 2023. I hope they release all the people in jail for weed related charges NOW! I don't touch the stuff anymore, but back in the late 1970's, I was on my 8th generation Sinsemilla plants, 6" diameter stalks, 14' feet high. All was fine till one day they cut down the forest overlooking the hidden field I used behind my property, and put up a row of McMansions. That really sucked. I smoked, trying to relieve pain from my multiple ruptured discs. Funny thing is when I stopped, I realized it did nothing for my pain, did a lot for nausea, but for me, not for pain. It was nice getting my lungs cleared up and being able to give Cops a hard time when pulled me over, as I don't drink, and knew they had nothing on me, except maybe the speeding charge for which I was about to get a ticket. I always resented the "Where are you headed?" questions. If I am asked that now, I answer, "I don't see how that concerns you, are we done here?". I haven't received a ticket in the last 25 years. I've received a few warnings, but the officers always said that by pulling over so quickly, they appreciated that. I always have my wallet and Reg ready when I drive.

I do appreciate the police though, they never know what nut they might pull over, and for the most part, they are out there and on their own. Except for the few that seem to have attitudes about motorcyclists, it's pretty mellow around here. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they get DUI''s for driving high. The State is advertising "Driving High is a DUI", like crazy now.