Tuesday, June 18, 2013

How to Prepare a Motorcycle for Winter Storage

2013-03-09 14.29.40.jpgProperly preparing your motorcycle for winter storage can save time, headaches, and money when nice weather rolls around. Since each motorcycle has different designs and specifications, these instructions are designed to provide an overview of the process -- refer to your motorcycle's owner's manual and repair manual for additional information.

For this set of instructions, I'll be showing you how I prepare my 1997 Honda Magna VF750C2 for a few months inside the garage. 

Required equipment: A bucket Car washing soap A sponge A hose and running water Motorcycle oil Oil filter Oil funnel Oil pan Gasoline container with enough gasoline to fill your tank Gasoline stabilizer (e.g. Sta-Bil) Screwdrivers and socket wrench set Plastic bags and rubber bands OR motorcycle exhaust plugs (recommended) Battery trickle charger Motorcycle cover (recommended) Your motorcycle's owners manual AND a repair manual 2013-03-09 14.37.20.jpgAfter your last ride of the season, change the oil in your bike. That way, when spring rolls around, you know in advance your bike is ready to ride.

Each motorcycle is different, so be sure to consult with your owner's manual and repair manual for the specifics (particularly the type of oil, size of the oil filter, amount of oil, etc.) for your particular model.

Needed for this step: Oil filter Motor oil Socket wrench Oil pan Oil funnel Owner's manual and repair manual Instructions:
Typically, each oil change will require these basic steps:
Remove the oil drain plug using a socket wrench, and allow the oil to completely drain from the engine into the oil pan. Unscrew the old oil filter from the engine. Take your finger and dip it in the old oil, then rub some oil around the O-ring on the new oil filter. (Doing this will help it seal properly against the engine.) Screw the new oil filter on, tightening as much as you can with your hand. Replace the oil drain plug, tightening it with the socket wrench. Remove the oil cap (see owner's manual for the specific location on your bike) and, using the oil funnel, pour the proper amount of oil into the engine. Put the oil cap back on, tightening it with your hand.  Note: A friend of mine highly recommends cleaning the carburetors as well, so they don't get gunky over the course of the winter. If you plan on storing your bike for more than 3 months, this idea makes a lot of sense.

For additional information about cleaning your carburetors, visit thickneckarts' Instructable. If you don't plan on storing your bike for more than three months, take a look at the note at the end of this Instructable.


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