What do you do?

Got a spanner in the works? Post your motorcycle problems here.
RoadTrekker
Posts: 299
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:18 pm

What do you do?

Post by RoadTrekker »

What do you do in winter when you lay your bike up, do you leave fuel in the petrol tank or empty?

If I leave fuel in the tank it can go bad and then have to throw it away or leave it empty but then the tank can rust.

I have to leave my bike under cover in an old barn where the temperature can go as low as -20C

So what do you do?
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zimtim
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Re: What do you do?

Post by zimtim »

I am in the process of rebuilding a XTZ 750 the tank is really quite rusty so did a bit of research and came across this company that do POR 15 motorcycle fuel tank repair kit to remove rust they then suggest using fuel preservative treatment
Abit pricey to buy both but guessing that the fuel preservative treatment would be what you would need and it may last a few seasons.
check them out
Web: www.frost.co.uk
Tel: 01706 658 619
Redmurty
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Re: What do you do?

Post by Redmurty »

I dont lay mine up I ride it, good dose of ACF50 and keep it clean cheers Spud ;)
Life... it's not a dress rehearsal



You don't waste time... you waste yourself
Sprockette
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Re: What do you do?

Post by Sprockette »

Ride it through the winter, you know you want to. ;) :P

I'm an ACF-50 fan too.
Tonibe63
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Re: What do you do?

Post by Tonibe63 »

Why lay the bike up :S
Just ride it or start it every few weeks
Open your eyes and you see what is in front of you, open your mind and you see a bigger picture but open your heart and you see a whole new World.
Phil
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Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 6:46 am

Re: What do you do?

Post by Phil »

drain the carbs...leave the fuel in the tank with a preserver if poss...tyres off the cold floor if poss.... Take out battery and charge...block exhaust and try and keep the mice out the electrics :cheer:

If you do cover it up and start it from time to time.....dont let it just idle. The engine needs to be at operating temprature, just letting it idle wont do this. It will need to be rev'd and held and some higher revs. Just starting it for a bit will just help condensation inside the engine.

I just ride mine :)
bull
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Re: What do you do?

Post by bull »

now i never parked a bike for the winter so i did not know off hand, i looked in an old haynes manual to see what they say.. anyway do all of what phil said above, you can get an fuel stabiliser to add to the petrol. or if you empty the tank spray the hell out of the inside with WD40 or pour a half litre of motor oil into the tank and shake it well to coat the inside and then empty the oil out.
Picklehoffer
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:37 am

Re: What do you do?

Post by Picklehoffer »

What, you mean people put their bikes away for the winter???? :unsure: :unsure:



+1 for ACF50 abuse! :P
trophydave
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Re: What do you do?

Post by trophydave »

Fuel stabiliser.You can get it from lawnmower places or online.I have been using it for years and never had a problem with petrol going off.
Phil
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Re: What do you do?

Post by Phil »

petrol in your tank going off is not really your problem, its the petrol in the carbs. Due to modern additives and so on the fuel goes....kind a sludgy?? (hard to explain) so make sure you drain them.

But yeah, if you can get a fuel stabaliser then get some.

Ive always gone by the moto that bikes are not for "laying up". im not being cocky i just think that more problems start when you dont use a bike.

If your not into winter riding then ACF50) the hell out it, and just try and give it a quick blast out every few weeks. Few blasts round the block maybe? ;)
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