Cold weather storage
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
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Cold weather storage
I will be picking up an 09 Fat Bob in October. Living in the Boston area I'll probably only get a good month out of it before the snow flys. I am going to have to store this bike offseason in an unheated shed. Are there any precautions I should take beforehand? I know I should probaly put stabilizer and a little dry gas in the tank but any suggestions would be appreciated Thanks
you have to have somethign down under it... keep that moistue from rising up... few boards down and some carpet will do it... spray the bikes metal down with WD40 to keep it from rusting, put something in your exhaust pipes to keep the mice out of it, mouth ***** and some charchole under you bike... moth ***** will keep the mice out, charchole (regular old grill stuff) will absorb the moisture with all the temp changes so that moisture does not accumulate (I put down a paper plate on my seat and put them on it for my other bikes that used to store in the shed) move the bike and start it about 1 time every 2-3 weeks to prevent flat spots... i would sugest removing the battery and keeping it in a dry enviroemnt NOT ON CONCRETE or it will ruin the battery... you can get a cheap cover that will work great at wallmart get the XL the biggest one they offer... if you have a paper air filter i would also remove this as well and use a towel to stuff into your throttle body... all this may seem like a bit of over kill, but take it frm me... sucks to come out to your bike and hav it as a rats nest! i had a 3 bikes while living at my dads house he only let me keep 2 in the garage with his...so i had to put on in the shed... it was DESTROYED from mice and rust... i do not live in the contry either... (chicago) next year i did the above and it was just like how i left it come spring! fired right up! ooh ya if you hit your 1000 mile, i would wait till the spring to do your service, or else you will have to just swap out the brand new fluids you put in now in the spring cause moisture will build up in your motor from sitting... hope this helps
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
Just for the record, there are ridable days every single month in the Boston area. There might only be a few in January or February, but there are always some. (Ridable meaning above freezing and dry pavement.) Just sayin...
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
Put 800 miles on between Jan and April.
Above freezing and dry roads works for me (sun helps).
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Leave the battery in an use a Battery Tender Jr. They keep the battery at full charge,I have been using mine for 5 years.Keep the battery terminals clean and you should be fine.Look at BatteryTender.com.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 33
From: Upstate NY
I have a J&S Jack that I use for maintenance and cleaning during the year. I pull the battery and put the bike on the jack for winter storage. I got a deal on an HD cover that keeps the dirt off but still breathes. No tire flat spots and I just roll it out in the spring and change the fluids, toss in the battery, and I am off and running.
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you have to have somethign down under it... keep that moistue from rising up... few boards down and some carpet will do it... spray the bikes metal down with WD40 to keep it from rusting, put something in your exhaust pipes to keep the mice out of it, mouth ***** and some charchole under you bike... moth ***** will keep the mice out, charchole (regular old grill stuff) will absorb the moisture with all the temp changes so that moisture does not accumulate (I put down a paper plate on my seat and put them on it for my other bikes that used to store in the shed) move the bike and start it about 1 time every 2-3 weeks to prevent flat spots... i would sugest removing the battery and keeping it in a dry enviroemnt NOT ON CONCRETE or it will ruin the battery... you can get a cheap cover that will work great at wallmart get the XL the biggest one they offer... if you have a paper air filter i would also remove this as well and use a towel to stuff into your throttle body... all this may seem like a bit of over kill, but take it frm me... sucks to come out to your bike and hav it as a rats nest! i had a 3 bikes while living at my dads house he only let me keep 2 in the garage with his...so i had to put on in the shed... it was DESTROYED from mice and rust... i do not live in the contry either... (chicago) next year i did the above and it was just like how i left it come spring! fired right up! ooh ya if you hit your 1000 mile, i would wait till the spring to do your service, or else you will have to just swap out the brand new fluids you put in now in the spring cause moisture will build up in your motor from sitting... hope this helps
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Oct 15, 2011 08:46 AM
