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Winterization Tips

Old Jan 9, 2006 | 10:29 AM
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Default Winterization Tips

Service Tip: How to Winterize your Bike

Do's:

1. Fill your tank to the top.

2. Put in the correct amount of fuel stabilizer.

3. Run the bike at a fast idle for a few minutes, to make sure all the oil is in the oil tank. **Watch that your exhaust pipes don't run red hot**. (This step is not necessary on Dyna's, 93's and later FLH models).

4. Change oil and filter.

5. Run bike for a few minutes to circulate the new oil. Top up oil to the Full mark.

6. Remove airfilter and it's cover. Spray fogging oil into carb while holding the bike at a fast idle. Continue spraying until pipes really smoke then allow to stall. **If you don't have fogging oil, put 2 tablespoons of engine oil down each spark plug hole. To splash oil around, put bike in 2nd gear and rock back and forth.**

7. Drain fuel from carb. **CV-type carb only**

8. Put cotton rags into mufflers to keep our moisture and any unwanted guests.

9. Charge battery every month with a 2 Amp or less charger.

10. Fill tires to recommended pressure. **Most are 34-36 psi for the front and 40 psi for the rear**

11. Spray bike with WD40 if in a really damp area. **DON"T spray the tires**

12. Check your bike frequently for mouse/squirrel nests. Rodents love to crawl into small spaces and chew on electrical wire insulation. Models with fairings are especially vulnerable to rodent nesting.



Don'ts:

1. Don't run the bike every week!!! Doing so will wash the oil from the cylinders, will result in condensation buildup in your engine (RUST!) and will weaken your battery. (It takes up to 25 minutes at highway speeds to recharge your battery back to the level before you started your bike).

2. Don't spray oil 0r WD40 on your tires.



In the spring:

1. Put in fresh plugs.

2. Clean bike if you sprayed it with WD40.

3. Do a complete safety inspection (lights, brakes, tire pressure, etc.)

4. Go ride......



 
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