Ok, in regards to storage.......

In the off Season, during the cold Midwest winter. .....

Should you start it up or no?

 

Just let it sleep for the duration. Starting it up doesn't accomplish anything beneficial. Put your battery on a tender. It will be just fine when you wake it up in the spring.

 

What he said.

 

I agree with what he said also.

 

or take the battery out and put it on the bench in the house.

before storage, wash, dry and wax the painted surfaces

change oil ( old oil has water and acids in it which will corrode the inners)

fresh gas and stabil or other conditioner ( or empty the tank and leave it vented)

you may want to pull the spark plugs and shoot a little oil in there, don;t forget anti-seize on the plug threads

if you want lift it up off the tires - I now have a ezup center stand and put a piece of 1/2 plywood under to relieve weight from the tires

an old cotton sheet makes a good dust cover.

If you are moving other stuff in and out of the garage, put up a 4x8 of plywood as a barrier


to start a motor during a storage period will just cause condensation to form in the cases and exhaust- that moisture will start rust as soon as the temps get above 32º

here is a fun story about short drives in cold damp temps

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...udge-1.3779293


Mike

 

You do not want to start it up. It is hard on the engine as their will be minimal oil on the cylinders and will take a few moments for it to be distributed. There are some who will fog cylinders as a primer via spark plug holes before starting after sitting for the winter months

 

NO to start. It is OK however to sit on it and make potato potato noises

 

Best to park it with a full tank of fuel. Dont want the fuel pump and lines inside the tank to dry out.

 

Lol yep


OP, I've had years of success in your same climate (I'm just south of Kenosha in IL), by storing it on a battery tender with the bike elevated, cleaned / waxed and covered and with a fresh oil change. Tank full with Sea Foam added. Definitely DO NOT start it unless you plan on riding for a good long while. If you can't elevate the bike, park it on a piece of carpet. My bikes sleep in a heated garage all winter, the spoiled dam things...

 

Only thing I won't be able too do is elevate her.....other than that it will be oil change all 3 holes ( not sure what the previous owner had done). full tank with stabil and battery tender on/off every 2 weeks. depending on temps. Shed for shelter and a bike cover, sheets are for my ***.....and just dreaming of starting her again in the spring....