Winterizing question

dysign · 11-28-2012, 10:41 AM

Hello to all and thanks in advance to your answers to this question.

Does anyone squirt oil into the cylinders turning the rear wheel to coat the cylinder walls, piston rings and valve seats?

The question is how much oil should one quirt into the cylinders for the winter?

1/4 oz or 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz or 1 oz into each cylinder.

**Jared** · 11-28-2012, 11:57 AM

Fogging oil is usually a spray, right?

I have never done this because of how dry my state is and because I store my bike inside, but I have seen it done and usually it just a good 10 sec spray and you're done. No quantity measurements taken.

dysign · 11-28-2012, 12:02 PM

Actually I heard that squirting oil in with a turkey baster was one of the preferred ways to keep those cylinders nice and oiled then turning the motor by hand by turning the rear wheel in high gear to coat everything.

**ringadingh** · 11-28-2012, 12:57 PM

All I do is make sure there is fairly clean oil in the bike, (within a couple hundred miles) and top off the gas tank, put the cover on the bike and wait for March. I will also put the battery charger on once or twice over the winter for a few hours while Im working in the garage.

**MAS Tequila** · 11-28-2012, 01:00 PM

What is this winterizing you speak of?

MT

**crazygene49** · 11-28-2012, 01:04 PM

I just park mine in the garage and make sure the kickstand is down. Sometimes I pull it out and ride it.

johnberryus · 11-28-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazygene49

I just park mine in the garage and make sure the kickstand is down. Sometimes I pull it out and ride it.

+10000

Replace sometimes with everyday.

dank · 11-28-2012, 02:09 PM

I just change the oil, add sta-bil to the gas, and hook up a battery charger. Usually store mine in an unheated garage from mid-December on through mid-March that way. No issues.

**Top Cat** · 11-28-2012, 02:32 PM

I check the coolant to make sure it is set low enough to not freeze down to -40F, then add Stabil to gas and put them on the smart charger. I don't change the oil till spring. They are stored in an unheated garage.

I see no need for you guys from the south to comment in a thread about winterizing a bike

**MAS Tequila** · 11-29-2012, 06:56 AM

The surest way to get a comment is to make the comment you did.

It was 82 here yesterday and I cruised up the beach about 50 miles and back.

MT

Here in the south we may have lost the first battle. But the war isn't over yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

I check the coolant to make sure it is set low enough to not freeze down to -40F, then add Stabil to gas and put them on the smart charger. I don't change the oil till spring. They are stored in an unheated garage.

I see no need for you guys from the south to comment in a thread about winterizing a bike

**Top Cat** · 11-29-2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

The surest way to get a comment is to make the comment you did.
.

Yup, works almost every time.

I put a

at the end so you rebels would know the comment was in jest.

waterman · 11-29-2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Yup, works almost every time.

I put a

at the end so you rebels would know the comment was in jest.

Tim, I'll take your

and raise it to

for MAS.

spoon059 · 11-29-2012, 01:51 AM

A lot depends on where you are located and how long your bike will sit. Its always been my experience that engines always last longer when they are used, not winterized. I am fortunate enough to live in the DC area, where its usually cool enough and dry enough to get in a 30 mile ride at least once a month in the winter. That keeps oil circulated, gets the battery a little charge, keeps the rubber seals and tires moving and keeps the gas from going stale.

I usually change the engine oil and start putting fuel stabilizer in the tank in the fall. Whenever I get a chance, I take her out for a spin and circulate the fluids. Generally, for a short 3 month winter overlay, its not neccessary to fog the cylinders. If you feel the need though, I would suggest you go to a local hardware store and look at the lubricants sold in the small engine section. There are cans and cans of fogging oil meant for lawnmowers, snowblowers and lawn tractors with instructions on how to use. Usually you remove the spark plug, spray directly into the cylinder for a couple seconds, then manually turn the crank.

Pitchinguy · 11-29-2012, 02:27 PM

With heated gear, if there's no ice on the road, I'm good. Here in Va the winters, on average, have been pretty mild the past few years & I've been able to ride often enough to avoid winterizing. I don't think I've gone longer than 3 weeks in the last 7-8 years. My bike lives in my insulated garage but I do keep the battery tender hooked up during cold weather & an oz per gal of Seafoam in the gas.

redjay · 11-29-2012, 04:59 PM

Never fogged the engine yet or used fuel stabilizer and my bikes have been stored for 5 months over the Canadian winters.
I change the oil before putting the bike away in an unheated shed.
I take the battery off and store it in the basement and charge it once a month.
Never had a problem starting the bike in the Spring.

11-28-2012, 10:41 AM	#1
dysign Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 18	Winterizing question Hello to all and thanks in advance to your answers to this question. Does anyone squirt oil into the cylinders turning the rear wheel to coat the cylinder walls, piston rings and valve seats? The question is how much oil should one quirt into the cylinders for the winter? 1/4 oz or 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz or 1 oz into each cylinder. __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad Fi VBA02106 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-28-2012, 11:57 AM	#2
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Fogging oil is usually a spray, right? I have never done this because of how dry my state is and because I store my bike inside, but I have seen it done and usually it just a good 10 sec spray and you're done. No quantity measurements taken. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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11-28-2012, 12:02 PM	#3
dysign Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 18	Actually I heard that squirting oil in with a turkey baster was one of the preferred ways to keep those cylinders nice and oiled then turning the motor by hand by turning the rear wheel in high gear to coat everything. __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad Fi VBA02106
	0

11-28-2012, 12:57 PM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	All I do is make sure there is fairly clean oil in the bike, (within a couple hundred miles) and top off the gas tank, put the cover on the bike and wait for March. I will also put the battery charger on once or twice over the winter for a few hours while Im working in the garage. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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11-28-2012, 01:00 PM	#5
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	What is this winterizing you speak of? MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-28-2012, 01:04 PM	#6
crazygene49 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 1,856	I just park mine in the garage and make sure the kickstand is down. Sometimes I pull it out and ride it. __________________ Gene Chestnut Dover, DE USAF 1968-1995 VBA#01761 2007 Nomad 1600 Black and Titanium
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11-28-2012, 02:09 PM	#8
dank Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,595	I just change the oil, add sta-bil to the gas, and hook up a battery charger. Usually store mine in an unheated garage from mid-December on through mid-March that way. No issues. __________________ Dan K Member #100 2009 ST1300: Performance exceeding even Victory riders' boasts.
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11-28-2012, 02:32 PM	#9
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	I check the coolant to make sure it is set low enough to not freeze down to -40F, then add Stabil to gas and put them on the smart charger. I don't change the oil till spring. They are stored in an unheated garage. I see no need for you guys from the south to comment in a thread about winterizing a bike __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Last edited by Top Cat; 11-28-2012 at 02:36 PM.
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11-29-2012, 01:51 AM	#13
spoon059 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 261	A lot depends on where you are located and how long your bike will sit. Its always been my experience that engines always last longer when they are used, not winterized. I am fortunate enough to live in the DC area, where its usually cool enough and dry enough to get in a 30 mile ride at least once a month in the winter. That keeps oil circulated, gets the battery a little charge, keeps the rubber seals and tires moving and keeps the gas from going stale. I usually change the engine oil and start putting fuel stabilizer in the tank in the fall. Whenever I get a chance, I take her out for a spin and circulate the fluids. Generally, for a short 3 month winter overlay, its not neccessary to fog the cylinders. If you feel the need though, I would suggest you go to a local hardware store and look at the lubricants sold in the small engine section. There are cans and cans of fogging oil meant for lawnmowers, snowblowers and lawn tractors with instructions on how to use. Usually you remove the spark plug, spray directly into the cylinder for a couple seconds, then manually turn the crank.
	0

11-29-2012, 02:27 PM	#14
Pitchinguy Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Farmville, Va Posts: 424	With heated gear, if there's no ice on the road, I'm good. Here in Va the winters, on average, have been pretty mild the past few years & I've been able to ride often enough to avoid winterizing. I don't think I've gone longer than 3 weeks in the last 7-8 years. My bike lives in my insulated garage but I do keep the battery tender hooked up during cold weather & an oz per gal of Seafoam in the gas. __________________ *2011 Nomad* *VBA #01922*
	0

11-29-2012, 04:59 PM	#15
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,952	Never fogged the engine yet or used fuel stabilizer and my bikes have been stored for 5 months over the Canadian winters. I change the oil before putting the bike away in an unheated shed. I take the battery off and store it in the basement and charge it once a month. Never had a problem starting the bike in the Spring.
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