Winter is coming up for many of you. That means it’s time to park the Sportster and suffer for a few months until things thaw out.
Follow these steps to prepare your Sportster for winter storage, or if you plan on parking it for more than a month. By following these steps, you will make it much easier to start your motorcycle when you are ready to ride again. The steps listed here are all good practice, but not all required. Those that must be done are tagged as Mandatory.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 30 to 90 minutes
Here’s how:
1. Fuel System (Mandatory): Gas WILL go bad if you leave it sitting. You can either drain the gas tank, fuel lines and carbs, or you can use stabilizer to preserve the gas. When using stabilizer, you’ll need to make sure you fill the tank completely with stabilized gas (to prevent rust), and then run the engine for a little while until the stabilized gas is in the carbs/injectors.
2. Electrical System (Mandatory): Your battery will lose it’s charge if left alone for too long. Remove the battery any check water level. Fill with distilled water if needed. Clean the terminals and outside of the battery with a mixture of water and baking soda. Charge the battery on a trickle-charger until fully charged. Recharge the battery every month. Note: I don’t winterize my bike because I live in sunny San Diego where we ride year round (neener neener!), but my Toy Hauler will sit extended periods. I bought a solar battery maintainer and connect it to the battery when I park the trailer. At 350mA, it works real well to keep the battery maintained.
3. Lubrication (Optional): Change the engine’s oil and filter.Remove the spark plugs and add about a table-spoon full of engine oil to each cylinder, then rotate the motor a few times without starting it. Replace the spark plugs.
4. Plastic, Aluminum, Steel (Optional): Plastic fades, aluminum oxidizes and steel rusts. You can prevent this by washing and waxing the motorcycle. Use a preservant such as Armor-All on plastic and rubber. Cover the motorcycle and leave it in the garage if possible. When you select a cover, do not use plastic. Plastic will lock in moisture and cause rust.
Tips:
- Once a month or so, preferably when you charge the battery, turn the engine over a couple of times to keep everything lubricated and loosened up.
- Keep the bike in a dry area. Someplace that doesn’t get too cold would be ideal.
- Keep the Sporty in a dark place. Sunlight will fade plastic.
What You’ll Need:
- Oil and Filter
- Fuel Stabilizer
- Distilled Water
- Wax and Armor All
- Battery Charger
- Non-Plastic Cover
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