Winterization Question

Well the weather is getting colder in the mornings 4C (39.2F) Pretty soon it will be time to put the 2 wheel toys away for the season :-( I live in Ontario so we can see temperatures as low as -20C. It's been a while since I had to put away 2 wheels as I'm used to my Ural which has 3 wheels that I ride all year long. For my XJ550 I'm thinking of doing the following:

• Oil Change
• Poor STA-BIL into fuel tank and run to get through system
• Drain float bowls
• Remove battery and put on battery tender in house
• Jack up on scissor lift to get tires off the ground

For the scissor lift I noticed the pipes hang down lower than the oil pan. Is it safe to jack up the bike and put the weight on the pipes?

Any other suggestions / comments?

Thanks,
Drew

 

Sounds about right. Add a teaspoon of oil to each cylinder and rotate the engine a couple times a week throughout the winter. At those temps I'd also lube all cables, brake hardware and the chain assembly. I'd also remove and bag/tag any electronic components such as the tci, igniter, relays and coils that could possibly freeze. Hope this helps.

Oh, and ditto what biggs said...never put the weight of the bike on the pipes.

Gary H.

 

My float bowl drain screw heads on my XJ550 stripped out years ago. Any ideas how to break them free so I can drain them? I've always had to skip that part of the winterization process and just depended on Stabil in the gas.

 

@cgutz: A good penetration oil, a drill bit, the correct size easy out and a little bit of heat from a propane torch to expand the bowl.

Gary H.

 

I probably would not put the weight of the bike on the pipes. If you really want the tires off the ground use the center stand and prop a piece of wood under the end of a fork to hold the front tire up.

 

Plug the exhaust and intake so the critters can't get in.
Don't bother jacking the bike up. the tires won't be damaged from sitting for six months, even in the cold. If you really do waht ot set the tires off of the ground then invest in race stands for either end. Front gets lifted by the steering neck, and the rear by the axle.

 

i put two stroke oil in the gas run it and park it. when any gas evaporates the oil is left. but it gets tinkered with all winter so it never really gets stored

 

@k-moe when you say to plug the intake, are you disconnecting the air box and stuffing rags in the inlet boots? I think i have a critter problem in my garage...
And how about fogging oil? I've read of people doing that to prevent rust. I think it was Hogfiddles.

 

I would stick a carefully cut block of wood into the intake baffle of the airbox. Cork that baby up with something the meeces can't make a nest out of. I wouldn't bother with fogging oil unless you plan to lay the bike up for a year or more, or live in a coastal/ high humidity environment. I run Stabil and MMO in the last ride of the season, so there's a film of oil in the cumbustion chamber anyway.

 

Thanks

 

I put a bit of seafoam in the gas, go fill the tank, ride back and park them on the center stand. Ill see them in the spring unless we have a warm dry day in jan. then, I may fire up and go for a ride.