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Ezine ready page
Ezine ready page
Posted on April 1, 2006 by Kristopher Gibbs | Posted under Motorcycles
Preparing your motorcycle for the winter
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Getting your bike ready for winter does not mean parking it in the corner of the garage and throwing a tarp over it, forgetting about its existence until spring. You need to perform a proper motorcycle winter maintenance program. This will go a long way to protect the bike and make it easier to get back on the road come spring. The first thing you need to do before getting your bike ready for its winter sleep is read the maintenance and repair manual. This manual will give you tips on winter maintenance and preparing your bike for storage. If the manual does not give exact details it will at least outline basic procedures for you to follow. You can find maintenance in the Trouble Free Maintenance section of your manual Here are a few things you need to do to prepare your bike for winter storage. First clean and wax the motorcycle. This will keep all painted surface and chrome parts protected from dust and moisture. When you park the bike you should put pieces of plywood under each tire, Make sure that the entire bottom of the tires are sitting on the wood. This will protect the rubber from cracking or rotting. Be sure to check the tire pressure and if any tires are low inflate to the proper pressure. You should never park your bike with a flat tire as the tire could crack or rot out. Drain the oil and flush the crankcase. This will keep the corrosive deposits from building up over the years. Now is the time to also replace the oil filter. Be sure to lubricate the chain or the shaft drive with the manufacture recommended oils. This will prevent rust from forming. You need to also make sure the chain is clean before you lube it. Any dirt left on the chain will cause the chain to wear faster and speed up the wearing of the sprockets Old gasoline can plug carburetors and fuel lines. The sediments in gas can also clog fuel lines so drain all fuel from the tank, carburetors and the fuel lines. Check over the wiring by sliding you fingers along all the wiring you can see. Feel for cracks or breaks in the insulation and visually inspect where ever possible. Should you find any damaged casing repair or replace away. Make sure all the connectors are tight and all are corrosion free. Disconnect and remove the battery. You need to carefully disconnect the cables as you do not want to short the battery out. The battery will discharge over the winter months and this can cause the battery to freeze and crack. You should always store the battery in a warm vented place sitting on a piece of plywood to catch any acid leaks. Clean the battery post and the battery cables. Use fine steel wool or a battery cleaning tool. Once the posts are clean apply Vaseline. This will not effect the cable connections when you hook up the battery in the spring. Examine the brakes for any wear or damage to the pads or the rotors. Make sure you top up the brake reservoir. This is also a good time to replace the air filter and wipe out the container it fits in if it has one. Most insurance companies offer special rates for winter storage of you motorcycle so check with your insurance company. So remember to let your insurance company know your bike is off the road. By following these few simple preparations you'll be on your bike as soon as the snow melts in spring. Just add battery, oil, and gas, and of course insurance, and you'll be ready to cruise! About The Author: Kristopher is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - http://www.articleclick.com |
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