Winter Storage

Hey guys, Ready to shut down for the winter. Mine is a 85 Maxim 700N, 2 yrs ago, when I got it out of storage, I had the floats stick and flood the crankcase with gas. Which led to my total resto-mod, but anyway, now have a rebuilt carb and petcock. My question is... at what setting should I leave the petcock while it rests over 3 or 4 months of winter ? Not sure if it matters to be set at Prime, Vac, or Res. And any thing else other than fuel stabilizer that I should know about storage ? Thanks

 

If it's a vacuum petcock leave it "on" (provided it doesn't leak). Fill the tank with premium gas and add stabilizer. Run it for a bit to get the fuel through the system. Then shut it down and pull the battery. Best to keep it indoors on a tender.

 

not on prime that can cause free flow of fuel.
I do my last few tanks of gas on non ethanol high test gas and store it. that way i do not have to add stabilizer.
change the oil and filter to remove any oil acids that have built up from your last change. I go with winter wt oils
you can remove battery and store it in a warmer place with a battery maintainer on it

 

Yes and don't leave battery on concrete floor, on block of wood. And we'll ventalated area.

 

One other thing that you can do is remove the spark plugs and add an ounce or two to each cylinder. Turn over the enengine a few times. Reinstall the plugs. Also put a cork in each muffler hole to keep out the mice. We need to make this a sticky these questions get asked every year .

 

from owners manual

 

One thing I do is besides Stabil , I pull the fuel line off petcock, put a plug on nipple and plug line ( this way I know no chance carbs leaking) I also drain float bowls. But I add Marvel into fuel line , and plug line. I also put a little bit mixed with Stabil /Marvel into the cylinders . In spring all you do is drain fuel bowls, reconnect fuel line to petcock, reconnect a fully charged battery , turn petcock to PRI and set to full enrichment bike should start right up.

 

Who does that with the gas tank? I mean, I can see why... rust and all.

 

That was once true, back when batteries had wooden cases.

 

store it? what if i get the urge to ride in February?
maybe throw a sheet over it, clean the bugs of the helmet

 

Not up here ... February usually brings temps close to or below zero. Brrr.

 

Wooden cases? Like, instead of plastic on the outside it was wood? Was that just because it was non conductive? I did a cursory search of it and just found a bunch of steam punk ish bs (cool aesthetically, but ridiculous from a functionality standpoint) or phone cases.

 

Yes. In part because of non-conductivity, and in part because plastics hadn't been invented yet. Rechargeable lead-acid batteries have been a thing since the late 19th century (and ordinary batteries for a fair bit longer).

This is one like what would have been used in a Ford Model T

 

Very cool, I was just assuming they would have used metal lined with rubber or something, or maybe a bunch of potatoes.

 

Bakelight was another material that was used.

 

Why do you drain bowls in the spring if you did it once in the fall?

 

Thanks guys, all good advise, did not know about wooden batteries, something every day

 

I fill bowls with a mixture of Marvel/ Stabil after I drained fuel. This way nothing dries out over winter.

 

I've lived in climates where bike is typically stored November to early March, so about 3-5months. My routine for 30+ years of ownership, hasn't failed me yet, and still running well:

Wash bike
Change oil
Check and clean spark plugs
Fill tank with non alcohol unleaded gas, along with Stabil
drain through bowl or run bike to get gas/Stabil into the carbs
Top off gas tank to bottom of filler sleeve, and spray WD40 cloud in small air gap keep tank from rusting
Set petcock to "run" - (it has been rebuilt)
Park in garage
Check level of battery, add distilled water if necessary, and attach battery minder
For years I covered exhaust, but gave that up (I don't have mice problems in my garages)
Cover with a motor cycle cover

In the spring:
Check tire pressure
Check oil (just to make sure no gas leaked in)
Start the bike
Add an ounce of Seafoam to first few gas tanks. I always run unleaded without alcohol.

Hasn't failed in 30 years, and still running very well. Last year we had a warm day in January, so I started it up and ran it for 10 minutes to circulate fluids, but normally haven't done that.

I'm intrigued by the disconnect and cap off gas line, and fill carbeurators with Marvel/Stabil. May try that this year as insurance against sticky floats. The old girl is getting...well older....

 

By pulling and capping petcock it is extra insurance against having a crankcase of oil/ gas, I have used a 50/50 mix of Stabil/Marvel for years ( both my dad and grandpa tought me this for lawn mowers) .

 

Hey 550XJ, off subject,(well maybe not "WINTER STORAGE" just wanted to see how the wrists were doing ? Guess u seen post of my 2 shattered heel bones ? Surgery 3 weeks ago, stitches out last Monday, Doctor says only about 2 more months in wheelchair and then maybe a month of theaphy. Both of us will be good and ready for spring along with our bikes ! LOL

 

Wagy - Marvel mystery oil?

 

I may complain about the weather here, and there may be stretches of sub 32 temps (a week or two at a clip Jan/Feb), but I'll ride straight through winter as long as the ground is dry. I'm asking Santa for better winter riding gloves this year... Not sure if I've been "Good" enough to score a windshield too... heh...