How do I "winterize" my HD?

Question

I recently moved. We just had our first snow. What do I do to my bike when i am not going to ride it for the winter?

Answer 1

My advice is to ride in the winter however you need to do a few things if you ride or not.
First of all and most important is to fill up with gas and use an additive. Additive is important. HD sells a great battery tender and it will keep you from removing the battery, I use it anytime I'm not riding. Give your bike a bath and shine it up - again use HD products. They do make a difference. I change the oil and add all fluids. Cover it up and about once every couple weeks or so start it up and get on it holding your bike in riding position to let the oil flow, All the while dreaming of your first ride next spring. Dream on and ride safe.

Answer 2

I would first start by putting some fuel stabilizer in the tank (STA BIL) or another brand. You can find these in any parts store or section. This keeps the fuel from gelling up and varnishing in the fuel system. Read the instructions. You may have to run it long enough to draw it into the sytem. Otherwise you will have to pull off the fuel line, open the petcock and drain your fuel out of the tank and carb.

I highly reccomend changing the oil. If you recently had an oil change done (100 miles or less) forget it. Old oil has acids that can attack the metal in the motor. The acids come from unburnt fuel or deposits in the engine. If you don't change the oil this can turn to varnish or sludge.

Since HD has not even came into the 20th Century for technology there is no doubt that they are not in the 21st Century you can forget about having to check the coolant. HDs are air cooled and have no radiators which means no coolant to mess with. All the more reason to change the oil. Air-cooled engines depend on oil to cool the motor. The oil works harder than in a water cooled engine.

Answer 3

Store it in a garage! Clean it real good and make sure to dry everything. Fill the gas tank and add a stabilizer. Run the bike for a few minutes to get the treated gas through the system. Remove the battery and store it in a temperature controled area and put it on a trickle charger. Replace all the fluids. I rubber band a baggie over the end of the exhaust pipes. This helps keep moisture out. Get a bike cover and use it. Thuis keeps the bike clean and happy. Also take a look in your Owner's manual for storage suggestions. If you don't want to bother with this and have some cash you're not interested in, some Harley dealers will be glad to store it for you over the winter.

Answer 4

Hi, a few things to cover here that make the storage easy..wash and wax the bike then check tire pressures and also fluids make sure they are correct..go to your local auto parts store and buy a can of STA BIL it keeps gasoline usable for an extended period of time..fill your gas tanks up and add the stabile to the gas then run the bike until you can smell the stabile in the gas and its very noticeable...next find a couple of carpet squares and place your bike on them so they are under the tires..then hook up a battery tender to the battery and if you want to you can cover the bike ..in the spring you just uncover unplug start her and run the stabile gas out < be advised they don't run real well with the sta bil so she may be a bit grumpy but run a gallon out of her and add fresh>

Answer 5

Drain the gas, or use Stabile or some other product to prevent degradation of the fuel. Remember to run the engine a bit to work the fuel stabilyzer through the lines.
After the fuel lines are taken care of, pull the plugs and give the cylinders a squirt of rust-preventative (there are lots of brands, I use 3M). Replace the plugs.
Drain and change the oil and filter (just before parking it). Oil degrades even when the engine is not running.
Pull the battery and store it on a shelf in a temp-controlled area.
Cover the bike to keep dust and moisture (dew) off.
Bob's yer uncle.

Answer 6

Move to Florida....we ride 12 mo/yr.

Answer 7

You dont ...what one must do is move to a Florida so they can ride all year long ,

Answer 8

not much you need to do to winterize a bike. i start mine up at least once a week for about 30secs to get the fluids goin!

Answer 9

PUT OUT OF THE WEATHER AN CRANK ONCE A MONTH TILL HEADS GET WARM

Answer 10

rent it off craigslist put it to work if you needthe $, some one needs aride. Butif not just cover with loads a blankets and then tarps and store