Winter is coming

Nettar · Post by **Nettar** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:45 am

Okay, I admit, I'm something of a wimp.
While having my first cup of coffee this morning I looked at the thermometer and saw 33 degrees and decided to take the car to work this morning as opposed to the Stella.
I've not given up. I'm sure that I'll ride her at least through Thankisgiving but, global warming notwithstanding, I'll probably have to mothball her for most of December, all of January and February and most of March.
I've read the owner's manual - a work that rivals the Nixon tapes in omission I must say - and it recommends parking the scooter with both tires off the ground. It also recommends some other stuff which is fairly easily accomplished.
How do you store the scooter with both wheels suspended? A jack under the engine and rely on the center stand for the rest?
The instructions in the owners manual seem to indicate that that is not the way to go, however they do not give very much direction as to what is the way.
As far as winterizing goes I would, of course, close the valves, pull the plug and squirt some oil or WD40 into the cylinder, drain the gas, and put a comfy blanket over her for the off season,
Anything else I should consider?
Many thanks for any advice.

fisher1 · Post by **fisher1** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:43 am

If you don't already to it, treat the fuel with stabilizer & slosh it a bit to mix it up. Then run the engine long enough to ensure the treated fuel is drawn thru the fuel line to the carb. Run the scoot every other week or so to draw fresh fuel into the fuel line / carb & keep the battery charged.

Cover the scoot with a breathable cloth, a cloth paint tarp is great. The purpose is to keep a cold damp air shock from directly hitting the scoot and causing surface condensation every time the garage door or shed door is opened. But make sure it's breathable, not plastic.

If it's a garage, it's best to have a painted floor under the scoot to reduce dampness.

Tack One. · Post by **Tack One.** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:44 pm

I'm in canada, and we too will be up to our necks in winter. would anybody be patient enough to step by step describe how you'd do some of the more technical stuff already mentioned?

by valves are you simply referring to the gas tap? I think I'm going to buy a trickle charger, and try and drain or stabilize all the gas in the tank.

How do you spray stuff into the cylinder and how vital is that to longevity?

Nettar · Post by **Nettar** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:30 pm

To close the valves use the kick start (with the key off) to rotate the engine to the point where it offers the most resistance. This indicates that the exhaust valve is closed (the intake valve will be as well).
I do this stuff for my lawnmower and rototiller - the scoot isn't that much different.
After that is done remove the spark plug and squirt some WD 40 into the cylinder. This just inhibits rust from ambient moisture.
Run the scoot completely out of gas before you do any of this. A little (and I do mean a little) squirt of WD 40 into the gas tank after that's done would not be a bad idea.
The trickle charger for the battery is something I'll probably spring for.
Mostly I'm concerned with getting both the tires off the floor. Given some of the recent posts about stressing the center stand I'm a bit reluctant to use a block of some sort under the engine and the center stand to accomplish this but I can't figure out where else to support the scoot north of the engine.

Nettar · Post by **Nettar** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:34 pm

Sorry, be sure to replace the plug after you spray the WD 40 into the cylinder. Sometimes I get ahead of myself.

Nettar · Post by **Nettar** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:47 pm

Here I go again.
One more thing. No matter what your mileage is I'd strongly recommend dumping the oil and replacing it with fresh before starting it again in the Spring.
I'll leave you alone now.

Tack One. · Post by **Tack One.** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:35 pm

brilliant, thanks a lot. really appreciate it.

I figure I have between 3-6 good weeks left of riding up here before it gets really unpleasant.

vwgrl1999 · Post by **vwgrl1999** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:01 pm

I've been riding a scooter for 5 years now and, while I've always parked my scoots inside over the winter, I've never bothered to get them up off of both wheels.

All I do every fall is change the oil, wash the scoot, remove the battery from the scoot and put it on a trickle charger, change the spark plug (usually just cuz it's due to be changed!), fill the tank w/gas and a bit of stabilizer and then tuck them away in the garage.

It seems like every winter we get a 60 degree day or two in Jan or Feb and I like to be able to take full advantage of that by having the scoot rideable at the drop of a hat!

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 11:54 pm

What should be done regarding tires is keep them both off of concrete.

Simply slide a square of three ply plywood or any thin slice of wood under the rear tire.....thats all there is to it, easy, peasy. obviously the center stand keeps the front tire off the ground.

Rob

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:24 am

when I finally call it quits and decide to pull it inside the patio here's what I'm planning to to...

treat gas with Sta-Bil ethanol marine stabilizer at the 'seasonal storage' dose, treat the gas with a fuel system cleaner, remove the battery & trickle charge it, slightly overinflate the tires, run the fuel bowl dry; every so often I will open the patio door and kickstart the engine and let it run for @ 5-10 minutes...

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:14 am

Robbie wrote:What should be done regarding tires is keep them both off of concrete.

Simply slide a square of three ply plywood or any thin slice of wood under the rear tire.....thats all there is to it, easy, peasy. obviously the center stand keeps the front tire off the ground.

Rob

What is the benefit of putting the rear tire on a sheet of plywood?

Max

double-o-soul · Post by **double-o-soul** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:27 am

kmrcstintn wrote:when I finally call it quits and decide to pull it inside the patio here's what I'm planning to to...

treat gas with Sta-Bil ethanol marine stabilizer at the 'seasonal storage' dose, treat the gas with a fuel system cleaner, remove the battery & trickle charge it, slightly overinflate the tires, run the fuel bowl dry; every so often I will open the patio door and kickstart the engine and let it run for @ 5-10 minutes...

why are you using the marine stabilizer? isnt/shouldn't the regular ole sta-bil good enough?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:07 am

Maximus53 wrote:
Robbie wrote:What should be done regarding tires is keep them both off of concrete.

Simply slide a square of three ply plywood or any thin slice of wood under the rear tire.....thats all there is to it, easy, peasy. obviously the center stand keeps the front tire off the ground.

Rob
What is the benefit of putting the rear tire on a sheet of plywood?

Max

For storage purposes it is best to keep the tire off of concrete.
This, because if left on concrete the tire will develop cracks between the treads, sometimes extending into and exposing the cord.

As for the 'why does it do that?'......I don't know.....evidently some type of reaction takes place.
Same thing happens to car tires left stationary on concrete garage floors for winter storage........we always park them on 12" tile squares.

Rob