Tech Tips - Winterizing/storage prep: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Especially those generators, mowers, and outboards. If your not going to use them for 2 months or more, you need to prepare them to sit. Most 4-stroke bikes and small motors. The gas you get at the pump nowadays just does not stay stabalized for any length of time. Regular maintenence should always be done before storing. How many times have you taken your stuff to the shop for the infamous "carb clean"? Exactly! Since applications are many, I'll stick to basics overall.

First thing to do is add a quality fuel stabilzer to the fuel system. Turn off the gas valve. Now add the stabilzer. Follow the directions for the proper amount. I recommend starting the motor (gas still turned off) and running it out of fuel (the carb). This is absolutely the best bet to insure you won't have a dirty carb next spring. If you can't run it out, drain the fuel out of the float bowl. Some bikes you can't turn off the gas. On these you will have to drain each carburetor by unscrewing the drain bolt at the bottom of the carb. It's best to top off your tank before storing, this prevents condensation from building up and rusting the tank. Fill up all metal tanks.

If your machine has a battery, disconnect it. Charge it once a month with a 2amp or less charger. Small bike style batteries aren't like car batteries, they just don't last if you don't charge them periodically.

Coolant, make sure the anti-freeze is in there! It's not so much the freezing part that you have to worry about, it's the corrosion that happens from old coolant and aluminum engines are very subjective to corrosion.

The biggest concern for storing is the fuel systems. How many times have you fired up that lawnmower for the first time that year and it'll only run with the choke on? Yep, now the carb needs cleaning $$. How about that generator? Haven't run it since last year I bet...If you want it to run perfect when the power goes out, prepare it for storage. A $5 bottle of fuel stabilizer will save you $50-$100 at the shop. You can add the stabilizer at any time.

Any PWC's or other 2-strokes that you store outdoors, or even in a shed should have the motor fogged. Fogging oil is available at parts stores and is sprayed into the airbox while running the engine. Fogging oil is an oil that coats and lubricates all the internal engine parts. All 2-stroke outboard motors of any size should have this procedure performed. It is fairly simple and cheap to do.

Good luck.

--------------------
It's better to be happy than to be right.