Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[grc]

It's actually best not to periodically start it up while in storage.  Consider if you will how long it really takes to get the engine and the motor oil completely and evenly up to full operating temperature even with a load on the engine riding the bike (around 10 miles on average).  Just letting the bike sit in a garage idling with no load isn't going to do the trick, but it could cause localized overheating of parts due to the lack of air flow.  Most folks who "fire her up" on a regular basis during storage actually do more harm than good.

If you want to crank the bike over to distribute some oil, pull the spark plugs and then leave the ignition OFF and crank the engine by energizing the starter solenoid directly with a jumper from the starter hot wire.  No fuel, no spark, no combustion, therefore no combustion byproducts or moisture introduced to the engine or oil.  Shoot a little fogging oil in the plug holes to lube the pistons and cylinder walls while cranking, then when finished reinstall the plugs.

Jerry.

[Tannehill Kid]

No on the oil change.  How long has it been since the wheel bearings were packed?

[110tHunDer]

 
Hehehehe ...

[FLY-DOG]

No on the oil change.  How long has it been since the wheel bearings were packed?

First post says he's picking up a new bike so I hope they were just packed by the MOCO.  On second thought? 

[Dobeman2000]

Yeah, guessing it has between 0-10 miles on it.  And picking it up with a trailer so the oil change becomes a moot point.

First post says he's picking up a new bike so I hope they were just packed by the MOCO.  On second thought? 

[Twolanerider]

First post says he's picking up a new bike so I hope they were just packed by the MOCO.  On second thought? 

Sealed bearings.  There is no packing to be done.  The bearings may fail prematurely (as so many have in the last couple years) but there's no way to pack them.

[Dobeman2000]

Tommorrow I will be picking up my new Breakout and figured I would be putting it directly into storage, but I know I am going to be anxious to ride it (could get a couple more weeks of 50's and sunny here).  How many miles could I go before needing to do an oil change before storage?  I wouldn't want to put new oil in now and then again next spring after putting 1000 miles on ($100 in oil basically).  Thanks for any advice.

[justplainjim]

I've put bikes into storage with a couple thousand miles on the oil.  Don't worry so much, just ride it..

[110tHunDer]

 
I am glad to see the mods merged these two threads.  Will you be asking if it's OK to wait until 1,001 miles, or if you you should do it at 999, next?

[grc]

I am glad to see the mods merged these two threads.  Will you be asking if it's OK to wait until 1,001 miles, or if you you should do it at 999, next?

I seem to remember one of our members posting earlier this year that his ace dealership service manager gave him the stinky eye because he brought the bike in for his 1000 mile service with a couple hundred extra miles on it.  Everyone should  remember one fact about the typical Harley dealership service department:  there appears to be no minimum intelligence requirement to be employed there, or any requirement for basic technical knowledge as far as I can determine.  Try to avoid knowing too much yourself if you plan to have work done in one of these places, because the experience is likely to cause a severe desire to choke the chit out of someone.

Jerry

[Dead_Reckoning]

Generally this would be a no-brainer, but here is my situation: I have to travel about 150 miles to pick up the new Breakout that I am buying and there is a good chance I will have to ride it back instead of haul it in a trailer. My question is: Should I change the oil on it before putting it into storage for the winter. In other words it might have approximately 150 miles on it before storage.  Thanks for any advice.

I guess it all comes down to How Badly You Want To Ride it.
And Extra $100 or so would not stop me from changing the oil and extra time.
I do my own, use Amsoil 20w-50, Amsoil Severe Gear 75-90, my choice, and HD Chrome Filter. Takes me less that and hour

I rode mine all last Winter In Maine. Plenty of days above freezing with the sun out and no black ice.
:0) - And I also used a lot of Freshwater and S100. Washed the hell out of it everytime I rode it.
Always allowed myself atleast one hour of daylight to wash it.

[longlast]

         I  had same concerns, got 10016 Mi. over 1st. 5000 service. I've been assured riding or storage the oil will hold up to next service.
        If your worried about condencation gitting in to the oil, when your going to ride again go down the street and back shut it down pull the oil dip level if the oil is milky or foamy CHANGE OIL. But the chances of that are slim, unless your bike is stored in a hot-cold place that condencation can occur.
       
        But if you do take it out " the urge gets the best of ya " watch out for the signs.....