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Post by newc77 on Oct 12, 2007 21:00:39 GMT -5
???Input from the mighty Dawgs please. In NE Ohio we'll be storing our new scoots for the winter and I have questions about winterizing for 6 months or so of storage. I asked my mech and he says to: not worry about it, either run the gas out of them or fill them up with gas and add stabilizer, not to worry on the oil-change it in the spring, and possibly put a float charger on our batteries. Contrary to some of my personal reading but he is a good mech and knows his bikes. What would the Dawgs in the pound recommend for me to consider? Thanks!
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Post by hillbilly on Oct 13, 2007 0:38:53 GMT -5
Remove the batteries and put them in the garage or somewhere it doesn't freeze (but not in your house) with a float charger on them occasionally (or full-time if you have two chargers). Get some Sta-bil at the auto parts or power equipment center and fill the tank with a proper ratio of fuel/Sta-bil that you have mixed in a separate gas can. Run the scoot long enough that the engine will be running on the treated gas. It won't hurt anything to run it in an engine if you are not sure when you will store it. Refill from the can when you are done to minimize air volume in the tank. Change both the engine and gearbox oils. Remove spark plug. Spray a little fogging oil into the spark plug hole. Crank or kick the engine over a few turns. On a 250 you will want to leave the battery in until you have done this. Spray a little more fogging oil in and replace the plug. If your scoot is liquid cooled then make sure and check the anti freeze. Put it on the center-stand and make sure tires are at proper pressure to help avoid flat spots. In the spring just hook up the battery, check tires and fluids and you are ready to go.  |
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Post by 12string on Oct 13, 2007 7:22:58 GMT -5
Winterizing?...... This is prime scoot'n weather here in sunny Florida. Load em up and bring em on down. Enjoy the ride. Those of you that can't leave the cold we Will be scoot'n in you honor.
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Post by monty57 on Oct 13, 2007 10:05:29 GMT -5
Hillbilly is right on the money. One other thing to remember if you remove the battery, do not store it on concrete. It will ruin the battery. Sit it up off the concrete on the bench or a box.
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Post by WarrenS on Oct 13, 2007 10:45:47 GMT -5
I prefer to change the oil in the fall before putting it up. The reason is that your old oil can have acids in it.
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Post by solarscootdawg on Oct 13, 2007 17:00:30 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I have listened to soooo many tales of the batteries being dead during winter storage around here and it is due to OVER CHARGING. The small capacity batteries in scoots (generally not over 12 AH) will boil off (if liquid), or vent (in the case of AGM/GEL Batts) and self-distruct even with the smallest of so-called trickle chargers. There just is not enough regulation in the units.... Save some grief and try this.... Find a wall-wart charger, you know the type you see in the 110vac outlet for just about everythings... check that it's output is 12vdc at no more than 150 milliamps (mils). Most wall-warts have diodes built in, but I would still put one (diode) in-line with the positive lead (usually red). Hook this wart cluge up to your battery (with correct polarity) and plug it in. I usually leave the battery in the vehicle with the charger clipped on. My pickup trunk started instantly after 4 months under snow this spring with just such a charger connected...I am sure the scoots will do likewise.... Enjoy, Bill
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Post by newc77 on Oct 17, 2007 17:57:28 GMT -5
Sorry friends, computer problems dealyed this thankyou. Thanks to the most wise and excellent Dawgs for the info, and a big smileand handshake to Hillbilly! Tom
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Post by scooterollie on Oct 17, 2007 20:28:10 GMT -5
Just left the S.E. Cleveland area Monday. The weather was beautiful! Plenty more ride time.
Above advice right-on. If you positively won't ever run the scoot for months, might be better to remove the battery if the scoot is stored in an area that will go below freezing. These small lead acid batteries discharge very quickly on standing. A "Float" charger is the only way to go. Many trickle chargers are not float chargers and will not cycle on-off, sensing the charge of the battery to determine if charging is necessary.
When roads are clear and weather decent, I ride during the Winter - usually in the 40s or above.
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Post by newc77 on Oct 18, 2007 8:42:56 GMT -5
Scooterollie: Giving how much I have come to love our new scoots, I may be scooting into winter as well as long as it holds here. Unusually warm here yet, I agree. We live about an hour from Cleveland. If it's decent, I'll probably be out!
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Post by kelvincasper on Oct 19, 2007 15:09:08 GMT -5
Hi:
In NE Ohio also found out that a trickle charger on a timer works. I have my set up for 8 hours a day on the timer. You can get them at Jcwhitney. I ride my bikes through the winter when the roads are clear , I have the cold weather riding gear. I don't care about old man winter. I can ride them in the mid 30's he he he!
Kelvin
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Post by scooterollie on Oct 19, 2007 19:17:59 GMT -5
You can purchase a 1 & 2 amp Black-n-Decker float charger from Walmart for around $18. Have used mine on three scoots.
I would be a little concerned about a trickle charger coming on every day for 8 hours. Many trickle chargers put out continuous 1-2 amps and most scoot batteries are only rated for 7, 9 or 12 amp hours. May not even need 8 hours to fully charge a dead battery with a 1-2 amp charger, let alone maintain a fully charged healthy battery. Batteries can be cooked even with a little trickle charger.
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Post by WarrenS on Oct 19, 2007 20:38:27 GMT -5
I have battery maintainers from JC Whitney. They put out a just enough juice to keep the battery fresh. They won't charge a dead battery. My Pacific Coast had the original battery in it when I got rid of it 11 years later. The voltage always checked out at 12.76 volts.
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Post by kelvincasper on Oct 23, 2007 15:27:46 GMT -5
Hi:
Just wanted to let you know the chargers from Jcwhitney are 1/2 amp and designed for bikes I don't think it's going to cook a battery on a 8 houre timer per day. I already have done this for the previous winter and my battries on both bikes have held up fine without removing them.
Kelvin
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Post by newc77 on Oct 23, 2007 16:16:30 GMT -5
I got on demand float chargers for our scoots from BatteryButler. $15.00 each. They only switch on when the battery charge starts to go down and they shut off when the charge comes up.
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Post by scooterollie on Oct 23, 2007 17:18:07 GMT -5
Kelvincasper;
As long as the charger is a "Float" type that turns on to sense the battery level, charges if necessary then turns off, you are OK. I know 1/2 amp (per hour) is not much but remember these batteries only have 7 -12 amp hour capacities. A 1/2 amp charger full on for 8 hours will put 4 amps charge into the battery. Liquid lead acid batteries do drop charge when standing but not that much in just one day. Each to their own preference but a daily charge is really not necessary, unless something is draining the battery, and may even be harmful, shortening the life of the battery.
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Post by Gary on Oct 30, 2007 9:30:10 GMT -5
Winterizing? What's that??? (Sorry couldn't resist!).
Cheers,
Gary in San Diego
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Post by newc77 on Nov 1, 2007 20:04:54 GMT -5
Lucky Dawg! Snow forcasted next week here in NE Ohio. I am trying to clean out the garage so I can ride my Lance around in circles in there. Ha-ha.
Tom
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