Author Topic: Midwest Winterizer  (Read 5289 times)

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Offline Hillclimb#42

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Midwest Winterizer
« on: December 22, 2010, 05:18:32 AM »
Hey guys,
  Trapped in the midwest, covered in snow. We have been blasted with the white stuff since December started, having the 6th snowiest (is that a word?) December on record. I must be getting old. Whenever its cold and there's snow blowing around, I can't get myself motivated to do anything. I knew I had to come up with something to catch up on my bike maintenance and get ready for spring or at least better weather. I knew nothing was going to happen in the garage because I am not going to freeze while working on cold bikes with cold tools. I managed to get all freezable fluids from the shop, and like any other Kawasaki-creep would do, brought the bikes into the house too.  :-D  :-D Some plastic bizqueen sheeting and a few moving blankets and voila, heated shop. I had to bring in the little orange bike that the gf rides, so I had some support with the plan.
   I have been cleaning on them , and started my off-season work on them. The gf's ktm105 needed a top-end, the 250 needs a top-end, the 200 needs a head resurface (maybe modded too), and the 500 needs a rear shock revalve/resprung for some traction. I am impatiently waiting on parts like I had a race tomorrow, but refuse to tear them all apart at once. I know how to put anything together that I recently took apart, but give me too much time, or take three bikes apart, its all a major struggle.  Looks like I will be looking out the windows like a fiend until weather breaks, probably around March  :x :x :x.

What would you guys do with the fuel? Is it gonna be alright if they stay warm? Do you guys have any favorite polishes or mild cleaners that you would recommend? Not the pressure washer, BDI, I'm indoors  :-D  It probably doesn't get cold in Cali. Anybody else worked inside the house in the past, or present, that has any tips for the circumstances? At this rate these things will be sparkling like diamonds before I go ride in some good ol' mud, hahhahahahaha...
Kyle

Offline don46

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2010, 08:18:21 AM »
Pretty sure the wife would not let me bring the bikes into the house, maybe thats why she was all for heating the garage. The gas is probably bad already, any of my race fuels are kept in metal containers, the good stuff in your race gas will permeate through a plastic can. Typically I only mix enough gas to get through a race. One of these days I'm going to have to start my winter rebuilds as well, need to sell a couple of bikes, that would cut the maintenance down some.
Live today, for tomorrow may never come

Offline Hillclimb#42

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2010, 01:40:32 AM »
That is a pretty good method of avoiding maintenance. Buy new stuff.  :lol: Thats a fantasy for me, that I wouldn't know how to deal with. I think, for me, being so familiar with my stuff is helping my confidence level. I would like to ride a 4stroke sometime though. they look like they hook-up well, but there appears to be a different technique to it. Sounds like the power comes on different.
  So, I have about 5 gallons of fuel from the bikes that needs burned up. is it alright to put it in a fuel injected pick-up? I was running Cam II in all the bikes, until a mid season fuel issue. Wound up running 98 in stock bikes and 110 in the 500. They seemed to run better with the pump gas. I need to invest in some barely legal race gas for next year, so it seems worth the extra cost and problems with availability.
  It turns out that the little ktm 105 has been ported- like crazy. I had never been in it until recently, but I am impressed with the PO and his decisions. In the past I was told a ported motor with a stock gasket will make stock hp numbers. I assume that I will need to trim the base gasket anywhere it overlaps the porting. Is there a better method than the old exacto blade? Dremel if its metal? Anything that I may be overlooking?

Offline Danger4u2

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2010, 02:20:51 AM »
Lets see, where do I start, hmmm,  do I start with I took off a half day on Monday and went riding?  Or I took a half day off Tuesday and went riding?  Or on my ride Monday it was 69 degrees?  Or on my ride Tuesday it was a new high record of 77 degrees? 
Sorry I just had to rub it in a little.  We've been having nice weather here.  But tomorrow it's going to hit us.  Rain from Cali heading our way.
Then the cold temp from up North might turn it to freezing rain or sleet.

Hey, we can meet up at sandblaster's new shop after the new year, before he fills it up with stuff.

Let the pit bike racing begin!!!
KX 500 Rider

Offline Hillclimb#42

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2010, 03:52:09 AM »
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you guys are lucky that still have good riding weather. I knew it was comin' from somebody, but I still had a good chuckle. :lol: I'm jonesin' for some seat time already. I am crossin my fingers for one of those totally fluke warm weekends that I can ride in. We had a couple that we could have probably temperature wise, but it would have been crazy riding the sand dunes with snow drifts. Last time we had some serious crashes due to everyones' inability to gauge the snow's depths. It was still fun when we rode the snow, but I am looking for some kind of traction for my fix. We have a sand dune park that works great for wet condition riding, but real sketchy with snow and ice. And we have had a good 3-5" on the ground all month.
  Oh yeah, a little indoor mx-action. Looks like he had the equipment to make it happen too. I hope his shop goes well. Our local shop is closing because they couldn't make enough moola. It would be a dream job, and I myself would like to someday find some niche to have an off-road business. It would be so easy to get up and go to work, if it was about bikes instead of my current cabinets and countertop jobs. Good luck, Sandblaster. Keep us posted...

Offline kaw rider

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2010, 04:13:26 AM »
or you could pack up your bike and come up here for the weekend.

http://www.sandboxarena.com/

Offline sandblaster

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2010, 04:17:48 AM »
Thanks guys....
My wife want's to turn my building into a horse arena  :|
Not a chance :lol:
The four stroke engine: That's one stroke for producing power and three for wearing the engine out.

Offline coalpilot

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2010, 01:14:36 PM »
Old fuel, I drain it and dump it in my car, no issues, and it gets used up. Yeah, I'm up north and my bike is now residing comfortably in my spare bedroom. Currently doing the yearly tear down and total overhaul. Every single nut, bolt, washer, screw, spring, etc. gets examined, cleaned or replaced. Oh, yeah, I live in an apartment building with 7 other neighbors. My apt is on the second floor. When March rolls around, I roll out a brand new bike and ride it down the back flight of stairs. There are often fumes of brakekleen, carb cleaner, spraypaint, acetone, etc. eminating from my apt., sink running for hrs washing parts, bigger parts in the shower, dremel tool whining on and on. great times, keeps me busy, keeps the neighbors away. I don't have a garage, I do have a bike hauler but that has two bikes in it waiting their turn to come inside...no heat out there. My kitchen looks like a garage now, can't remember the last time I actually ate at my kitchen table/workbench. Someday I'm sure my landlord will throw me out if he ever had and inspection. ha ha ha.
If you think you can, or if you think you can't...your right!

Offline zzmegad

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Re: Midwest Winterizer
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2010, 03:44:10 AM »
yeah ive also burned old premix through my truck with no problems :-D