Working in the cold?

So, it's starting to climb into the 30's here in Nebraska, and I'm getting the itch to start working on the bike so I can take it out on the warmer days. I have a garage, but it's unheated (rented, so I can't install anything fancy).

So, could you guys recommend a nice heater? My buddy has one that runs off of kerosene, and it's toasty, but there's no way I'd work in a closed area with one running.

Second, are there any advantages/disadvantages to working on a bike that's stone cold? My fear is that the cold would make the aluminum somewhat brittle. At the very least, I'm hoping I can finally dislodge the nut on my front sprocket with a little heat to it, since the bolt would be sub-freezing when I got to it. :lol:

give me a call during the week if you want help busting that sprocket loose.

im off to ace in the morning to get a heater i froze my nuts off all day!

Will do, Plummen. I was lifting the damned thing off the ground the last time I tried. :blush:

You know, that might just do it, kano. It won't heat the whole garage, but it don't have to. :laugh:

as long as it keeps my nut warm ill be happy!

If the garage has electicity an electric parabolic heater similar to the propane one shown does a good job of heating up a closed space without dangerous fumes.

Sunshine and 65f here....think I'll get a cold beer and wash my bike.

arai60 wrote:

Sunshine and 65f here....think I'll get a cold beer and wash my bike.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Same here...

A couple of days ago it was hovering around 6F (feels like -4) Today it's 25, snowing and feels like hell frozen over.

I thought about pulling off my carbs so I could give them a good cleaning but by the time I got the cover off, my hands were bright white and burning.

I'm a big fan of those large, narrow infrared shop heaters:

www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/8714

Although a couple of the electric parabolic heaters from Costco should do the trick nicely.

Propane heater, huh? Wish I thought of that. I shoveled a path to the shed and thought about putting my front wheel back on. That’s as far as I made it.

i spent my day in north omaha hugging a very cold tempermental boiler trying to talk it into running,after about 6 hours it finally saw things my way and stopped leaking all over itself!i need to add boiler psychologist(spell check)to my business cards!:laugh:

Ah the " Fraiser Crane" of heating and cooling.........lol