Winter Storage Preparation

The trouble that can come from running the engine is water can form in the exhaust and cause the pipes to rust out. Even running 15 minutes I would wager water is in the pipes, but Ed has had no problems, so maybe I'm wrong.
It's amazing how much water is formed running a gas engine and despite the fact the exhaust is 400 degrees or whatever, still water will be in there.

No rusted pipes on my KZ650, and mine are still the originals. For the first couple minutes a little condensation comes out of the little drain holes near the front of the mufflers, but that soon stops as things heat up. Ed

Ed, When talking about the transmission oil, the transmission doesn't get warmed up to operating temps which effects over all oil temp. Yes I know the engine and transmission share the same oil on most modern day motorcycles.

I would run the C14 long enough for the radiator fans to come on....temp gauge said it was up to temp. But still got condensation in the oil. For me no start just to start. If started it's going at least 10 to 15 miles. During the summer, no issue.
The 900, start to tinker...let run for 10-15 minutes. Got condensation in the oil.

I live in an area with relatively low humidity. I forgot to add I throw a tender on the batteries every couple of weeks or so, Big snow storm coming so I'll be doing something else in the garage.

I wonder if the reason is that the larger engines have considerable more mass (of metal) to heat up, so it takes longer to bring the oil and metal up to full operating temperature? Maybe my KZ650 experience is only normal for the smaller engines? Ed

I have a 1980 KZ 750 LTD that is used daily, and ever since I joined this forum, I have followed 650Ed advice and never had a problem with winter storage, before I used to drain the carbs and stabilize the gas, and then when spring time came, it did not start as easy as I wanted and had to clean the carbs again.

mopguy wrote: I have a 1980 KZ 750 LTD that is used daily, and ever since I joined this forum, I have followed 650Ed advice and never had a problem with winter storage, before I used to drain the carbs and stabilize the gas, and then when spring time came, it did not start as easy as I wanted and had to clean the carbs again.

WEll than keep taking Eds advise

Ed is right more often than most anyone else.

Dave

650ed wrote:

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When it comes to the KZ650's Ed's got a clue I mean who else has a one owner 39 y/o unmolested bike that still looks like his.





Ed you got a smuge on your pipe under the foot peg. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

:laugh: Thanks! Ed

Everyone is free to do what they want but running the bike in the winter will result in condensation inside the mufflers. There are drain holes for the water but I think running the bike can do more harm than good.

BTW, I don't have a Kawasaki owners manual but my old Suzuki GS manual calls for adding fuel stabilizer, running the engine until the stabilizer is inside the carbs, using fogging oil shoot a strong blast down each carb throat after removing the air cleaner, then stop the engine. Then they suggest changing the oil and refilling oil all the way up to the top of the filler opening, and put two tablespoons of oil in each cylinder and then turn over the engine to distribute it. The engine is to be turned over every week by putting the engine in 5th gear and turning the wheel. Remove battery and put it on a tender, deflate the tires down to 20 psi and support the bike so the tires are off the ground,

Nessism wrote: Everyone is free to do what they want but running the bike in the winter will result in condensation inside the mufflers. There are drain holes for the water but I think running the bike can do more harm than good.

I may pull the meg and point the collector out the garage door, and fire the mutha up! Fifteen minutes should be enough to wake up the hood and melt a little snow. :woohoo: