Author Topic: Cold temperature storage...... (Read 6106 times)

mike · « **on:** November 02, 2011, 03:26:04 PM »

Here's a question for you guys in the great white north. What's the coldest temp ( please specify f or c) that you have stored your C14 in? Also have you had any problems with the plastic cracking?

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2011, 04:54:52 PM »

You store your C14 in a refrigerator?

Tim · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2011, 05:04:31 PM »

coldest mine has been stored in a unheated garage, zero maybe a little cooler. No plastic problems. This will be it's 3rd winter in the PNW. I live on God's side of Washington State so we get snow and lots of it.

Makz58 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2011, 05:27:17 PM »

Temps down to -40 for short periods no issues at all other than I need to look at my bike everyday when getting in my cage to go to work. Just make sure your coolant is good to go for the colder tenperatures.

mike · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2011, 07:01:21 PM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on November 02, 2011, 04:54:52 PM

You store your C14 in a refrigerator?

Might be moving to North Dakota... about 25 miles south of Canada. Bike would be stored in a unheated garage. It's the really cold temps i was concerened about (-20f & below).

mike · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2011, 07:02:41 PM »

Quote from: Makz58 on November 02, 2011, 05:27:17 PM

Temps down to -40 for short periods no issues at all other than I need to look at my bike everyday when getting in my cage to go to work. Just make sure your coolant is good to go for the colder tenperatures.

Thanks. That's what i figured.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2011, 07:43:08 PM »

Just below 0F outside, probably a bit warmer in the garage but definately below 10 F.

And I have ridden the bike at 11F, including starting it at that temperature.

Brian

Quote from: mike on November 02, 2011, 03:26:04 PM

Here's a question for you guys in the great white north. What's the coldest temp ( please specify f or c) that you have stored your C14 in? Also have you had any problems with the plastic cracking?

T Cro ® · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2011, 07:58:00 PM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on November 02, 2011, 04:54:52 PM

You store your C14 in a refrigerator?

North Dakota winters...... It's going to be warmer in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator than it is outside!

Conrad · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2011, 05:02:35 AM »

Unheated garage for me too. I'm thinking that the coldest that it's been since I got my C14 was ~minus 25f. I doubt that it was much below zero in the garage though, it's unheated but insulated.

mike · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2011, 05:15:00 AM »

Quote from: T Cro ® on November 02, 2011, 07:58:00 PM

North Dakota winters...... It's going to be warmer in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator than it is outside!

There's a reason the garage is refered to as the "big frig".....

...... Thanks for the replies.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2011, 05:21:00 AM »

I don't think anything will crack if it's just sitting there. Doing any kind of maintenance in those temps on the plastic bits could be a bit dicey though. You may want to put the bike battery on a tender.

T Cro ® · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2011, 05:42:11 AM »

Quote from: mike on November 03, 2011, 05:15:00 AM

There's a reason the garage is referred to as the "big frig"..... ...... Thanks for the replies.

With this type of "Cold Storage" I would make sure that the bike is stored with a full tank of fuel that has been well treated with Marine Stabil or Startron..... Service the engine with fresh oil and filter. Remove the battery to a warmer climate and plug into a Batter Tender; or at the least leave in the bike and plug into a battery tender. Store the bike clean and waxed if you have the time; but again at least clean and keep it covered too. Put the bike on it's center stand and if at all able use a small bottle jack or stack of wood under the engine to balance the bike so that neither wheel is in contact with the ground; I don't know for sure if such cold will hurt your tires but why risk letting them be in contact with the slab. That and make absolutely sure that your coolant mix is tested to be at the very least 50/50 or better. Then go in the house grab a beer and wait till spring.

Saw a show once about ND and the trucker and forktruck driver were taking a break to warm up in the Freezer Trailer!

Conrad · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2011, 08:25:30 AM »

Quote from: T Cro ® on November 03, 2011, 05:42:11 AM

With this type of "Cold Storage" I would make sure that the bike is stored with a full tank of fuel that has been well treated with Marine Stabil or Startron..... Service the engine with fresh oil and filter. Remove the battery to a warmer climate and plug into a Batter Tender; or at the least leave in the bike and plug into a battery tender. Store the bike clean and waxed if you have the time; but again at least clean and keep it covered too. Put the bike on it's center stand and if at all able use a small bottle jack or stack of wood under the engine to balance the bike so that neither wheel is in contact with the ground; I don't know for sure if such cold will hurt your tires but why risk letting them be in contact with the slab. That and make absolutely sure that your coolant mix is tested to be at the very least 50/50 or better. Then go in the house grab a beer and wait till spring.

Saw a show once about ND and the trucker and forktruck driver were taking a break to warm up in the Freezer Trailer!

Good tips all T. I'd add one other thing. If your garage is anything like mine, the dang mice like to come inside and make themselves a nice nest somewhere. I put traps ALL around my C14 to make sure that nest isn't inside my bike.

T Cro ® · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2011, 03:27:57 PM »

I've heard that they (the mice) can't stand the smell of fresh Bounce drier sheets? Put them in a few places on and/or in the bike including in the tail pipe.

RIP50AK · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2011, 03:36:22 PM »

I live in Alaska and have stored motorcycles outside over many a cold winter without negative effects on the plastic. I concur with the storage suggestions above. Make certain there is nothing leaning on or against your bike.

Shadowofshoe · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2011, 04:42:21 PM »

Please explain this "heated garage' concept or did this forum change to include Ferrari owners?

Mike

T Cro ® · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2011, 09:42:19 PM »

Quote from: Shadowofshoe on November 03, 2011, 04:42:21 PM

Please explain this "heated garage' concept or did this forum change to include Ferrari owners?

Mike

I don't know about you in Hilliard but in Saint Joseph a heated garage is a must for the human factor. When I go fool around in the garage I prefer it to be without blue numb fingers.

Gearhead82 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2011, 01:25:00 PM »

My garage is "heated" in that it shares a wall with my heated house and is also where my water heater is located, so it only occasionally gets below freezing in there.

AftonJay · « **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2011, 02:31:57 PM »

In regards to the fuel tank, I have always stored my bikes (all carburated) with a full tank with stabil and that is how i stored the connie last winter. But the manual says to drain the tank and run it out of gas, what is the consensus around the forum do most people store full or empty?

Shadowofshoe · « **Reply #19 on:** November 04, 2011, 03:02:06 PM »

Quote from: T Cro ® on November 03, 2011, 09:42:19 PM

I don't know about you in Hilliard but in Saint Joseph a heated garage is a must for the human factor. When I go fool around in the garage I prefer it to be without blue numb fingers.

Jealous of heated garage and where you live.....
Mike

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Author Topic: Cold temperature storage...... (Read 6106 times)