lazarus come forth--and bring your brothers
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:10 am
Poor men have poor ways.
spit. I resemble that remark sometimes--
but, did you
Ever catch a break.
I mean, a real break.
Go out to the 'cold storage shed,
Its like the tomb of Lazarus--
where the KLR's have been sleeping for 4+ months;
install two batteries,
check 6 tires.
Hope for the best.
Lets try the Blue OX first.
Drain the fuel bowl.
Install the battery.
The 98 KLR 250 starts on the third kick.
One 01' 650 (install the new lead acid battery),
Drain the fuel bowl,
starts in 15 seconds and does not die.
The 98' 650 with a glass matt battery (battery not tendered or topped off at all--as an experiment--will it survive a tough winter?; did a voltage check via audible horn sound: checks good)
Did not drain the fuel bowl
and it starts in 15 seconds!
It did take a couple of restarts--but it lives!!!!
and tweety is worse than when I parked it!
at 37K smiles, it deserves a little tweety.
All three bikes required minimal time using the choke-enricher and were left to idle w/o choke while the tires were serviced. Initally, all three bikes ridden for a few minutes; all three are equipped with thermo bobs and they were at op-temp of ~200F in <3 minutes @ idle (OAT 44F when we started, 38F when we ended). Life is good.
Then, pick up the tools and get ready for the first ride of the year!
All three bikes ridden for 20+ minutes. The thermo bob worked so well in one bike, the fan had to cool down the radiator! Thank you Bill Watson and Eagle Mike for such a great product.
But, how did this good-fortune happen?
I switched to full syn at the 'winter' oil change on all three bikes.
= Amsoil MC 10/40 with fresh filters.
(I installed the syn in the hopes I would get a winter ride in each month. The snow said--NO!)
I topped off the tanks with Seafoam treated fuel, and let it run through the carbs for about 5 miles each.
The bikes were trailered to the storage unit; The batteries were fully topped off before cold storage/parking but not on a float charge (no electricity) while in cold storage.
I removed the wet, lead acid batteries before the winter killed them--albeit, alas, I was a tad tardy (hang down head) it dipped below zero, cough, -20F before I got that done--no frozen batteries as they had been fully charged in the days prior.
and the reward for my careful, winterizing efforts?
3 running KLR's in less than 1 hour!(ok, I had help. The 14 y/o son.)
To include the 1/2 mile drive to the storage unit, getting out the tools, installing the batteries, returning home to get a second helmet and hard sole shoes.
1 helmet, two riders = not much faith (hang down head!)
Yeah, Lazarus--Come Forth!
At this temp, I expected some slow cranking, but syn/oil in the bikes had a pretty smooth starts. Needless to say, I was very pleased. My 14 y/0 ox =son was equally pleased. Life is good.
My only real sin: I was tardy in removing the batteries and I meant to drain the fuel bowls at the time I parked the bikes--and never got it done. Got the batteries out (late) and then the snow flew, and drifted. deep.
Thank you Seafoam! and those on this list that gave it such strong recommendations.
60F tomorrow and the local forecast shows South Dakota Lazarus' KLR's on the gravel and dirt roads in the afternoon!
revmaaatin. who hopes your KLR Lazarus experience is a good one.