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I think thsi is my first post in the Motorsports Forum here on WT, so first a bit of an explanation of my question:

I live in North Pole, Alaska (yes, it's real). This is in Central Alaska, about 15 miles from Fairbanks. The winters here reach down to about -50, sometimes a bit colder. Basically, riding my Z400 is not an option. Way too much snow on the ground. Snowmachines and 4x4's dominate in the winter.

So what should I do to my quad for leaving it out in the freezing cold for 8 months? I know, garage it at a minimum everyone is going to say, but I don't have one. I was thinking of getting some plywood and making a top for a small trailer I have and keeping it in that. A friend of mine is moving soon, and looking for a place with a garage. If he gets one I will move it to there, but if not what to do?

What else should I do, besides remove the battery? I've heard both sides about the gas - drain it/fill it up and add some stabil. I am actually even half tempted to take it apart enough to get it up the steps and through the door and keep it in my kitchen until breakup happens in May, but that is an absolute last resort. I was thinking about maybe putting it on blocks and removing the tires so I could keep them indoors.

I've never had to winterize one of my quads before. I used to live in NC, so I could ride all year long, and I sold it before I was stationed in Korea, which was where I was before here.
Any help anyone can offer is greatly appriciated.

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

Personally, i would build a little tiny quad sized 'garage' for it.

I mean with just minimal carpentry skill and a couple hundred bucks of lumber you can get it out of the elements at least.

<b>There are two kinds of soldiers.
Snipers...and targets.</b>
<img src="http://www.creedmoorsports.com/images/SA9121-M21.JPG" border=0>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I am actually even half tempted to take it apart enough to get it up the steps and through the door and keep it in my kitchen until breakup happens in May, but that is an absolute last resort. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Obviously, you are NOT married.

I've had better luck with stabilizer in the gas than draining it, just make certain you run it long enough to get the gas into the carb and fuel lines. Pulling the battery is a must. I don't think pulling the tires is necessary but I would get the weight off them. Snipes idea of building a mini garage is good, if you can't do that make sure you cover it well but look out for field mice, they'd probably find it attractive. If it's going to be in storage for 8 months and assuming it's a 4 cycle, I'd consider a little top oil in the cylinders (Marvel Mystery Oil works well) but don't load it up, you just want a light coating on the cylinder walls to prevent rust. That's about all I do to my tractor. In the spring, I charge the battery, look for mouse nests, then fire it up.

OC

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Obviously, you are NOT married.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
LOL, I didn't even think about it like that. Actually, the <i>only</i> thing I viewed as an obstacle to doing that was how to get it up the steps and through the door.

The more I think about it, the more I want to bring it into my apartment, and there are so many reasons. I would be able to take it all apart and clean/inspect/lube the whole thing, I wouldn't have to deal with the whole hassle of putting it on blocks and prepping the motor, and it would be more secure when I deploy soon. BUT my door is only 35" wide and in order to get it to be able to fit, I would have to remove alot more than just the plastics and wheels. I would also have to remove the handlebars, A-arms and swingarm, and maybe the rear frame. All thing I wanted to do indoors this winter.

I figure I have about 6 weeks, 8 tops, until it starts snowing. Hopefully I'll be able to get it into a friends garage and just have to worry about the motor.

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

hehehe, there is nothing wrong with keeping auto parts in your house. I've been awfully tempted in the winter to bring the Porsche into the living room <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

As for the quad, i would also (if you don't have a garage available) build a small shed to store it in, just be sure to add insulation.....lots of insulation!

If starting it weekly is not an option, then yeah remove the battery and keep it in the house so it doesn't freeze. As for the fuel i'd drain it if its going to sit for that long!

Good Luck

"If you don't get caught everything Is Legal! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>"

_________________
\"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives\"

I've been known to keep Small block chevy's in the house, but never entire vehicles...

LOL

<b>There are two kinds of soldiers.
Snipers...and targets.</b>
<img src="http://www.creedmoorsports.com/images/SA9121-M21.JPG" border=0>

Hey jackb, I also have a Z400 but never had to worry about winterizing it. I just rode it. I actually have a good picture of it in the snow. Anyways, I can't help you out there but I did notice you're near Fairbanks. Are you stationed at Eielson? If so, did you know Godfrey? He just left there to come here.

Go Ugly Early !
No body's ugly after 2:00 A.M.

_________________
Go Ugly Early!
Nobody is ugly after 2 A.M.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I figure I have about 6 weeks, 8 tops, until it starts snowing. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

That may be a little optimistic. I left there last year on the 30th of September, the temp was -3F, it had been snowing every day for a week..not hard but enough to get your attention.

OC

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Are you stationed at Eielson? If so, did you know Godfrey? He just left there to come here. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Yeah, I knew Dirty Mike, He wasn't to happy about havign to leave here

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> That may be a little optimistic. I left there last year on the 30th of September, the temp was -3F, it had been snowing every day for a week..not hard but enough to get your attention.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
-3 ain't nuthin'. I got here Oct. 13 last year. It had snowed like hardly at all in Sept. and was gone almost immidiately. It was clear when I arrived, and I woke up in billeting the next morning to see snow everywhere...for the next 8 months. I didn't learn which roads were paved and which were gravel until May. God, I would love to keep it in my apartment, but it will be such a bitch to fit in the door. I'm going to ask around about keeping it in someones garage. This way I can work on the quad during the winter.

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Yeah, I knew Dirty Mike, He wasn't to happy about havign to leave here <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

LOL, and it's showing here.......

Go Ugly Early !
No body's ugly after 2:00 A.M.

_________________
Go Ugly Early!
Nobody is ugly after 2 A.M.