Discussion
Well the wifes bike is dead again.
It has been standing over the x-mas break just like mine, but hers is dead as a dodo. We are trying to ride more which would solve the problem but as I did my back in in november we haven't been out much.
The bikes are stored in a garage but it has no mains. So an optimate is out of the question. What do you suggest as an alternative? I was thinking one of those cheesy looking solar things for cars in the sunday supplements. I would have to make some slight modifications but would it be safe/man enough to work?
thanks in advance
Kwacker
It has been standing over the x-mas break just like mine, but hers is dead as a dodo. We are trying to ride more which would solve the problem but as I did my back in in november we haven't been out much.
The bikes are stored in a garage but it has no mains. So an optimate is out of the question. What do you suggest as an alternative? I was thinking one of those cheesy looking solar things for cars in the sunday supplements. I would have to make some slight modifications but would it be safe/man enough to work?
thanks in advance
Kwacker
solar panel thingy is probably one of the easier options, providing it is compatible with the type of battery it is charging, they seem to be for lead acid, I know my rvf used to have a gel battery, so possibly not compatible with yours!
optimate could be powered from a 12v battery and an inverter, though it may be too much hassle(charging car battery-not sure how long it would last) and cost (buying an inverter+battey to power it)
12v battery powered charger perhaps? used to have a remote control car/model aircraft one that was variable voltage, though you would probably have to remenber to switch it off to avoid over charging.
is it 6v battery in the bike or 12v?
optimate could be powered from a 12v battery and an inverter, though it may be too much hassle(charging car battery-not sure how long it would last) and cost (buying an inverter+battey to power it)
12v battery powered charger perhaps? used to have a remote control car/model aircraft one that was variable voltage, though you would probably have to remenber to switch it off to avoid over charging.
is it 6v battery in the bike or 12v?
To be honest I am more concerned about the engine of the bike than the battery so every weekend I start our three bikes up and get the oil up to temperature and burn off any moisture in the crankcase. I always think that engines should be run and not stored for months on end. This is why we have never invested in a trickle charger as it makes you lock you bike or car away for the winter and forget about it. If you have ever stripped down an engine that has not been used for a while and see all the frothy white gunk that gets in there where oil and moisture mix then you will understand where I am coming from.
Just leave a cold piece of metal out in the winter and see all the water molecules that form on it. This is what’s going on inside your engine as you leave it and trickle charge your battery..... Just a thought!
Just leave a cold piece of metal out in the winter and see all the water molecules that form on it. This is what’s going on inside your engine as you leave it and trickle charge your battery..... Just a thought!
Cant you bring the battery inside and connect it to an optimate then. Most people think that if your going to put a bike away for winter, give it a really good wash and a quick run. Fill the tank right up (to stop it rusting) and put a fuel stabiliser in. Put an optimate on and rotate the tyres every now and then if you want to (to avoid flat spots)
Yep, the lead plates sulphate up and and the battery can't hold a charge anymore. Trickle charging is the only way to stop this. Leaving it to go dead means you battery bill will be big.
A few years ago I had to pur in 3 new batteries in less than a year. Luckily I kept taking them back to the shop and they exchanged them. Eventually I twigged that a battery charger might be a wise investment (I can be a bit slow sometimes) and now despite using the bike very little at the moment. I have had the same battery on for nearly two years and it is in perfect condition. The charger gets used once a week and is left attached at all times.
It is the best thing I've ever bought for the bike. Being able to jump on after having left it for a while and knowing it'l just fire up, is great. I got fed up of running down the street pushing 200kgs of bike whilst in full leathers!
A few years ago I had to pur in 3 new batteries in less than a year. Luckily I kept taking them back to the shop and they exchanged them. Eventually I twigged that a battery charger might be a wise investment (I can be a bit slow sometimes) and now despite using the bike very little at the moment. I have had the same battery on for nearly two years and it is in perfect condition. The charger gets used once a week and is left attached at all times.
It is the best thing I've ever bought for the bike. Being able to jump on after having left it for a while and knowing it'l just fire up, is great. I got fed up of running down the street pushing 200kgs of bike whilst in full leathers!
Well thanks for the advice and comments.
After charging up the jump start pack overnight, went out and got the bike started in minutes. So decided to go to Maplins and buy one of those solar chargers (and a long bit of wire to reach the front of the garage).
The bike seemed fine and hopefully will hold/top up its charge from now on.
Well let you know.
Kwacker
After charging up the jump start pack overnight, went out and got the bike started in minutes. So decided to go to Maplins and buy one of those solar chargers (and a long bit of wire to reach the front of the garage).
The bike seemed fine and hopefully will hold/top up its charge from now on.
Well let you know.
Kwacker
makatya said:
To be honest I am more concerned about the engine of the bike than the battery so every weekend I start our three bikes up and get the oil up to temperature and burn off any moisture in the crankcase. I always think that engines should be run and not stored for months on end. This is why we have never invested in a trickle charger as it makes you lock you bike or car away for the winter and forget about it. If you have ever stripped down an engine that has not been used for a while and see all the frothy white gunk that gets in there where oil and moisture mix then you will understand where I am coming from.
Just leave a cold piece of metal out in the winter and see all the water molecules that form on it. This is what’s going on inside your engine as you leave it and trickle charge your battery..... Just a thought!
Its a thought but an incorrect one...Your actually doing more harm to your bike than good.Just leave a cold piece of metal out in the winter and see all the water molecules that form on it. This is what’s going on inside your engine as you leave it and trickle charge your battery..... Just a thought!
99% of engine wear occurs when you start the bike, so why start it when you dont need to use it?
And imagine that same piece of metal (like an exhaust or crank case)being red hot in your garage after being run and revved up for several minutes to get it good and hot and then being left to cool in a freezing cold garage?
Well that draws much,much more moisture to it more than the same piece of metal (or exhaust, or crankcase)which has simply been the same temp as the room.
Just fill the crankcase up to the brim with oil to eliminate that moisture, spray some WD40 or similar down your exhausts, seal it with some rag and leave it alone.
podman said:
99% of engine wear occurs when you start the bike, so why start it when you dont need to use it?
I don't want to get into a tit for tat argument here but that is a statistic drawn from TV adverts that want you to purchase their oil!Have a look at this site, http://www.autoeducation.com/autoshop101/oil-chang... Interesting stuff.
As far as 99% of wear occurring when you first start your engine it is questionable whether two same bikes or cars, one that starts daily and one that starts every six months would have extreme differences in engine where. I leave this open as an interesting subject. My thoughts and knowledge are with constant use as I have seen engines that have not been used for a while and the marks made on cylinder liners where high compression piston rings have sat. Just like aircon units that have to be used regular otherwise the malfunction. Fork seals are a prime example as if they are not used then they stick to the fork leg and the next time you depress them they leave a ring of rubber and reduce the capacity of the oil seal.
I said I would not go into tit for tat but have so sorry for that but it is open for discussion.
Yep, engines that are left for a long time do tend to rust up on the bores which isn't exactly great for longevity.
This is seen a lot on aircraft engines that aren't used very often. These engines very rarely make it to their TBO (Time Between Overhaul) which is often around 2000'ish hours depending on type. They often fail long before that.
If you are leaving it for a while, there are a few things you can do to help. A teaspoon of oil down the spark plugholes and bung up the exhaust and air intakes after having warmed the engine up fully to rid it of an moisture helps if it's being left longterm. This is a lot better than just leaving it or running it up every few weeks.
This is seen a lot on aircraft engines that aren't used very often. These engines very rarely make it to their TBO (Time Between Overhaul) which is often around 2000'ish hours depending on type. They often fail long before that.
If you are leaving it for a while, there are a few things you can do to help. A teaspoon of oil down the spark plugholes and bung up the exhaust and air intakes after having warmed the engine up fully to rid it of an moisture helps if it's being left longterm. This is a lot better than just leaving it or running it up every few weeks.
makatya said:
podman said:
99% of engine wear occurs when you start the bike, so why start it when you dont need to use it?
I don't want to get into a tit for tat argument here but that is a statistic drawn from TV adverts that want you to purchase their oil!Have a look at this site, http://www.autoeducation.com/autoshop101/oil-chang... Interesting stuff.
As far as 99% of wear occurring when you first start your engine it is questionable whether two same bikes or cars, one that starts daily and one that starts every six months would have extreme differences in engine where. I leave this open as an interesting subject. My thoughts and knowledge are with constant use as I have seen engines that have not been used for a while and the marks made on cylinder liners where high compression piston rings have sat. Just like aircon units that have to be used regular otherwise the malfunction. Fork seals are a prime example as if they are not used then they stick to the fork leg and the next time you depress them they leave a ring of rubber and reduce the capacity of the oil seal.
I said I would not go into tit for tat but have so sorry for that but it is open for discussion.
However a quick google on the subject brings up plenty of evidence from independant sources as well as oil manufacturers including some logical fact(oil draining from the top end of the engine, having to be circulated by the pump and the delay in that etc) so I do not believe it is questionable at all, have a look for yourself.
Heck you can even buy pre lubers for some applications so it is an acknowledged issue.
Fork seals are rubber/plastic are not made of metal so the comparison is invalid, they become brittle over time and lose there chemical make up..and revving your bike up in the garage wouldnt help them anyway?
Engines can seize up after long periods of time for sure but that takes a year or so, not a few months winter lay off.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff