What did you do in your garage today..?

If you really want to be warm fast and cheap, the first step is make a tent in the garage with some poly (similar to a temp spray booth). That greatly reduces the volume to be heated and slows down air exchanges. Throw in a 15A electric forced air heater and while the heater needs to be on all the time when you're working, it will be quite comfortable.

It sounds like PP may have open rafters. If so, he should have lots of ventilation for this propane heaters but also it means getting the garage up to temp isn't really possible as new cold air is being brought in in huge quantities. I've insulated a commercial parking garage before from the bottom. We put up wires perpendicular to framing to keep batts from falling, installed batts, installed poly, then boarded. Technically you shouldn't leave the poly exposed but if money was tight and you were careful with flame, board could be phase two.
If you’ve got open rafters you can spray foam the underside of the roof sheathing and have all that storage space up there but only if it’s a detached garage. If it’s attached the spray foam is required to be covered with a non combustible material, typically drywall.
 
Years ago I knew a guy who had the best set up...
'Had a walk-out with big sliding glass patio doors from his basement and would just bring his bike into the house for the winter.
'Could tinker on his bike in his underwear.
 
When you look at the cost per sq.ft.’ Of housing in the GTA, finishing your garage to make it usable year round is a good investment and a no brainer to me.
 
What year is the KTM? Have you inspected/replaced the bendix bushings?
2017. Te300

For the Kickstart?

I know they have a short bolt that has a tendency to break. When I get in there to inspect the clutch, I'll likely drill and tap it for a longer bolt.

I almost never use the Kickstart.

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I don't trust those heaters... 'Buddy used to use one before the diesel heater.
After a while I could "taste" the fumes or whatever that thing was emitting... Ewww.
On a similar note, I put a smoke/CO in my garage to give me a warning before any garage fire gets really established. It's a normal CO detector and not a low-level detector. I was running a car in the garage with all doors closed for close to 20 minutes while working on things. Not only did the CO sensor not alarm (which should happen around 70ppm), it didn't even give a warning for rising levels. I have no idea on the level reached. Garage smelled like exhaust.
 
Years ago I knew a guy who had the best set up...
'Had a walk-out with big sliding glass patio doors from his basement and would just bring his bike into the house for the winter.
'Could tinker on his bike in his underwear.
@Brian P bought his house for this reason. Easy access from garage to basement where more involved repairs are dealt with.
 
If you’ve got open rafters you can spray foam the underside of the roof sheathing and have all that storage space up there but only if it’s a detached garage. If it’s attached the spray foam is required to be covered with a non combustible material, typically drywall.
I am not sure that's true our house has an attached garage with exposed spray foam under the bedrooms above and passed all inspections. Canada doesn't require the spray foam covered.

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I am not sure that's true our house has an attached garage with exposed spray foam under the bedrooms above and passed all inspections. Canada doesn't require the spray foam covered.

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I spray foamed the rim joists in my unfinished basement and the building inspector made me put drywall 2’ minimum around the perimeter of the basement. Guess it depends on the inspector. Unless the garage is not considered living space and there is a fire separation between the garage and living space( bedroom) behind the spray foam?
 
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Just looked it up...
Ontario building code requires foam be covered with a thermal break... ie drywall

Edit to add: in any occupied area.
 
Last edited:
Just looked it up...
Ontario building code requires foam be covered with a thermal break... ie drywall
Sort of. Any foam insulation within the building envelope must be covered with a thermal break. If the space is unconditioned (eg an attic), it looks like that is often considered outside the envelope. A heated garage with roof deck insulation is riding the thin edge of the definition and probably falls to the local inspector to make the call.
 
2017. Te300

For the Kickstart?

I know they have a short bolt that has a tendency to break. When I get in there to inspect the clutch, I'll likely drill and tap it for a longer bolt.

I almost never use the Kickstart.

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No the E-starter bendix. They can fail and cause damage to the cover and should be checked for wear. Easy/cheap fix, just a wear item to check that some don't think about. Upgraded bushings are brass.

 
The electric start on my 13 is pure garbage. Hoping the new one is good cuz it doesn't have a Kickstarter

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They seem to have perfected it in 17 as I’ve seen lots since then just like my 18 and it starts the instant the button is pressed. Love it.
 
They seem to have perfected it in 17 as I’ve seen lots since then just like my 18 and it starts the instant the button is pressed. Love it.
Hope so the fuel injection should make sure it hits right away as well. Maybe I can get to ride it next month will be interesting to see the difference. Supposedly less power but smoother etc.

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On a similar note, I put a smoke/CO in my garage to give me a warning before any garage fire gets really established. It's a normal CO detector and not a low-level detector. I was running a car in the garage with all doors closed for close to 20 minutes while working on things. Not only did the CO sensor not alarm (which should happen around 70ppm), it didn't even give a warning for rising levels. I have no idea on the level reached. Garage smelled like exhaust.
You might be surprised at how clean modern engines run. Remember DriveClean? My CO levels were extremely low.
 
On a similar note, I put a smoke/CO in my garage to give me a warning before any garage fire gets really established. It's a normal CO detector and not a low-level detector. I was running a car in the garage with all doors closed for close to 20 minutes while working on things. Not only did the CO sensor not alarm (which should happen around 70ppm), it didn't even give a warning for rising levels. I have no idea on the level reached. Garage smelled like exhaust.
My Camaro sets off the CO detector in the garage in about 20 seconds if the door is closed

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'Not my garage, but a buddy's workshop.
The kind of guy you seems to know everything about bikes and talks about swapping engines and rebuilding forks like it's nothing... Always has more than one project underway...

'Went over the other day to check up on a project...
1972 Honda I have forgot what model (CB350F?), but he told me it's the smallest displacement 4cyl. ever made.

Coming along nicely...

BoSet8w.jpeg


nRDSKc4.jpeg
 
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