Winter Storage Tips for ATVs
Properly storing your ATV over the winter will ensure that when spring comes your ATV will still be in peak performance. Here are a few tips for storing your ATV over the winter that you may not have thought of. These are all very simple things that can prevent damage to your ATV and also keep it looking new.
When storing your ATV for the winter, the first thing you should do is to clean it. It seems obvious, but some people may forget the obvious. It is also nice to have a clean ATV when you are giving it the once over to make sure everything is in good working order.
Now that you have a clean ATV, the next thing you need to is change the oil and filter. Most people like to put off changing the oil until spring when they start riding again, but this thinking could be potentially destructive to your ATV. By storing your ATV with old oil in the engine all winter the acids that are a byproduct of combustion, will begin to eat away your engine over the winter. By putting in fresh oil, you prevent this from happening and save your ATV engine while in storage. You should also empty your tank of all fuel.
Now you should go through and clean all the little parts that weren’t cleaned so well in your first initial washing. These parts should be all of the small moving parts and after washing them you should lubricate them as well. WD40 is great for this, but make sure everything is really clean before you start adding oil or it will result in a pasty mess.
During the cleaning and lube process it is a good time to check your ATV for any loose hardware. This will ensure that the first ride of the season after storing your ATV over the winter won’t result in parts falling off due to loose bolts.
If you don’t clean the air filter after each ride, then now is a good time to do it before storing your ATV for the winter. Be sure to follow your owner’s manual for the proper cleaning technique. After the filter is squeaky clean, let it dry completely and then re-oil it with filter oil as specified in your owner’s manual.
Hopefully these tips will be useful to you when storing your ATV for the winter. By properly storing your ATV, it will ensure a safe and fun ride in the spring.
Author: Travis Smith, Owner, North American Power Sports
http://www.napsatv.com