HELP me put my '04 Sportsman into hibernation!

Brand new in September - 20 hours on the first one and 22 horus on second one. Oil is fine but not changed (hoping that if I do that in the Spring it would be OK) - Fuel in the bowl drained by running the carbs dry by shutting off the fuel **** - Fuel stabilizer added to system and run through for about 20 minutes. All fluid levels fine. Full tank of fuel (to prevent condensation)

Question: What else should I do !? The ATV's are stored in a great unheated garage all winter. Driving them any longer is not an option as the wife and I are out of town for almost 5 months! Any help is much appreciated!

LL
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I would have changed the oil so you don't have contaminants sitting in the motor. Take the batteries out and store them in a warmer place, if they go dead and freeze they're history. Lube any grease zerks to force out moisture.

 

I would change the oil too. What I am going to do is put some Mobil 1 0W-40 in there for the winter then drain it and put Amsoil in it in the spring. Definately take the battery out and grease the zerks. Spray any bare metal parts with WD-40 or Triflow. Other than that make sure it is clean and you should be good to go

 

If there are mice around, pack steel wool into the exhaust outlet & airbox snorkel inlet. Some moth ***** in the belt housing will keep mice out of there. The steel wool will prevent mice from chewing up the air cleaner or making a nest in the muffler.

Be sure to remove the steel wool & moth ***** before you start riding in the spring.

 

Thanks folks!

Will change the oil, grease zerks (I call them nipples but ... I digress! ha! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] ), and clena em up ... with respect to the moth *****, do I have to take the cover off (i'd think so) ... If so, any risk of damamging the seal (or is the seal really that impervious to water anyway?)

Thanks Again!

LL

 

Pretty bad - replying to my own posts - will also Wd40 the bare stuff - Thanks for that advice too!

LL

 

You can just roll a couple moth ***** into the belt vent tubes. All you need to do is get it to smell nasty in there, so the mice don't make a nest.
In the spring, pop off the cover, and remove them, which is also a good time to take an air hose and blow all the dust out of the pulleys & such.

Farmr

 

I say you should just park the thing in your house while your gone. Give it it's own bedroom. - lol[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Why not just block off the in and outlet's for the tranny?? Just like the air snorkel? and the muffler?

Just put cheap oil in it for the winter, it'll work fine just sitting in there...........

 

why go through all the hassle? Just let me borrow it !! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]