I have a question about winter storage. My dirt bike buddies say that when they put their bikes away for the winter, they spray them down with WD40. Does anyone else do this for their quad? They say that WD40 will keep rust from forming. At my cabin in northern Minnesota, we have kept our Polaris (steel frame, mind you) in our garage for several winters and have not had a problem with rust. Now with my 400EX, I don't want any rust forming on my machine. Since the 400EX is a aluminum framed machine, will rust be more likely to form?

 

Mike,
If I remember my high school chemistry correctly I believe oxidation affects iron or iron alloys like steel primarily so I wouldnt worry too much about your aluminum parts.The steel cables and such are another matter. Don't forget the piston & the cylinder. Take the spark plug out & put a tbs of 10/w/30 oil in the hole, replace the plug & with the plug wire off, turn the engine over one or two times to coat the walls & piston. Drain the gas or add stabilizer and with the other lubing you should be all set; or better yet move to Arizona where the riding season is year round & storage lasts only till the next weekend

THE AZ HARD PACKER,
calmiller@kachina.net

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[This message has been edited by hot_shoe_cv (edited 10-15-1999).]

 

Mr Frey,NO WAY.Winter Storage?It is absolutely unheard of here.I love ATVing SOOOOOOOOOO much that no weather condition [except MAYBE a tornado] can stop me from riding my quad.Heck,I even take my 4x4 ice fishing on the lake with me in the winter. BUT,for those that do winter storage,Run the engine for 5 minutes with fuel stabalizer added to the gas.Remove the spark plug,and drop some oil in down the cyclinder wall, hand crank the engine over a few times to circulate the oil,grease what ever needs greasing,service the air cleaner,change the oil and filter,remove the battery and bring it inside the house.[much warmer inside]Trickle charge the battery once a month.If you are Liquid cooled,check the protection level of your Anti-Freeze,adjust as necessary.And I would cover the quad as well.Some people even lift the quad a few inches from the floor.GOOD LUCK---BILL

 

I cringe when I think of the thought of putting my quad away for half a year but the snow can get real deep in northern Minnesota and the 400EX probably isn't the greatest snow machine. I have changed my mind and I am going to ride it as much as I can, rather than put it up for the whole winter.