winterizing my Sportsman?
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#2
Hey Pathfinder, this is what I do. First wash the thing really well, take off the engine covers and skid plates and get all the mud off. Then run all the gas out of the tank and drain the carb or at least put some sta-bil in the gas and run it for a bit so it gets into the carb. Pull the spark plug out and spray some fogging oil or pour a little motor oil into the cylinder and pull it over a few times with the recoil. Spray your pivot points and brake cables with WD-40 and grease it. Take the battery out and store it inside and give it a slow charge once a month. Also you might wanna put it up on some blocks of wood to keep the weight off the tires, they will get a bulge in them due to the low pressure. I blocked up my Grizzly last winter and left my Kawa on the ground, come spring my Kawa wouldn't hardly roll. Well that's what I do and I go a bit overboard probably but they are a major investment for me anyway. Also in the spring change the oil before you get ready to ride.
#3
I see what you mean by the tires bulging. My Sport has been sitting on the trailer for about a month and a half, and I just went out to run some Sta-Bil through it. I took it for a spin, and it seemed to have a flat spot on the tires. A few minutes of warming them up, and it was gone. I am going to block it up tomorrow, along with my boat trailer, which I do every year.
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xepathfinder
Just to add a few points to what others have said:
1. Give the machine a good grease job to all the grease zerks. No need to leave any water or mud in their for an extended time. You probably have already done this, but just thought I would throw it out.
2. Check your antifreeze for its freezing point. You can buy a simple ball type tester for a few bucks at any auto store. You said it gets to 40 below. I would wonder if the factory mix is rated that low.
Hope this helps. There may be other things you should do, but can't think of anything right off hand.
Just to add a few points to what others have said:
1. Give the machine a good grease job to all the grease zerks. No need to leave any water or mud in their for an extended time. You probably have already done this, but just thought I would throw it out.
2. Check your antifreeze for its freezing point. You can buy a simple ball type tester for a few bucks at any auto store. You said it gets to 40 below. I would wonder if the factory mix is rated that low.
Hope this helps. There may be other things you should do, but can't think of anything right off hand.
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#8
Hey xepathfinder, I just winterized my Sportsman for the winter, meaning got it ready for a winter full of fun. No sense putting mine away for the winter, I ride mine all year. Keep the oil fresh, and all the zerks full of grease, and have a deep snow guard to keep the rad clear of impacting snow 'case I get into the real deep stuff. Looking forward to trying out the bi-tri claws I got this spring, after all the snow melted. Should be an awesome winter. Sure I got a sled, but the quad is so much more useful. I mean really, how much fun is it really at 100 miles an hour on a sled, unless your on a frozen lake or a packed trail?
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