We had a nice blizzard here this week, took my new '00 TB out in the snow. Was kinda dissapointed with the traction it got, but then again we did get about 12 inches or so, was still fun!

Anywho before I put it away, I removed all the snow I could from the frame and elsewhere. It is stored in an non-heated garage. Is there anything wrong with storing it this way, Any known problems from snow/wet durring storage. Just being over cautious since it is my financed source of fun and it's not always possible to take it to a car wash.

Just for kicks, how often do you guys wash or not wash your rides? Anyone **** about taking care of em like I'm becoming?

Thanks

IAJack

 

Iread some stories about quads being locked up after snow riding, due to freezing parts. I've never had any problems. My water bill is insane in the summer, due to my extensive washing of my quads. I clean them very carefully after each ride, grease any zerks, apply Tire Wet to the tires, then spray all the mechanicals, including the whole engine, with DW 40. I take the seats off and everything. My one buddy always asks, "how come your quads always look like new" I believe it's one of the reasons I never have any problems with them.

 

we wash ours after every ride. I usually stop at the local carwash and blast 'em with the pressure washer (being careful of the chain and seals) and finish at home cleaning the belt dust off the seats, blowing out the air filters, lube the chains and grease the zerks. I don't spit shine 'em, but they always look nice when we head off for a ride.
By the way I just fired them up today after having sat since mid-Oct.. Had an absolute blast doing sliding donuts in the driveway!!! Considered venturing out into the yard, but didn't want to get yelled at! I turfed it up pretty bad last year and I'm still hearing about it!

 

Jack

As for the tboss in the snow, you are right, they don't get that great of traction in 10+ inches of snow. A learned last night that sitting way back in the seat really helps. I neat trick to try. Sit way back on the seat and get moving along pretty good. Then slide way forward on the seat and turn the wheels and stay on the gas. Does a pretty quick 180. Anyway, I am not as **** as some about cleaning, but I do wash it after every ride (summer only) and make sure there is no mud caked anywhere. I then make sure it is greased up real well. I do not do anything special in the winter, just put it away. But I don't ride it much in the winter, so don't base much on that. Be careful that if you put it away in the winter, that when you go back out, nothing is frozen solid when you try to move it. Ride safe.

 

Before you ride it next time, try rolling it back & forth a few feet before starting the engine. Also be sure the steering is free. By doing this before you start up, it is much easier to tell if anything is frozen.
It is also much less likely you will bend or break anything pushing by hand as opposed to having the engine try to move it. You would be surprised how much force it can put through the driveline.

 

Well, I'm new to ATVing this year and like to keep my machines clean and well greased. It's too cold up here to wash them during the winter (water's off at the cottage) and so I cleaned them well late in the fall and greased them up good then too. During the summer, I washed them every couple of times I went out depending on what the ride was like. I wash them anytime I've gone through mud. So I'm pretty '****' about keeping them clean and I like that. It is a relaxing and fun activity to clean them after a good ride.

2000 Sp500
2000 Sp 335
2000 Trail Boss

 

In the summer months,I wash my quads after EVERY ride.In the winter months,I throw some wood in the wood stove that I have in my polebarn and the snow that accumulates on the quads just melts away.They are never put up dirty.My wife once told me that she wished she were a quad![lol]She claims I give my quads more attention than I do her,and she's probably right,
Bill

 

If you want traction in the snow put tire chains on the bike. You will get UNBELEAVABLE traction. When I was like 13 (im 27 now) I had a TRX125 with a plow. It didnt move in the snow, so I got chains. With the chains on the bike could chew through almost any amount of snow.

Get some form of V-Bar chains, they have little v shaped metal pices on them, great for ice. Cycle country makes these, and I think they also sell them on tirechains.com

--John

 

It’s 14 below here in southern Wisconsin this morning, with another 5” of snow on the way tonight.

When we ride in the winter (as we often do) our quads get packed with snow, I mean solid. As of yesterday morning our riding area up by Lake Superior has received 102” of snow so far this season. I put a tarp over one bike at a time and park a 30,000 BTU salamander heater at the back or front, or a 150,000 BTU heater, it just depends on which is available. In an enclosed trailer our quads aren’t exposed to road salt on the way to or from our riding area so wintertime cleanup is easy compared to the mud of summer. No washing is necessary, I just thaw them out. I still grease ‘em after every-other ride though.

The salamander heaters I use run on kerosene and are used outside, although you could use one in a garage. You could tarp your quad in a garage to hold in the heat and park an electric heater under it, just out of the way of water that would drip off. It would take all night but in the morning you’d have a clean warm bike.

 

When it comes to cleaning I go all out, the fenders get stripped off, the wheels come off, the machine is all metal by then.
The frame gets waxed, engine gets degreased, chain cleaned, greased areas cleaned of exsessed grease.
Then I silicone spray everything, the machine looks like it rolled off the showroom floor, then in about an hour its dirty again.
Spraying the silicone really helps protect the machine from rust, fading, scratches, and it looks great, it gives the machine that glossy look, mud comes off easier to.

2000 SCRAMBLER 400 2X4

SCRAMDADDY400