How do you prep an ATV for Winter?

[Pom Racing]

WINTER IS COMING. I'm talking storage and prep.

First time ATV owner coming up on the first fall and winter with my beauty.

What do you guys recommend as far as preparing your ATV to be stored for the winter?

Or better yet, what do you recommend to prepare it to be rideable in the snow?


Thanks in advance!

[Deckard_Cain]

We pack ours into the garage for winter, unused during those months. I fill the fuel tank and add some stabilizer, drain the carb float bowls and run them dry. Then remove batteries and place them in the basement in a cool, dry space connected to a battery tender.

Come spring, put battery back in, turn fuel on and fill carb, start ATV and then go through the rest of the maintenance checks- tire pressures, cables, lube chain and suspension, adjustments and check bolts- then ride.

[Pom Racing]

Originally Posted by Deckard_Cain

We pack ours into the garage for winter, unused during those months. I fill the fuel tank and add some stabilizer, drain the carb float bowls and run them dry. Then remove batteries and place them in the basement in a cool, dry space connected to a battery tender.

Come spring, put battery back in, turn fuel on and fill carb, start ATV and then go through the rest of the maintenance checks- tire pressures, cables, lube chain and suspension, adjustments and check bolts- then ride.

What stabilizer do you use?

Do you find that the temperature drop combined with being parked on pavement for several months affects your tires?

[Azhule]

Originally Posted by Pom Racing

What stabilizer do you use?

A small list of stabilizers (or company/brand names that have fuel cleaners/stabilizer mixes for sale) that seem to work for at least one year when added to the fuel... I have a few engines that have a Nuetra/Star Tron/2 stroke oil doped gas that has to be at least 5 years old*... they start and run every time I need to move the vehicle/yard equipment

Sta-bil Marine formula, "SeaFoam", Schaeffers Nuetra 131, Star Tron, Biobor, Yamalube, K100, some of the higher priced "2 stroke oil" contain stabilizers (about 1 ounce into 4 to 5 gallons for most 4 stroke engines), BG, Amsoil, Quick Silver/Mercury, CRC, Gold Eagle... the list goes on forever... probably easier to ask if the brand you like to use works as advertised

* Used to "rotate" my lot full of old vehicles every year or so for road use... with my gut issues it was easier to keep my 20 to 30 year old, 200 to 350k mile vehicle(s) maintained when I had a year (or 5+ ) to get it ready for a DD ... 1995 Eagle Talon with 34x,xxx miles has been waiting for service for a little too long... "soon my pet, I will feed you the world"

[Deckard_Cain]

Originally Posted by Pom Racing

What stabilizer do you use?

Do you find that the temperature drop combined with being parked on pavement for several months affects your tires?

We just use "Sta-bil" brand.. honestly, sometimes we don't even do that- just top off the tanks and run the carbs dry. Same with my lawn mower, and the snowblower at the end of winter.

As for the tires, naw.. they're parked in the garage.. we roll them around back and forth once a month, but that's about it.

We find that keeping the battery indoors and always topped off with a .5A battery tender is more critical. Unless you like buying new batteries every year.

[Biker_Andy]

If you top your battery off in the fall you can likely get away without a trickle charger. That's what I do with all my batteries and they last many many years. I fully change mine before storage and fully charge it again when removing from storage. It's not good to overcharge a battery and some trickle chargers will actually reduce the life of your battery depending on how "smart" they are. A good one will stop charging when fully charged until the battery drops below a threshold. Stupid trickle chargers keep charging 24/7 and after months will reduce the capacity of the battery. Trickle chargers are really designed so your battery is ready at a moment's notice, great for fire trucks and ambulances. Not ideal for months of storage and not what their actually designed for.

[kingofqueenz]

Curious why people fill their tanks (with Stabil ) for the winter...not the Stabil part..I get that, but why not run the tank bone dry for the winter?

Much like you do with the carb ?

That is how I store my lawnmower, run the tank and carb dry and leave the gas cap off for the winter ?

Not saying I am right... just curious

[JerryHawk250]

Filling the tank will prevent the tank from rusting. If you live in a dry climate it shouldn't be a problem. I live with high humidity and moisture will form in the metal tank if not kept full. If you have a plastic tank then I would just drain it.

[kingofqueenz]

Great point Jerry..thank you!

Makes sense since my lawn mower has a plastic gas tank.

My bike does not, so I will be filling it!

[FLASHLIGHTBOY]

if you use non ethanol gas ( premunin ) you do not need any thing in the fuel... for winter it is best to put some metalhydrafe in for the moisture ( water ) to mox witht he fuel and not freeze or rust out the tank.. it is good to charge the batteries every month... just a tickle charge.. no need to waste power and keep it on there,, do not drain the carbs.. you can use whatever for stabilize … sea foam or other stuff.... but spend the money if you can use the preminun fuel... no trouble with the fuel problems.. if you can … just to be safe... take the weight off of the tires ,,, incase there is a slow leak... then they will not sit on the flat tire and crack the up..

[OutdoorsWI]

I change the oil, but the tire chains on, and mount the plow.
after that, I drop the plow blade and hook up the ice shanty and go fishing.

But that is just how I do things, not saying you have to do thing my way. It's just more fun this way.

[George_NJ]

Same here, I mount the plow & tire chains and keep it backed into one of my garages ready to plow snow. I bought mine primarily to plow snow but found it so handy all year long, and a fun play thing too.

[GlennR]

I park the bikes in Winter and ride the ATVs more. Here, in the South, they are our snowmobiles.