4-stroke summer storage

[murphypatsara]

I am new to four stroke sleds. I have heard conficting information such as to fog or not fog,remove belt,empty fuel,fill up fuel, etc. Please advise of your thoughts.

 

[radianguy]

I guess everyone does it different.

Here's what I do:
1. add stabil to fuel, run it through the fuel system,
2. change the oil/filter
3. on carb models drain the carb bowls
4. grease everything(including speedo bearing and bearing on secondary shaft)
5. change chain case oil
6. clean/wax sled
7. put battery on battery tender
8. cover it up and forget about it until you start you summer mods,lol

 

[murphypatsara]

Thanks, I have an 09 nytro and had heard about fogging the engine. With it be injected I was unsure how to accomplish this.

 

[ToddMeister]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep what radianguy says above....

 

[thetruck454]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep what radianguy says above....

x2

Plus since the sled is new, I'm gonna change the chain case oil

I've thought about cleaning the clutch, but I never did on the phazer

 

[skidooboy]

you dont fog cars or motorcycles, no need to fog a 4 stroke sled. they are an oil bathed system. i would recommend changing the oil so no acidic damage can occur over the storage season. the bonus to that is you are good to go for the whole next riding season.

if it is a carbed unit, i would drain the float bowls. foe both efi and carbed units i would put some sort of fuel stabilizer like seafoam or stabil in the fuel for the storage season.

and like stated above, clean, lube, grease, everything that is metal or can oxidize. remove the belt and scuff the faces. tuck her in with a cover on her and a battery tender plugged in, and see you next fall. ski

 

[radianguy]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep what radianguy says above....

x2

Plus since the sled is new, I'm gonna change the chain case oil

I've thought about cleaning the clutch, but I never did on the phazer

I always forget to add changing the chain case oil. I do this annually also. I will edit my previous post. Thanks for the reminder the truck454.

 

[sgilbert]

I have always siphoned tank dry ( machine angled uphill ) then run till stall. I also either screen airbox or make metal blockoff. also spray shock shafts with lithium or silicone. when getting 2 staroke carbed machines out for winter I put a few gallons of mix in and blow in tank to fill carbs. has never failed me, even when stored outside. lawn equipt and such I usually leave carb drain loose.

 

[thetruck454]

I always forget to add changing the chain case oil. I do this annually also. I will edit my previous post. Thanks for the reminder the truck454.

 

[viento79]

As an addition to what has been said before, I would recommend a couple shots of engine oil down each spark plug hole...then rolling the engine over by hand. Four strokes are not exempt from oxidation or corrosion so the shots of oil in the cylinder certainly won't hurt. Ensure you drop any used oil out of the engine or chaincase.
Also as stated before, used engine oil won't do your engine any favours as the acidity increases throughout its lifespan.
As for the chaincase oil, you only need 200 mL so why not change it???

 

[G-ball]

I just go out and start her up every Sunday morning ... sitting there watching out the window waiting for the snow to fall .... when the garage fills with exhaust and I get woozy .... then I know she is lubed up again!

Don't judge me ... you have your church, I have mine!

 

[spider74man]

Most of you guys are going a bit overkill with the summerizing in my opinion. Do you lift your corvette off the ground before winter so there is no sag in the springs, or take the leather off the seats to eliminate any chance of cracking. Some of this stuff makes perfect sense like changing the oil (although it only needs to be done every 3000 to 4000 km), lubing, and maybe removal of the battery (again if you charge it 1 week before season starts, you'll be fine). But oil down the spark plugs and some of the other suggestions I have read in other posts are redonkulas. We put these machines through the harsh winter months and conditions but don't think they can go through a summer without doing all this stuff. Personally,,, All I have ever done 2 or 4 stroke is cover it up at the end of the season. Never added fuel or stabilizer or lubed anything. I just bring it into the dealer in september and get them to run through it. They lube everything and check it over aswell. It saves me time and headaches for the season as they check for issues that I might not see. Just my thoughts though.

 

[Daranello]

Most of you guys are going a bit overkill with the summerizing in my opinion. Do you lift your corvette off the ground before winter so there is no sag in the springs, or take the leather off the seats to eliminate any chance of cracking. Some of this stuff makes perfect sense like changing the oil (although it only needs to be done every 3000 to 4000 km), lubing, and maybe removal of the battery (again if you charge it 1 week before season starts, you'll be fine). But oil down the spark plugs and some of the other suggestions I have read in other posts are redonkulas. We put these machines through the harsh winter months and conditions but don't think they can go through a summer without doing all this stuff. Personally,,, All I have ever done 2 or 4 stroke is cover it up at the end of the season. Never added fuel or stabilizer or lubed anything. I just bring it into the dealer in september and get them to run through it. They lube everything and check it over aswell. It saves me time and headaches for the season as they check for issues that I might not see. Just my thoughts though.

To each his own....

 

[SledFreak]

Change the oil and change the chain case oil. Grease the suspension. Put 2 gallons of fresh gas in with Seafoam. Run it for 5 minutes to get into the system. Charge the battery. Wax it up and store it in a nice dry place in a shed or garage. Don't put a cover on it, since will just make it sweat. Put an old sheet over it. During the middle of Summer throw the charger on the battery again. Don't start it. Charge the batter again in the Fall, just before you pull it out of stroage and then start it. That's it.

 

[sgilbert]

I fill mine with seaweed