Prep your snowmobile for summer storage

As the weather warms, it's a great time to get outside and tinker in the garage. It's also the perfect time to make sure your snowmobile is prepped and stored properly for the summer. Below is a quick checklist for you to run through before you store your sled. 

1. Clean & lubricate your sled. Just trusty ole' warm, soapy water will work great for the tunnel, seat, hood and nose pan. Use a grease-cutting cleaner under the hood and don't forget to clean your cover. Most can go right in the washing machine. Grease joints and all lube points to ensure water doesn't cause rust and corrosion over the off-season. 
2. Add fuel stabilizer. Make sure to run the engine for a few minutes to ensure the stabilizer runs through the system. 
3. Fog the engine. Coat the inside of the engine with fogging oil to help protect your crankshaft bearings, connecting rods and other parts from air and moisture which can corrode. To get access to the carburetors or throttle bodies, you'll need to remove the airbox and foam. With the engine running, spray the fogging oil into each intake for a few seconds. Then switch to the other cylinder. 
4. Remove & store your battery. Store it in a temperature-controlled environment out of sunlight. Keep it charged while you're not using it with a Battery Tender.
5. Remove your drive belt. You'll prolong its life along by taking pressure off of the clutches. If you plan to start your sled throughout the summer, make sure to replace the belt before doing so. 
6. Inspect your track. Look for cracks, tears and broken lugs - really any signs of wear. 
7. Fix anything broken. Don't set yourself up with disappointment for the next riding season. Get broken parts fixed before you store the sled and consider upgrading accessories - they're likely on sale at your local dealership since it's the off-season. 
8. Get it off the ground. If you have one, consider putting a jackstand under the rear bumper. You can also set the front end on a wooden box so it hangs freely. It relieves tension on the track and suspension. 
9. Critter-proof it. If you're storing your sled in your garage or shed, you may want to place a few mothballs under the hood and on the tunnel to help keep rodents and other critters out. They can cause major damage you don't want to find when you're ready to pull your snowmobile out for the season. Block exhaust, air intake, cooling holes and other entrances rodents may use with steel wool. Just remember to remove them when you're ready to use your machine! Another consideration: don't store feeder corn or bird seed near equipment. 

NEED SUPPLIES OR AN EXPERT?

You can find everything you need to summerize your sled at any one of our stores: Power Pac in Marshfield, Country Sports in Wis. Rapids and Erv's Sales and Service in Tomahawk. Want to skip the hassle and have a pro do the work for you? Our service departments have you covered -- Give us a shout!
Power Pac: 715-387-1106
Country Sports: 715-325-5381 
Erv's Sales and Service: 715-453-2824