Let it sit or start it up?

[WIGuY]

I have a few ATV's, one of them is is a 2007 Polaris Outlaw. The outlaw doesn't get driven in the winter months, I just leave it parked in the garage on a trickle charger all winter (3 months or so). Im just wondering if its best to just leave it like that or should i start it up every once and awhile.. thoughts?

[blueline15]

My thoughts are, and I do this with my sportsbike that also sits for 3-5 months in the winter is to either winterize real well, and let it sit, or actually go out and ride it every week or two.

I don't start my sportbike up and just let idle for 10-15 mins then shut it off. It has a hard time getting up to operating temp, which means its running super rich. The machine doesent charge the battery hardly at all at idle cause the stator is so small. There just is not really any benefits to it.

If your not going to ride it, and thats fine, I don't ride my sportbike for the months we have snow clearly, put it away clean, make sure fluids are in good shape, I ALWAYS run some sort of fuel stabil in the tank, and I do it this way.

With the tank almost empty, I pour in the fuel stabil. Then I fill it up full. Then I shake the machine a few times, and then I turn it on and let it run for 10 mins so the stabil gets all the way through the carb or injectors. I do this after I finish my final ride of the season.

Then it goes on a battery tender, all winter long. Thats really all I do. If your concerned with mice getting in the airbox, stuff it with rags or seal it off somehow.

Also, I also plug the exhaust with a rubber cone shapped plug specifically for bikes. Again, its a piece of mind thing for me knowing the exhaust is plugged over winter, and a spider or something isnt going to go make a nest in my exhaust.

[Polaris Bear]

Like blueline said it is hard on them to just start them and shut them off. If you are not going to ride it long enough and hard engough to get some heat in the engine and oil you are doing more harm then good. When the oil does not get warmed up for a period of time condensation forms in the oil and can cause damage. I recommend you change the oil in it before you put a away, add some fuel stabalizer, hook it up to a battery tender and let it sit.

[WIGuY]

Originally Posted by blueline15

My thoughts are, and I do this with my sportsbike that also sits for 3-5 months in the winter is to either winterize real well, and let it sit, or actually go out and ride it every week or two.

I don't start my sportbike up and just let idle for 10-15 mins then shut it off. It has a hard time getting up to operating temp, which means its running super rich. The machine doesent charge the battery hardly at all at idle cause the stator is so small. There just is not really any benefits to it.

If your not going to ride it, and thats fine, I don't ride my sportbike for the months we have snow clearly, put it away clean, make sure fluids are in good shape, I ALWAYS run some sort of fuel stabil in the tank, and I do it this way.

With the tank almost empty, I pour in the fuel stabil. Then I fill it up full. Then I shake the machine a few times, and then I turn it on and let it run for 10 mins so the stabil gets all the way through the carb or injectors. I do this after I finish my final ride of the season.

Then it goes on a battery tender, all winter long. Thats really all I do. If your concerned with mice getting in the airbox, stuff it with rags or seal it off somehow.

Also, I also plug the exhaust with a rubber cone shapped plug specifically for bikes. Again, its a piece of mind thing for me knowing the exhaust is plugged over winter, and a spider or something isnt going to go make a nest in my exhaust.

blueline, thanks for that reply.. you make a whole lot of sense. I will let her sit on the trickle charger until spring.

[Bruteforcebob]

Make sure if it's going to sit you fill the tank to the top. a half full tank will build condensation a full one wont.

[WIGuY]

Originally Posted by Bruteforcebob

Make sure if it's going to sit you fill the tank to the top. a half full tank will build condensation a full one wont.

thats good to know.. thanks!