Off-season or extended storage of your Polaris snowmobile requires preventative measures to prolong its life.
“An hour spent today prepping your machine for off-season storage will save you a big headache – and potentially a pretty penny – next ice-fishing season,” says ICE FORCE Pro-Staffer James Holst.
Cleaning and Preservation
Proper storage starts with cleaning, washing, and waxing the hood, side panels, chassis, and plastic parts. Wipe down remaining surfaces with a damp cloth. Clean and touch up with paint any rusted or previously painted surfaces.
Be sure that corrosive salt and acids are removed from surfaces before beginning preservation with waxes and rust inhibitors (grease, oil or paint). The snowmobile should be stored in a dry garage or shed, out of direct sunlight, and covered with a fabric snowmobile cover. A plastic tarp may cause condensation to form and damage snowmobile components.
Clutch and Drive System
Remove your Polaris’ drive belt and store it in a cool, dry place. Do not lubricate your clutch components, except the driven clutch shaft bushing as outlined in the Master Repair Manual.
Engine Protection
Proper preparation of the engine and fuel system is vital to the prevention of rust and corrosion on precision engine parts during storage.
Whenever the snowmobile is stored for more than 60 days, the engine must be fogged with fogging oil. Fogging is accomplished by spraying fogging oil into the cylinders of your motor, which creates a thin layer of oil that protects parts such as rod pins, cylinder walls and crankshaft bearings from humidity, which can corrode parts quickly.
“It’s a crucial step I add into my regime, and it goes a long way in preventing crankshaft failure,” advises ICE FORCE Pro-Staffer Chris Granrud.
Follow the engine-fogging instructions provided on the oil container.
Always add Premium Carbon Clean or a fuel conditioner/stabilizer to the fuel tank. Follow the instructions on the container, running the engine for five minutes to get additives through the entire fuel system.
Top off with fresh fuel. Do not allow the snowmobile to run out of fuel.
Electrical Connections
Replace worn or frayed electrical wire and connectors. Be sure your wiring harness is properly secured away from sharp edges, steering linkage, moving parts, and hot exhaust parts.
Track and Suspension
Moderate track tension should be maintained during summer storage. The snowmobile should be supported off the ground to allow the track to hang freely.