Spring Prep Tips for Powersport Vehicles

Now that warm weather and sunny days have returned, many off-road adventure enthusiasts will be looking to get their vehicles out of storage and hit the trails. Before you head out, though, there are some key steps to follow to ensure everything is in working order. If your powersports vehicle has been lying in winter storage for several months, this is especially important. Here are some spring prep tips for getting your vehicle ready for your next adventure.

Close Inspection

The most basic and easiest way to make sure that your powersports vehicle is ready to go is to perform a thorough inspection. You’ll want to look for any maintenance issues that may have come up while in storage that may need to be addressed. Once you’re finished de-winterizing your vehicle, perform one final inspection to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Check the Fluids

Your engine fluids will also need to be checked and may be replaced. Make sure the oil is still fresh and full. Also, check your brake fluid and transmission fluid to ensure there’s still plenty of liquid to work with. Inspect your gas tank for cracks and other damage, but if you added a fuel stabilizer at the beginning of winter, you shouldn’t need to drain the tank before you can ride again.

Battery

The biggest concern you’ll face with your battery is whether or not it’s still completely charged. If you left your battery connected to the vehicle, it’s probably dead. No matter how you stored it, check the charge and make sure it’s still good to ride on. If not, you may need to get it charged or, depending on how old it is, replaced altogether.

Tires

Your tires were probably particularly vulnerable to the harsh conditions of winter storage. Between air pressure fluctuations and extended time spent on one spot (if you didn’t move the vehicle around), your tires may not be in good condition. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure level and compare it to the recommended psi in your owner’s manual. Also, check the tread for damage or excessive wear and tear. Serious tire issues are probably going to require you to replace them.

Consult a Mechanic

While some post-winter issues are easy enough to fix on your own, others will probably require professional help. More serious repairs should be handled by someone who’s trained to handle them. You can also ask a technician to perform their own spring check to ensure there isn’t anything you missed. They’ll even catch things you didn’t know to look for, so no matter how confident you are in your inspection skills, a second opinion never hurts.

At this point, you should be ready for some awesome spring riding, but if you need additional advice, then stop by Sky Powersports Sanford. We also have some great powersports vehicles available if you’re still looking to buy one. We are conveniently located in Sanford, FL, and we welcome all our patrons visiting us from Daytona Beach and Deltona.