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Putting your Spyder to bed for the season

I've spent most my life riding in San Diego so I never had to really think about this and even when I lived in East TN I was still able to ride enough that I never really put my Spyder to bed for the winter.

Living in Springfield MO I just might have to think about this as much as I hate to. I have two F3's and one RT that I'm sure won't be ridden enough to be safe so here's some tips for putting your Spyder to bed.

If you check your owners manual or shop manual you'll see what BRP recommends. If you don't have access to that then here's some tips I found from one of the techs at BRP. If you're not comfortable with these procedures it's best to take it to your dealer and make sure it's done right.

  1. Change the engine oil and filter. - It is better to change the oil at the end of the riding season to remove contaminants and acids found in the oil which could affect seals and gaskets over a storage period. Lamonster Garage offers oil change kits for all Spyder engines that include the oil, filter(s), and necessary sealing washers and o-rings.

  2. Check engine coolant, brake fluid and clutch fluid levels (SM5 and SM6).

  3. Fill the fuel tank, add fuel stabilizer and run the engine to prevent the tank from rusting and the fuel from deteriorating. Strictly follow instructions on fuel stabilizer container.

  4. Inflate all tires to their recommended pressure.

  5. Clean the vehicle. This will avoid staining of the seat or paint due to road debris and leaves. Using warm water works well to remove bugs in the windshield and front panels. Lamonster Garage Black Dymond Detailer works great for this too.

  6. Lubricate all control cables and latches, and pivoting points of all levers. Lubricate the fuel cap (F3) and ignition switch barrels. Recommended product for this is XPS storage oil or a drop of XPS 4-STROKE SYNTH. BLEND OIL (SUMMER).

  7. Slow charge the battery once a month at the recommended charging rate of 2 A. It is not necessary to remove the battery.

  8. Install a plastic bag over muffler outlet to prevent moisture from entering it.

  9. Cover the vehicle with a permeable cover (e.g., tarpaulin). Avoid using plastic or similar non-breathing, coated material that restrict air flow and allow heat and moisture to accumulate.

  10. Do not run engine during storage period. If the vehicle is stored where temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) engine will heat up and cool down producing moisture which will accumulate and may cause corrosion.