With just one week until Memorial Day, it’s getting to be the time of year that most of the country considers summer. Even though it’s been a chilly and wet May so far, we were blessed to have a long, hot, and dry riding season last year and we’re hoping for the same this season! While we provide summerization at our service shop, we understand some people like to take the wrench to their own machines too.
When you’re getting ready to ride your machine for the first time in over six months, the first thing you want to do is check your battery. If you remember from our winterize blog, we recommend having your battery on a battery tender over the winter. Check out the voltage, the charge, the state of health of the battery, and the battery fluid level. If your battery doesn’t check out well in these categories, it’s probably for the best to purchase a new one. The start of the season is also a good time to check out the condition of your spark plugs and replace any that are black or oil fouled. These are a couple easy things to do to ensure a fun and uninterrupted start to the riding season.
Check your water separator if one is installed. Then put your battery back in the craft and hook the craft up to a water hose. Run it for about 5-10 minutes. Give the machine a good look over for any loose clamps or hardware. Inspect the steering nozzle and prop for any damage. Wash your machine to get the dust off and put your cover on to keep it clean for your next ride!
We also perform a trailer inspection when we do our summerizations here at our service shop. If you’re doing this yourself, make sure to check all lights are working. You may need an assistant to help out on this one for brake and signal lights especially. Check the tire condition and pressure. If they’ve lost a little air, inflate to the correct PSI and keep an eye on any leaks in the tires. Finally, make sure the lug nuts are properly torqued and grease the wheel hubs. Be sure to check the wheel bearings for smooth operation.
You’re ready to rock and roll for the season out on our beautiful waterways! If you need to do an in-season oil change, we can help you out in our service department or parts department with our full stock of oil and filters. Remember to follow all local laws, marine warnings, and make sure you and your passengers always wear a proper fitting life vest. Have fun on the water and make sure to see us if you need anything this summer.
Appolson's Performance Center 