How long can a side by side sit unused?

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Nov 29, 2009
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If I dont use my polaris rzr xp1000 for a couple months she's dead as a door nail when I go to start it. Is that the nature of the beast with these things? I know it should probably be run more often, but I'm busy
 
I keep VDC Electronics Battery Minder's on numerous vehicles that sit for extended periods between use. They keep the batteries happy, and ready to go. On the vehicles that sit for a month or more (up to 6 months), I also use gas stabilizer.
 
I guess these things have electronics that drain the battery over time. I'd imagine a car wouldn't start either if yoy let it sit 2 months.
So test your theory and pull the battery cable, see if it starts after its next rest.

I'd find some sort of heavy duty solar panel if it were my ride.
 
all batteries self discharge at about 20% a month in warm temperatures... so two months is a long time.... and if it has any parasitic loads, that will make it even worse... so its either install some type of charger or jump start it... eventually the battery will be toast if you don't keep it on a charger.. and its not a good idea to let any small engine go long periods of time with gas in it... better to run it out of gas if you know it will sit.
 
If it's like my Massimo you have an LCD digital dash, fuel injection etc which means modules...all drain the battery over time. That and that these batteries are small anyhow mean low standby power - get a tender or solar panel.
 
I rarely drive my SxS. Just sits in garage. My routine is battery tender once a month and I add Chevron Powersports fuel additive every fill up. Never an issue in the 9 yrs I've owned it
 
Battery Minders on all my toys whenever parked, also on the OPE batteries. I get 10yrs out of batteries regularly in my bikes and sleds.
In fact, my '13 sled will get a new battery this fall, not from no start but due to age and trust as no recoil start feature, still has the OEM battery in it. Quick disconnects on all for simplicity.
 
Bumping this
SxS has now sat for 2 yrs since being ridden. Fuel was treated and battery maintained. Oil done annually even though It wasn't used. Took it out yesterday and put a whole day of trouble free riding on it through the desert. Still zero issues. All that's was done was I added 3.7 gallons of fresh 91 to left over in tank and treated that too
2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat1000X

20241206_133428.webp
 
all batteries self discharge at about 20% a month in warm temperatures... so two months is a long time.... and if it has any parasitic loads, that will make it even worse... so its either install some type of charger or jump start it... eventually the battery will be toast if you don't keep it on a charger.. and its not a good idea to let any small engine go long periods of time with gas in it... better to run it out of gas if you know it will sit.

2-5% a month.

I've had stuff sit for a year or two and fire up without fuss.

As far as the 4 wheeler, unhook the battery or put a master switch on it.
 
Bumping this
SxS has now sat for 2 yrs since being ridden. Fuel was treated and battery maintained. Oil done annually even though It wasn't used. Took it out yesterday and put a whole day of trouble free riding on it through the desert. Still zero issues. All that's was done was I added 3.7 gallons of fresh 91 to left over in tank and treated that too
2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat1000X

View attachment 253168
I'm glad I bought a maintainer. Battery was always dead after a month or so in my sxs
 
Toss a Noco trickle charger on it and forget it. There are all I use these days. I have a 4 bank, 2 bank, a single 2 amp and a single 1 amp. Excellent for cold weather too. Some trickle chargers don't work well in low temps.
 
Toss a Noco trickle charger on it and forget it. There are all I use these days. I have a 4 bank, 2 bank, a single 2 amp and a single 1 amp. Excellent for cold weather too. Some trickle chargers don't work well in low temps.
That what I did. Keeps it around 12.83v
 
Toss a Noco trickle charger on it and forget it. There are all I use these days. I have a 4 bank, 2 bank, a single 2 amp and a single 1 amp. Excellent for cold weather too. Some trickle chargers don't work well in low temps.

Just a heads up, the noco wont work if under -4*. So pretty much all winter.
 
you arent supposed to charge a frozen battery anyways
If it's on a working trickle charger, it won't freeze.

Noco still owes me $400 for ruining 2 batteries when it failed to maintain them and they froze.

That's when they told me about the "safety". And acted like -4* was some crazy low temperature.
Maybe in Florida, but thata nice winter day here.
 
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