Melting snow, chirping birds and the smell of grass, flowers and other green plants are good indicators that spring has arrived. And if you’re a fan of snowmobiling, sadly, it’s also a sign that it’s time to put away the sled for another season.

You can find plenty of sound advice for safely storing your sled during the warm-weather months. And with good storage, there’s a good chance that the machine will properly start again once the snow returns. Here are some tips on sled storage:

* Include your snowmobile in your spring cleaning routine. While your machine sits during the summer months, you don’t want it to rust over. Look for and repair scratches in the paint along the skis and body of the machine. Scrub away any dirt or grease spots and give the body a good overall polish.

* Find a good snowmobile storage location. Make sure the location is dry, and safe from moisture and critters. If you have multiple sleds, you can find snowmobile storage racks where you can stack the snowmobiles securely in your garage or storage shed, saving you space.

* Read your owner’s manual to determine if your machine has specific instructions on long-term storage. This manual may provide you with guidance on handling the battery and electrical system.

* Drain the gas tank and carburetors of all fuel, or fill the tank completely full and add a gas stabilizer product. If you do fill the tank, still make sure you completely drain the carburetors so no fuel sits in them all summer long.

* Grease the suspension and chassis points so that they will be well lubricated all summer long. Make sure you do this after you’ve completely cleaned the machine. Also, give all exposed nuts, bolts and fasteners a good coating of grease or oil to keep them from rusting.

* Clean and pack away all your snowmobile riding gear in one location so that it’s ready to go when the flakes start falling next winter.

When winter comes along and you’re ready to get your sled out of storage, make sure you practice good snowmobile safety when starting the machine for the first time. Carefully bring the sled out of its storage space – especially if it was stored on racks – and look over the machine to make sure no nests were created by critters over the summer months. Check the spark plugs, fuel supply and coolant levels before you start your snowmobile. If the sled won’t turn over or isn’t running properly, check with your maintenance shop to see if all parts are working properly.