ATV maintenance is important to ensure a healthy and safe ride.
Some maintenance is required to ensure the ATV continues to operate properly (just like with motorcycle maintenance), while other things are done to prevent damage caused by debris in the field.
To keep your ATV in good working order, you must maintain it religiously throughout the year.
Whether you are a seasonal riders or new, you don’t want to go into a trail ride, rock crawl or labour on your property if your vehicle isn’t properly maintained.
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Why Regular ATV Maintenance is Important: ATV Maintenance Tips for Riders
It is important to maintain your vehicle if you want to enjoy it for years to come.
It is too easy to forget when maintenance is required or it can even be forgotten when you are in the middle of an adventure, the end result; the ATV may not function properly.
The ATV can become neglected, dirt can build up in critical parts, water can rust parts and loosen bolts until they snap off.
Not to mention, you can even forget to tighten bolts, which may cause parts to come off while riding your ATV.
In order to prevent these from happening, here is a list of things that must be done in order to maintain a healthy ATV:
Tire Pressure
Keeping the proper tire pressure will ensure a safer ride and maintain balance.
Proper tire pressure is required when riding your ATV on any surface type.
Whether it is on the highway, in the hills, on rocks or over sticks and logs, you want to make sure your ATV tire pressure is perfect to get you through it all.
What Should You Do?
Check your tires before every ride. Make sure that your tire can endure what you are planning to put it through. If they’re not inflated, use a tire inflator to get them to the right PSI.
If you are working in the field, check them after each hour of work. If nothing else, check them once a day to avoid any tire blowouts while riding.
Changing Your Tire Pressure
The proper tire pressure can be found in the owner’s manual or online at the manufacturer’s website. If not, you can always go to a shop and ask them to check your tire pressure.
A quick check can save you from having to pull over, change tires and get back on the road in an emergency. Keep a tire pressure gauge with you so you can easily check the pressure at home. It’s even possible to use a tire pressure monitoring system on your ATV.
Check Your ATV For Proper Loads
It is important to always check that you are not exceeding the weight capacity of your ATV.
You don’t want to lose control and get hurt for no reason.
Ask your service provider what your maximum weight capacity is and make sure you never stray from this limit.
What Should You Do?
Remove any extra objects on the ATV before taking it onto any trail, rock crawl or other obstacle course – though leave your ATV winch attached.
Watch your speed when you are on trails. This will ensure safety for you and other riders on the trail. Slow down if you are about to hit something or have trouble turning, do not go around it.
Keep Your ATV Clean
Your ATV is a mechanical device, dirt can get into all the parts, which can cause it to break down while riding.
It is also very easy for dirt and mud to get into your gas tank while riding on terrain that has water or rocks.
What Should You Do?
Keep your ATV clean and dry.
Clean the ATV after every ride and keep it in a safe place where water cannot get to the ATV.
Also, if you are riding during wet seasons (spring, summer, fall), make sure you clean off any mud that may have gotten on your ATV by spraying it with a hose or wiping it down.
Regularly Check All Parts For Damage
In order to make sure your ATV is in top shape, you must check all parts of the ATV for damage.
If any part is damaged, you should replace it as soon as possible or have it repaired by someone who knows what they are doing.
What Should You Do?
Checking your ATV for damage is a great way to prevent disaster from happening while riding.
You can visually inspect all parts or you can visit a service provider (service shops will generally check for free as part of their services to you).
Check Your ATV Oil Level Weekly
Oil lubricates the piston and helps prevent damage from debris inside the cylinder.
If your ATV is not running properly, make sure all oil levels are topped up and changed to avoid any damage to the engine.
Just like with a motorcycle oil change, it’s equally as important on your ATV.
What Should You Do?
Use a dip stick and make sure your oil level is where it should be.
If you do not have a dip stick, check the owner’s manual or ask your service provider how to check the oil level.
Check The Brakes
If your ATV is not properly adjusted for your weight and if your brakes are worn out, you can find yourself in a dangerous situation.
This is especially true when riding on hills or down the driveway. If your brakes aren’t adjusted properly, you can lose control of your ATV and have a serious accident.
What Should You Do?
Check your brakes before taking your ATV for a ride.
Make sure the brakes are properly adjusted to fit you. Make sure there are no more than 0.5in of play in the brake lever or pedal, if more, you need to adjust it.
Also make sure all parts are there and are working properly.
Check The Frame
Your ATV frame must be inspected on a regular basis for stress fractures or damage that may have happened during an accident.
If a frame is damaged in a crash, there is a very high chance the ATV will not be able to handle an accident or if it can handle it, the impact could cause damage to the frame, which would prevent your ATV from being able to ride.
What Should You Do?
Make sure you have regular inspection on your frame with a professional mechanic.
Inspect for stress fractures or bruises caused by crashes or collisions with rocks and other objects.
Check The Engine
Your ATV’s engine must be checked out once in a while to make sure it is in good working condition.
This will reduce the chance that your engine will start failing for no reason.
The main thing that needs to be checked are the spark plugs, which are important to keep them clean and free from carbon deposits.
What Should You Do?
Make sure you take your ATV in for regular servicing. This will ensure everything is working properly at all times.
Check Your ATV For Proper Operation
Although most ATVs are pretty simple, they still have some parts that must be checked to make sure you are getting the proper operation.
These parts include treads, brakes treads, clutch, ignition switch.
If you are riding your ATV on uneven terrain or have crashed it back down to the ground, these are also things that must be checked out before riding again.
What Should You Do?
Make sure you know what parts to check to make sure your ATV is operating its best.
Check the treads and tires and make sure they are in good working condition. Make sure all parts and tools are in place before riding. Check your brakes and make sure everything is working properly.
Check the brake pads and make sure they are not worn out or cracked so that they don’t work properly when riding.
Check The Engine Air Filter
If the engine is not running properly, the air filter may be the problem.
Clean it when an ATV is having problems and when you are not riding it.
If you notice your ATV starting to run rough, especially in cold weather, make sure you check this part.
What Should You Do?
Make sure you check if your engine air filter is clogged or not. If it is, remove the air filter and clean them before putting them back in.
Make sure to use a dry rag or clean shop towels to clean off any dirt from the filters. Use a vacuum cleaner to get any remaining dirt from inside the ATV so it can run smoothly again.
Also, make sure your oil level is where it should be and there are no leaks anywhere on the ATV.
Do Not Ride With A Stuck Throttle
Many ATV riders either do not know how to properly adjust the throttle on their ATV or they choose to cheat by using their foot to push forward on the throttle, which is considered bad practice.
This can cause all sorts of problems with your ATV, including deactivation of the IHC (inertia hydraulic control), which will make your ATV stop functioning.
To be safe, make sure you check if your throttle is stuck with a friend.
What Should You Do?
Make sure your ATV is in good working condition before riding it.
You can test to see if you have a stuck throttle by sitting on the ATV and letting go of the handlebar or pints. If the ATV does not stop when you let go, it could be because of a stuck throttle.
If this is the case, make sure you turn off the engine immediately and take your ATV in for servicing.
Check the Coolant Levels
If your ATV is not running properly, there could be a problem with the coolant.
This will cause all sorts of problems with the engine, including overheating and damage to the engine.
If you notice you have a problem with your ATV anytime after it has started running badly, make sure you check the coolant levels.
What Should You Do?
Make sure you have your coolant level checked before riding your ATV.
If you are unsure how to check or how to replace, look at your owner’s manual or take it in for servicing.
Check Your Spark Plugs
The spark plugs are important to keep them clean and free from carbon deposits.
If your ATV is not running properly, this may be the cause of the problem. This will cause all sorts of problems with the engine, including overheating and damage.
If your ATV is having trouble starting up, make sure you check if there are any problems with the spark plugs.
What Should You Do?
Make sure your spark plugs are clean before you take your ATV for a ride. Also, make sure they are in place.
To check the spark plug, use a screwdriver to unscrew each one and look at it closely.
The spark plug should be black or dark brown, if it is white or grayish, the plugs need to be replaced.
Maintaining Your ATV Properly
Getting your ATV serviced regularly will ensure that you are riding an ATV that is safe and functioning properly.
While there are many things to look out for, these are the most common problems that occur while an ATV is being used outdoors.
To make sure you are getting the best service for your ATV, use this list to help you with your ATV routine maintenance.
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