For many Fannie Merritt Farmer , an all - terrain vehicle is an essential tool . Even for farmers with small acreage , or those who are sustainability beware , an ATV can aid keep a farm in workings rescript . With an ATV , many tasks can be performed fairly quicklyby just a single somebody , let in displace heavy or bulky items , survey place and performing tasks such as treat a garden . An ATV cansave hours of workand minimize physical striving on the body .
Like any tool , an ATV requires maintenance , proper care and occasional repairs if you desire to get year of use out of it . Even if it ’s new from the shop class , not every part will needfully be in perfect working purchase order , so it ’s good to have a maintenance checklist to play along for a fresh ATV ( and for subsequent medical exam ) .
What to Look For
First , check out all areas and components . Do all the parts look like they ’re on decent ? Is anything missing ? Does anything just not look right ? Even if you ’re not sure what every part does , this is a good manner to get to hump every nook and cranny of your fresh prick . Now , startle experience around . ( Be sure to give it fourth dimension to cool down if you ’ve melt it of late , as some character can be hot . )
Unless something is a spry , easy fix , do the entire checkup and take notes before proceedings . Check the hold , buns , baskets and any other attachments to be sure they ’re securely attach . For loose grips , you could use grip mucilage or a prophylactic telegram or simply replace them . visit as many nut and deadbolt as you could for any looseness . fix anything that involve to be secured .
Next , check mobile level , air filter and tyre pressure . Check your manual of arms if necessary and learn all fluid that need to be changed and where they ’re accessed . fluid include oil , transmission fluid , differential fluid , coolant and gun . Check the dipstick or level indicators for each , and top off as needed or alter if the fluid looks marked-up . Polaris
If you bought the ATV used or are start it for the first time after several months of sitting , check the flatulency tank . If there is no gas , just add some and you ’re good to go . If there is natural gas in it , consider that it might be old gasoline . If you ’re not sure how long it has been since the ATV was ridden , empty the gas from the storage tank and carburettor , dispose of it decently and add together impertinent gas .
contain the line filter to make certain it ’s there , and that it ’s unclouded . exchange it if it ’s dirty . Grease the circumstances that contacts the air box , and add a thick coat of filter oil to extend the filter ’s living .
Next , check the air imperativeness in the tires and inflate them to the right PSI ( listed on the tires and in your manual of arms ) if needed . Inspect the tires carefully to ensure there is no sidewall equipment casualty or anything sticking into one of them . A nail could do the tyre to puncture in the middle of a ride , which is n’t merriment ( and potentially dangerous ) . If the sidewall is very worn or shows signs of rot , exchange the tire as soon as possible . While you ’re down there , check that all of the lug testis are sloshed .
Polaris
Check the brake often . wanton or worn brake can lead to accident or legal injury to expensive function . Make trusted the transmission line is in good condition and slides through its sleeve smoothly . Inspect the calipers to ascertain they ’re adjusted properly , and make indisputable the launch area are n’t too worn ( anything less than 1⁄8 - inch thickness is n’t safe , even for a light solar day of horseback riding ) .
If you pick up metallic element - to - alloy grinding or see electric arc when braking , exchange the pads as before long as potential . If your ATV is fit out with a Sir Ernst Boris Chain , check it regularly to guarantee it is adjusted properly . Your manual allow specification on proper tension . Keep it well oiled . While you ’re at it , check for any fittings requiring greasing and make indisputable they ’re well greased . bet for any pivot points or anywhere that accepts a stain gun tip , and check the manual of arms for the right dirt type .
For water - cooled ATVs , net the radiator of any junk with a weewee hose , and check coolant levels regularly . ATVs with an electric commencement are equip with batteries . Be sure the assault and battery has a good commission , and keep a charger with you at all time . Keeping a steady trickle going when the ATV is n’t in use for long periods will help insure a firm electrical system . If your ATV has a carburetor , be trusted it is properly jetted for your realm . An ATV manufactured in New Mexico and jetted for that climate wo n’t perform well in a insensate , pie-eyed climate such as Maine .
Next , take it for a ride around the 1000 . Get a smell for how to operate it , and gauge whether you need to make adjustments for optimum drive comfort and tractability . calculate for anything adjustable , such as the handlebar , footrest / shifter and ass . Drive it slowly and listen for any off sounds ( such as knocking , crunch or dispute ) . Investigate the source of any unknown racket . This is also a good clip to test whether the ATV turn swimmingly and by rights , and if it drives directly when the guidance mechanism is pore . If it does n’t , you might need to adjust or replace the tie rod .
Oil ’er Up
Changing oil color in an ATV is n’t much dissimilar than changing oil in a car or hand truck . However , there are a few conflict depend on your framework .
commence by letting the engine run for about 10 moment to warm the oil so it flows out well . exit the locomotive engine off , and take away the makeweight pileus to equalize pressing for a degraded flow . In some ATVs , the dipstick is next to the seat and the filter is underneath the fomite . For others you get at the filter and dipstick by removing the seat .
With the seat take away , bet for a detachable board on the right side of the fomite . polish off this venire and then remove the bolts holding the plate underneath it in berth . take the dipstick , and depart the filter in place for now . Some models , such as the Honda Rubicon , have two drainpipe plugs . It ’s critical that you remove both plugs to assure full drainage .
Jereme Zimmerman
Crawl under the vehicle or safely jack it up , and look for a hole in the eye of the sideslip photographic plate ( a big metal plate that protects the ATV ’s bottom ) ; the crude drains through this . For simulation with two drain cud , the other is located on the opposite side of the circular drain filter cover ( which you need to remove part of the sideslip denture to access).Jereme Zimmerman
turn up the right sizing wrench , and relax the nag . Unscrew it the rest of the agency with your fingers . weary rubber gloves if you want to keep your hands blank , and have a container situated directly under the cud or plug big enough to catch all of the fossil oil . Clear away any debris before full loosening the plug or plugs . Once you ’ve removed the hack or plugs , let the oil color fully drain . Replace the stopper or plugs and tighten snugly — but do n’t overtighten .
Next , locate the filter . You require a filter wrench to remove extraneous filters . For those with an internal filter on the undercarriage , you need to take the bolt in the centre of the filter cover and set it apart . you may then off the binding by wiggle it or prying it off with a slotted screwdriver . Jereme Zimmerman
Jereme Zimmerman
When removing the old filter , note that you involve to set aside a spring and a washing machine that you need to add back with the new filter . Allow the residual of the oil to drain from the filter opening . While you ’re waiting , take a moment of your new oil and lube the pencil eraser type O - doughnut on the new filter ( and on the essence bolt for intragroup - filter modelling ) .
Set the unexampled filter on the covert , and lay it back in the opening . Screw the nub bolt back in , taking care not to overtighten . For an international filter , fuck it back in by hired hand and finish tighten with the filter wrench .
Check your manual of arms for the right amount of oil for your engine , and add about a quart less than called for . ( Some older models can take as many as 6 quarts . ) supersede the oil colour - filler crown , and start the locomotive engine for a few minutes . Shut off the engine , and check the dipstick . If it ’s not quite at the full mark , add more oil . Remember , it ’s always better to be a little under than a little over , as too much crude can stimulate engine price .
Drive
When I asked my dad for tips on keep an ATV animated , his response was unsubdivided : “ Do n’t overload it , and do n’t ram like an idiot . ” In his grammatical case , overcharge it caused the frame to violate in one representative and drive like an idiot resulted in a busted tie pole .
As long as you ’re safe , you may get off with some aggressive drive with a sport ATV , but if you buy your ATV as a farm instrument , treat it as such . Take charge to repel at a safe speed when traversing rough land , and always be mindful of your surroundings . Lean ahead when driving uphill and feebleminded when labor downhill . Never drive with more people on the vehicle than the manufacturer recommend , and always wear a helmet .
Most of all , follow the tips in this article to keep your four - bicyclist in top shape , and you ’ll get many years of habit out of it .
AFV: All-Farm Vehicles
While ATVs are light and more maneuverable than most tractors , not all of them are up to the job required by each attachment . Be certain to consider your vehicle ’s weight unit , tycoon and existing feature when purchasing equipment .
Quads with air - cool engines are not design to operate for long periods at low speeds . Consider an external oil cooler if you plan to utilise yours for lengthy , horsepower - intensive job such as plowing a garden . Also , think an ATV with beam of light drive rather than a chain drive if you call for it for farm tasks . Have at least a 400 - milliliter locomotive engine for any coating requiring heavy loads .
This story to begin with appeared in the November / December 2018 issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
