ATV Maintenance
Spring is here and that means it’s time to think about those ATV adventures once again. Of course, in order to ride your ATV, it needs to be in good working order. That’s why regular ATV maintenance is so important. Taking the time to attend to your ATV and repair it will help you stay safe and avoid any snafus on the trail. You don’t want your ATV to break down in the middle of a mud pit!
Motorcycle Maxx, located in Lewis Center, is your Ohio ATV dealer. To help you keep your powersports vehicle in tip-top shape, we’ve provided some basic maintenance tips below.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
Before we say anything else, we need to remind you that the best resource you have for taking care of your ATV is your owner’s manual. This resource is your best bet when it comes to keeping your ATV in peak condition. While our tips are generally applicable, only your owner’s manual can tell you the specific fluids and parts to use with your particular model.
Check Tire Pressure & Condition
Your next order of business is to check the pressure in all four of your tires, as well as taking note of their general condition. These rugged tires maintain constant contact with difficult terrain so they take a lot of abuse. Use a tire-pressure gauge to see what the pressure of each tire is, airing them up to the manufacturer’s recommended psi levels.
While you’re down there, inspect each tire for signs of uneven wear, bald patches, cracks in the sidewalls or embedded objects in the treads. You should never ride on bad or even questionable tires! Always get them repaired or replaced before you take your ATV out for a ride.
Change The Oil & Filters
You should check your ATV’s oil before each ride by removing the dipstick, wiping it on a soft cloth, reinserting it and removing it again to compare the color and consistency to the chart provided on the reservoir. Clear and runny oil merely needs a top-off, while sludgy and opaque oil merits a change. Be on the lookout for metal shavings in your oil, as this indicates that parts of your engine may be grinding together, which is a huge issue that you’ll want to have addressed by a professional mechanic, like those we have here at Motorcycle Maxx.
You’ll also want to change the oil filter at the same time, and this is a good time to check your air filter as well. If you ride in particularly dirty or sandy conditions, your air filter may get dirtier more quickly and you need a clean air filter to keep particulates out of your engine.
Fuel Up
Before you head out on any ATV trip, you should make sure to fill up your fuel tank completely. Use the right kind of fuel for your ATV; the owner’s manual may have a recommendation for you. If not, stick with high-octane, pure gasoline. Ethanol blends are economical, but they’re really only meant for passenger cars and trucks. Using ethanol gas in your ATV may cause corrosion, especially while it’s in storage. Use a fuel stabilizer to prevent water separation if your ATV is going to be stored for a few weeks or longer.
Examine Brakes
Having functional brakes is vital on an ATV, given the extreme conditions you ride them in. You’ll want to examine your braking system on a regular basis. Make sure the brake pads are sufficiently thick, the lines are well-connected and routed correctly and that your brake fluid reservoirs are topped off.
Remember, if you need professional assistance with ATV repairs, you can always get in touch with the service department here at Motorcycle Max. Our team will be happy to help you however we can. And when you’re looking to buy an ATV, you’ll want to stop by our Lewis Center location to browse our full stock of new and used ATVs for sale. We can offer you price quotes and trade-ins, too. Motorcycle Maxx proudly serves the cities of Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.
