How to Maintain Your ATV Tips

Your ATV is designed to be tough and rugged, even under the most trying circumstances. But that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. Without regular maintenance, your ATV could have some serious problems. Luckily, you don’t have to be a seasoned mechanic to accomplish most maintenance tasks. With a little bit of elbow grease and know-how, you’ll keep your ATV running for years to come.

This guide is brought to you by Beach Boulevard Motorsports, located in Jacksonville, Florida. We work hard to help our customers find the perfect ATV and to keep it in the best shape possible!

Tires

Tires are extremely important to the performance of your ATV. They affect your ATV’s handling and gas mileage, as well as its traction and grip. Make sure to always walk around your ATV and inspect the tires. Keep a tire pressure gauge handy to make sure your tires are at the correct pressure. If you see major damage to the tread or sidewall, take your tires into the shop and have them looked at. Don’t ride on a cracked or damaged tire that might blow out and send you into a wreck.

Battery

When your battery dies, you’ll be dead in the water. But dead batteries don’t happen for no reason. They can lose their ability to hold charge as they get older, or if they’ve been exposed to extreme conditions. But often a dead battery is indicative of much larger problems. Namely, it could indicate that your magneto (the part that recharges your battery-similar to an alternator on a car) is damaged or broken.

Oil

Keeping your oil in good shape is the number one way to make sure your engine stays in good shape. Oil keeps your engine lubricated so the all-metal parts don’t grind against each other. When your engine runs out of oil, it will heat up rapidly, sometimes so hot that it fuzes in one place. To prevent this, check your oil regularly. Remove the dipstick, wipe it off with a rag, reinsert it and check the level. You want to make sure the oil falls within the range indicated on the dipstick. However, you also want to look at the oil itself. New oil comes in a clear, tan color. If the oil is dark or extremely sludgy, it’s time for new oil. If there are metallic shavings in it, it’s time to take your ATV into the shop as this indicates your engine is grinding against itself.

Coolant

Coolant, like oil, is extremely important to the health of your engine. Heat management is crucial to making engine components last as long as possible. There should be a little tank of coolant that connects to your radiator. On the side, you’ll be able to see the coolant level. Make sure it falls within the acceptable range. If you find yourself perpetually low on coolant, it may be that you have a pinhole leak in your radiator that’s robbing you of this vital fluid. Take a look at your radiator whenever you check your coolant and make sure it isn’t damaged. Check out the cap to your radiator to make sure it fits snugly and that the gaskets aren’t damaged. Examine the ground under where you normally park your ATV and make sure it’s dry and free of fluids.

Spark Plugs

Spark plugs provide the ignition your ATV’s internal combustion engine needs to make power. A weak spark plug won’t burn gas efficiently, and a broken one won’t do much at all. If you’re having power issues or your engine won’t turn over, check your spark plugs. Start by disconnecting your battery. Remove any body panels or covers that might shield the engine. Find the spark plugs and remove the ignition cables. Remove with a socket or spark plug wrench and check the metal gaps. They should be relatively clean and dry, and the ceramic housing should be unbroken. If you decide to replace your spark plugs, make sure they are correctly gapped. The “gap” refers to the distance between the pieces of metal that produce the spark. Some come “pre-gapped,” meaning they are set to the appropriate gap distance to create the optimal spark. Some require you to set them using a small metal tool that you can pick up at your auto parts store. Simply ask the cashier, as they will probably have this tool close to the register.

Hopefully this brief guide gave you a few ideas about the parts and systems you need to review in order to keep your ATV in the best shape possible. If you have any further questions, or suspect you have a problem you can’t solve yourself, stop by Beach Boulevard Motorsports in Jacksonville, Florida. We proudly serve St. Augustine, Orange Park, and St. John’s, Florida, and we can help you, too!