Part I : ATV Engine and Carb Maintenance Basics
Aug 07 '00
PART 1
INTRO:
Maintenance on an ATV is probably one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of the product. The common conception it seems among a majority of ATV enthusiast is that "if it is not broke, than don't fix it". However this is a very casual point of view to be taken on a machine that could hold your life in its hands. Besides would you want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere because something broke due to neglect. Trust me these situations can arise at the least expected times, like while you are bogging through a mud hole and your machine dies on you. Sounds like fun right? I think your attitude will change when it happens to you.
ATV's are much like automobiles in more than one aspect. These are four wheeled machines that have all the inherent features of the automobile minus the enclosed cab. All ATV's have the obvious an engine, brakes , switches , levers , drive chains , tires, and steering mechanisms. If any one of these products fail you could be left stranded or possibly seriously injured. So why take the chance of all this when you can assure that at least the problem that occurs is not because of your neglect and could not be prevented. I am sure that I will be unable to touch on every single subject , but I will do my best to shed some light for those who are willing to read and take the first step.
ENGINE:
First I would like to start by discussing the engine! Much like an automobile this is your machine heart. And we all know that if our heart stops beating that we cease to move as well. Thus the engine should be paid particular attention to make sure that it is running at its peak and that damage does not cause you heartache and pain. The engine mind you can be one of the hardest parts to repair and most costly to your wallet. The life's blood of the machine resides in the engines crank case, Yes you guessed it the motor oil. Here the oil is used to lubricate and protect many vital internal components to the engine. If your oil is dirty (particles in it) or you have not changed it more than once all year. The chemical composition of the oil can brake down and cause the oil to be less effective thus producing more component wear than normal.
The oil should be checked for proper levels every time you start your machine. If the oil is low than add oil of the same type and grade as recommended by the owners manual to be the most effective. Your oil depending on riding conditions should under normal wear be changed at least every other month completely including a filter where applicable. If you do heavy riding in dusty, wet, or muddy conditions you may want to think about changing it once a month. If you do very little riding or use of any kind with the machine you may be able to get away with changing the oil less seldom say every two to three months as oil composition still deteriorates while sitting.
Spot check the engine before every ride, what I mean by this is to walk around the machine paying close attention to the engine. Look for any spots that appear to be wet and leaking as they may indicate worn gaskets that need replacing, causing oil blow by from the wore down areas. Although you machine me react as it always did as the whole get bigger more and more compression in the engine is lost till eventually there will not be enough to start the machine. If you see any areas that appear to be leaking make proper adjustments or replace defective gaskets as soon as possible.
I would replace your spark plug for best results approximately every other month to keep it always operating at maximum efficiency. Although this may not be necessary it could prevent further issues down the road. Only use plugs that are recommended and the appropriate size for your machine as per the owners manual. My advice to is to always carry an extra plug(s) with you either on your body or in a storage compartment as you never know when they may come in handy.
The engine is the heart of the machine, if the engine is not running neither are you. If the engine is not feeling good , much like you it may become slow and unresponsive. Pay close attention to your engine and its state of running. Anyone who drives a machine constantly will be able to detect changes in the sound and response the engine produces. Do not neglect what my be problems as this could cost you a lot of money in the long run as engine damage could result.With proper oil changes an ATV motor much like a automobile can provide hours of enjoyment and in most cases tend to live longer than automobile engines.
Carburetors:
The carburetor should be viewed kind of like your lungs. Even if the heart his pumping if the lungs are not functioning than you are still dead. The same applies for your ATV all parts work in unison and when one fails all suffer. Your carburetor requires less maintenance than the engine but should not be neglected either. It pushes gas from the tank into the motor. If the carburetor is dirty these particles can enter into the engine and cause damage. If the carburetor is adjusted improperly the effect in engine performance will be greatly altered. In essence one hand shakes the other.
The carburetor in most cases is totally rebuild able and should be rebuilt for maximum performance approximately once a year. If you are un comfortable with doing this you can disconnect the carburetor from the machine and take it to your local repair shop. If you are going to try this yourself I suggest buying a service manual so that you can follow the procedures within unless you are experienced in this department already. It is not recommended that a person inexperienced with the proper assembly or disassembly of a carburetor get involved with rebuilding or disassembly for cleaning purposes. It is not a bad idea for those not mechanically inclined to take there machine to a local dealer once a year for a full tune up and alignment. This could be prospectively costly though and many of these things can be done at home with the proper tools and knowledge.
There are many intricacies and adjustments within the motor and carburetor that do not allow for full disclosure on maintenance. This and the following Opinions on repairs (more to come) are meant to be very basic and can give the ATV owner an idea of things that should be checked periodically to avoid costly repairs in the future. I am by no mean a mechanic but feel that I have owned and maintained enough ATV's and snowmobiles to allow for basic knowledge due to past mistakes etc. My goal is to aide those less inclined in accessing a situation and avoiding costly trips to the repair shop where necessary as well as attempting to make for a safer more reliable ride.
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