When you invest in an ATV, like any investment, it needs protection. People regularly maintain their cars and homes too. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are no different. They deserve the same amount of attention that valuable items do. Some love from time to time will keep them running smoothly at top performance while also protecting against wear & tear over long periods. A lot goes into maintaining our vehicles, including checking fluid levels or performing maintenance checks every so often before storing them away for another year.
Avoid Improper Storage for Long Periods of Time
The long-term storage of fuel can lead to corrosion and ruin. For example, there’s a fungus called hormone resinae. It grows in the line of your gas-guzzling vehicle if you leave it sitting for long periods, especially during hot weather! It’ll do everything from plugging up filters and carburetor jets while emitting acids that destroy metal parts. It means anything made out of plastic will quickly melt away when exposed.
Microscopic organisms like these are responsible for the pipeline damage that shut down the Alaskan North Slope oil fields. Suppose you ever discover a black or green sludge-like substance plugged up in your fuel filter and lines. In that case, it’s probably one of their evil cousins, such as anaerobic bacteria, which needs to be treated with biocides.
The hardening of resins in unused fuel can cause various problems, including gumming up the delivery system and reducing power. To prevent this from happening, you should use name-brand Sta-bil additives, which will keep your ATV running smoothly until the subsequent use.
Reduce Water Ingestion
High-speed running your 125cc engine through a mud hole can be one heck of an adrenaline rush and, but it also generates forced streams of water similar to what you might find on a pressure washer. You may need to replace it afterwards. In addition, it means that any lubricant seals will get wet, and there’s no telling if they’ll continue working correctly afterward as well. So to prevent this from happening in the first place, make sure all fluids inside your vehicle stay topped off before going out.
The electrician’s worst nightmare is a circuit that won’t turn off. Water can do wonders in damaging electrical components. Kow-current signal carrying wires which will quickly become unreliable when exposed to moisture due to corrosion. It makes them useless or prone to distortion depending on how much time goes by before they’re dried out again.
A problem like this may not seem very serious at first glance. Still, if left unchecked, it could soon evolve into something much worse, requiring more extensive work done.
The sealed connectors on most ATV manufacturers’ electrical leads prevent such problems from occurring 99% of the time. The plastic housings feature a locking tab and rubber seals around each wire. It is between two mating connection points for high-quality protection against short circuits or other harmful connections that might occur when you’re not paying attention.
Clean Contaminated Lubricants
ATV engines are not waterproof, and if they get wet, you can kiss your engine goodbye. The more water that enters ATVs internals, the worse off it will be for wear as metal parts grind against each other until there’s no space left between them. It is due to the buildup of metallic particles in all three components. These components are the crankcase (oil/water mix), gear case lubricant (or “lube”), and hubs.
Remember that oil is still cheap compared to a new engine or gearcase. You must follow all recommended fluid change intervals and check your fluids for water ingestion (a milky color) after rides through deep & muddy conditions. Be sure to change the fluid immediately if there’s been any contact with water or other contamination. For example, you might find that a brush has torn a gear case vent line. It allows air pollution into your vehicle and can cause expensive damage over time. Nowadays, it is essential to be aware of what causes an ATV’s deterioration so you can make intelligent decisions when buying one.
Conclusion
To maintain your ATV in excellent condition, you should follow these steps. First, be sure to check the engine oil level after every ride and adjust if needed. Next, please keep it clean by washing off dirt with water or a cleaning solution designed for this purpose. Finally, store it out of direct sunlight during periods when not used so that its paint doesn’t fade prematurely. These three simple tips will make your ATV last much longer.
