Hi All,

I'm new to the forum as of today. I am a new ATV owner. I have wanted one for a long time. I finally got too old to drag deer and pack elk on my back. I purchased an 2006, AC 500, Auto FIS, Camo.

I had my first crash and was wondering about the damage. Ok here goes, I was drinking Jack Daniels with a friend when we decided, (without running it by the wife) to take a quick ride up the hill to check out a old mine shaft. Off we went with my friend on the rear, ( my wife watching tv thinking I was in the garage). I headed up a very steep hill side, which had a lip on the ridge. Yep, over it came. Lucky for me, my buddie fell to the side, the ATV came right over towards me. As it was coming down, I was looking up as I was sliding down the hill on my back. I used my legs to divert the fall of the ATV away from me and my friend. It worked and the ATV started rolling down the hill, but away from us. It rolled about six times before coming to a rest on its tires. No serious injuries.

Here goes.

1. the rear rack was bent beyond repair
2. the handle bars were smashed down and all the contols were scrapped and scarred. (still work however).
3. dirt and grass was embedded into the bead between the tire and the wheels
4. Ok, here the problem..... when it's parked on a flat surface the right front tire seems to be canted out at the point where the rubber sits on the cement. QUESTION: I think the wheel hub may be slightly bent, which causes a slight warp to the brake rotor. I've ordered these new parts, ($100.00). Has anybody experienced the front A Arms getting bent in this kind of roll-over? If the bend is minor, how can you tell for sure it's bent? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Quote """" had my first crash and was wondering about the damage. Ok here goes, I was drinking Jack Daniels with a friend when we decided, (without running it by the wife) to take a quick ride up the hill to check out a old mine shaft."""""

First off, let me say --- you should be ashamed of yourself for even posting this on this site. Don't know about where you live, but here drinking while driving an ATV is the same as drinking and driving a car --- it's against the law and down right STUPID !

Why did you even have to add that in there ? Why couldn't you just say you had an accident.

Here in Nova Scotia, new strict ATV laws have been put into place in the last year, most of them because of people like you who think it is funny and real cool to have a few drinks and then go out and have a wreck. Sorry for sounding rude, but that's how I feel.

 

Ok, I feel bad enough already. The area is fairly remote, it wasn't intelligent to say the least, there is not public access; therefore only myself and my companion were at risk. Enough said, not looking for a public lashing, It was a moment of poor judgement, not to happen again. But thanks for you imput. Still hope to get some advise on the damage.

Really, we don't need more laws, just some more common sense.

 

since you relize you were in the wrong, I'll reply sensibly now lol

if I were you, I would take the bike to the dealer where you bought it and have the trained mechanic look it over. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

You can bend the frame too. A-arms are bent all the time, they don't build them to crash, just ride. You need to remove the A-arms and check them for straightness (is there such a word). The hub and rotor can be bent but the rotor is unlikely. the hub is cast and cheap, replace it if it's bent. The same applies to A-arms. Wheels bend real easy.

 

Thanks Bear 4570,

I will do just that. I've made a pretty good inspection of the A Arms in place, but not removed. I want to get the ride back to new then allow common sense to prevail hence-forth.

 

While you have the front A-arms removed take all the plastic off and skid plate as well and look down the frame rails. You may need to use some sort of straight edge. Check the frame for bends, cracks and such.

Before tearing into it that far you might do as was already suggested and take it to a dealer and have them"inspect it" for little of no fee. Then they could give you a semi-detailed list of what is wrong and what they would fix. Give youa good starting place. As for what might be wrong exactly we can guess but if any of us here could see it we could inspect it closer and give you more details. Hence take it to a dealer to have it inspected. It may not be fixable to track straight ever agian due to frame problems.

Welcome to the forum.

SJ

 

Thanks, you guys have given me the direction I was looking for. I will start with the wheel hub and go from there. If it's not right then, I will take it to the dealer. I really hope it not that bad. It seems to track straight and turn fine, just has that little tilt to the front right tire that worries me.

Matt

 

You mave have simply bent the rim where the lugs are and need a new rim.

Could see if the other front tire is straight and swap sides with it to check how it hits the ground. If it still looks angled with either front rim bolted on that side then it may be a component farther up the suspension of the frame and not a rim.

Steel rims do tend to bend if hit hard enough and from the sound of things it definitely hit hard enough. Glad to hear you both came out uninjured.

SJ

 

Thanks a bunch, you have been very helpful! I too thought about putting the left tire on the right side to see what it looks like. Until Monday, the 29th when the front right hub and rack gets here I'll have to wait. Once I got home last night, I really looked it over well, placing a straight edge where ever a bearing surface would allow. It appears to be in perfect condition. My fingers are crossed that I only had a slight bend to the front right hub, maybe the steel wheel too, I'll have to explore that once the hub get to me. It could have been worse for sure. I plan on living to 100 so I better be careful. I bought the machine to be work- horse not a play-toy; although it is alot of fun.