hey everyone,

I just wanted to hear about what everyone does for general maintenance on there quads or things that need to be done that might get missed, help out some of the newer riders out there. include how often and what kind of riding you do.





'04 YFZ 450

 

We do mostly rocks, mud, water and hardpack here in New England. Must checks (that I confess I don't always get to) are tire pressure, check oil for amount and make sure water isn't in it, grease the fittings!!!!, clean air filter, and mostly give it a good hose down at the end of the day.

 

"GENERAL MAINTENANCE" is very subjective to what KIND of ATV rider you are. I admittedly suffer from a serious case of OCD, so my obsessive nature may be overkill for most.

YOUR MANUAL is your best guide for you machine. It will lay out pretty much the BASICS for you.

My self as primarily a TRAIL rider I have a "ritual" pretty much every time I fire up one of my machines.
- CHECK: oil, tire pressure, give the front a shake to check for anything loose, and a good overall visual inspection (things bent/loose/hanging down/wet seals etc.)

As MOOSE mentioned keeping them CLEAN!!! is one of the most important things you can do! Mine all get a complete washing/towling off after EVERY ride. Dirt/debris can build up quickly and ruin seals/CV joints/brake pads - you name it.

If your machine is liquid cooled I take the time to hose down/out the radiator when washing & check for any debris in the fan shroud. Always listening out on a ride for your cooling fan to kick in/out will give you an idea how hot your machine is running. (I installed an aftermarket gauge myself)

I also pay VERY close attention to just HOW my machine is handling/operating. If something FEELS wrong.....then it's a good bet something IS wrong. Squeaks, clunks, shakes that weren't there the last time - demand immediate attention.

I also pay close attention to my air filter(s). If I'm sucking in alot of dust, I pull and wash/clean/re-oil the filter. On average usually 4 times a yr depending on riding conditions and what machine is getting ridden the most (usually mine).

Now that all being said, I also run complete synthetic oil(s) - in all of my machines. WIth the extreme(s) in temperatures in ND. it just makes sense.
TRV - 0w40 AMSOIL Engine
550 - 0w40 AC ACX Engine
250 - 5w50 AC ACX Engine
AMSOIL 75w90 in ALL diffs & tranny in 250.

I do a COMPLETE oil change every spring on all machines regardless of mileage. That includes dropping the engine/diff/transmission oil(s) - cleaning/re-oiling the air filters - checking coolant level & stength of coolant - inspecting brakes - inspecting battery and performing a load test. - looking for anything worn out basically.

I also at this time strip the 70% of the plastics/seat/side panel & belly skid plate(s) off and soak the entire frame and components down with a dirt release compound (car wash soap & AC's dirt removal spray) and mildly scrub what I can reach with a carwash brush - then rinse/towel off.
- the TRV gets another full inspection every fall like this as well. I use it to plow snow in the winter.....

Toldya - overkill But in the end my machines run & look pretty much like the day I bought'em.
And as for overall repairs:
- 1 stator shaft seal/fuel sender (warranty) & new brake pads in 1450 mls on the TRV.
- NONE on the wifey's 550 in 500mls.
- Fuel sender on kid's 250 in 250mls.(warranty)

Sorry I tend to ramble, but pretty much sums up my maintenance details on my AC machines..........now on my vehicles..........

 

Follow what your owners manual tells you to do. If you need one let me know!