I bought a Rancher in February. The Dealer told me that the first service was due around 200 miles. I changed the oil and filter myself at 100 miles because I couldn't see waiting that long. Now, I would like to have the valves checked/adjusted and the rest of the first service done (brake adjustments, cable adjust/lubes, plug etc.) I clean the air filter after every ride. The quad has 260 miles on it. Now that the quad is nearly out warranty anyway. I was thinking about doing the first service myself. I have the manual and I am confident that I can do it. I understand the warranty advantages to having them do it, but given that the warranty is almost over, is there any other advantage to taking it to the dealer? The dealer's price for this service is not the problem (only $65), but the dealer is about 80 miles away and it would require a 160 mile trip to drop it off, another 160 miles to pick it up and I'd be without it for several days. What do you think? I would eventually be checking the valves myself after this anyway.

 

Galt,for warrenty purposes only ,I take the quad to the dealership for it's very first service only.Since you are just about out of warrenty,do it yourself.Honda cant really come back on you for that.I have a four yr extended warrenty on mine,so I dont want Polaris harrasing me about who did the first service.====Bill

 

im fixing to do my first service as well as i am stuck in the same situation as you, im definitley not gonna make a long drive if i can do it myself. im very familiar with adjusting valves on cars, so i cant seem to think an atv would be that difficult at all. My manual says that if im knowledgeable with tools and have the service manual, no problem. I guess ill find out here soon enough.

 

If you feel quailified to do the service yourself then do it. I do all break in services to my new quads because I'm quailified to, and have never regetted it.

 

do it yourself

 

Since you are about to run out of warrenty, I would have the dealer take thorough look at the quad. You will have a chance to use your service manual in the future!

 

Do it yourself. The dealers like to tell people to bring it back to them. It is just a way for the dealer to get in your pocket a little deeper.

 

I brought mine in for the service. I dont think it is worth it. I live about 5 miles away from my dealer and I wouldn`t do it again. That is just my thoughts. Next time I would do it myself.

 

Wait a second, isn't this a brand new model? If so, there could be minor updates that you'd never know about unless you brought it in to the dealer. When I bought the DS650 in January, I debated the same issue. I decided that for the first service I'd let the dealer take a good look at it - they were 60 miles away! Since then there have been several updates that I do not get informed of unless I call the dealer or bring it in. Personaly, I hate dealers and prefer to do most work myself.

 

Take it to the dealer, that way they can check it over and if warranty comes up , then they will have seen the quad and known that it was serviced properly. Plus they can catch anything that might be misadjusted.