How to fix atv trails

0823-2813P-MTDC: Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas: 2008 Edition, page02

Table of Contents

Back | Next | Cover Page

Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas: 2008 Edition

• Case Studies
  • Geoblocks for ATV Trails
  • Geocell for Trail Bridge Approaches
  • Geotextile for Underdrains
  • Geocell Problems

Case Studies

The following case studies show how geosynthetic materials were used to solve problems on trails. One of the studies points out problems that can arise if geosynthetic materials are installed improperly.

Geoblocks for ATV Trails

The Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina had serious erosion problems on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails. The ATVs were causing ruts. Water collecting in the ruts compounded the problem (figure 16). The forest reinforced the trail with Geoblocks, solving the problem (figure 17). Other national forests and national parks now use turf reinforcement products to reduce erosion and reinforce ATV trails.

Figure 16—An ATV trail in South Carolina
before Geoblocks were installed.

Figure 17—The finished trail after Geoblocks were
installed in the Francis Marion National Forest.

Geocells for Trail Bridge Approaches

The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is using geocells to build approaches for trail bridges (figure 18). In the past, approaches have sloughed off because of the steep embankments and wet conditions there. The geocells have worked wonders and are highly recommended for trail bridge approaches in the Tongass (figure 19).

Figure 18—Using geocells to construct
a trail bridge approach.

Figure 19—A finished trail bridge approach
in the Tongass National Forest.

Geotextiles for Underdrains

The Bureau of Land Management in Oregon had trouble with water going over a trail (figure 20). Large rocks were used to create an underdrain (often referred to as a French drain). The large rocks were placed on the ground and a geotextile fabric was laid over the rock (figure 21). The geotextile fabric was used as separation to keep the trail's surface material (crushed rock) from migrating down into the larger rocks. The finished trail (figure 22) allows water to flow through the underdrain.

Figure 20—An ATV Trail on BLM land in
Oregon before geosynthetics were used
to construct an underdrain.

Figure 21—Constructing an underdrain from
large rocks, with geotextile serving as
a separator between surface material
and large rocks.

Figure 22 —A finished rock and
geotextile underdrain.

Geocell Problems

Trail maintainers had the right idea when they decided to install geocells at the approaches to this bridge (figure 23). The geocells would provide a stable approach to the bridge and keep the fill material from soughing. Unfortunately, they did not install the geocells deep enough to allow 2 to 3 inches of gravel cover above them. The geocells were exposed to traffic and gradually unraveled, creating an unsightly and unsafe approach.

Figure 23—Geocells placed too close to the surface
may unravel. The top of the geocell should be 2
to 3 inches below the surface of compacted tread fill.

Top

Back | Next | Cover Page

How to prepare an ATV for the season after the winter - Russian Mechanics

At the beginning of the next season, the main thing is to properly re-mothball your favorite all-terrain vehicle that has stood for several months. To do this, you need to carefully check the status of all nodes and systems.

We'll tell you exactly how to prepare an ATV for the season.

General sequence of actions

1. If the ATV has been hung out, remove it.
2. Inspecting the storage place - are there any leaks of any technical fluids (oils, antifreeze, brake fluid)?
3. Wash and dry the ATV as needed. Under the dirt, you can not notice cracks and chips.
4. We put the ATV on a flat surface and check everything that is checked on the ground (without lifting): we inspect the trim, seat and wheels, check the levels of technical fluids and the condition of the filters.
5. We remove the trim and the seat, check the condition of the nodes under them.
6. After the “ground” check, if possible, raise the ATV and inspect from below.

Next, we'll tell you exactly what to do.

Body and seat

The plastic elements of the body may have cracked in the previous season, and this may not have been noticed before conservation. The leather or leatherette of the seat could also crack, and the filler could come out from under the cover. It is better to fix such defects immediately (lay the filler inside, sew the seams apart or apply a patch) - otherwise the holes will increase, and the upholstery will have to be completely tightened.

The seat and body are inspected after washing the ATV to make sure all surfaces are clean

Technical fluids and consumables

Engine oil : if the ATV “wintered” with the old one before the winter, it is better to replace it with a fresh one, especially if it has served more than 1000 km in difficult conditions. If the oil was changed before conservation, you need to check its level: is it gone.

Grease : Inject through all injection points. Usually they are on movable hardpoints. But it is better to look at their exact location in the instructions for the ATV.

Antifreeze : we measure the level in the expansion tank (usually it is visible under the front left wing) - if it has fallen below the minimum mark. You need to check it only on a cold engine (before starting it, or 10-15 minutes after stopping).

Brake fluid : check the level - if it has fallen below the minimum mark. Usually ATVs have two brake fluid circuits: for the front brakes and a common one. The container for the front circuit is located directly on the handlebar, next to the brake lever. The "common" reservoir is usually mounted under the rear left fender.

Spark plugs : we take it out of the engine (to do this, remove the engine compartment shield) and inspect. If there is soot or plaque, they are replaced. In general, spark plugs are rarely changed, approximately every 6000 km. If this mark is very far away, they can not be checked, since access to them is usually very inconvenient.

Air filter : inspect, if clean, leave. It is usually located under the seat, covered with a lid.

Oil filter : if the oil changes, the filter also changes. It is located on the left side, under the protective cover.

Fuel filter : inspect after checking the gas tank. To get to it, you need to remove the left side of the lining and the left engine compartment cover. If the tank is clean or has been filled to the top, the filter will likely remain clean. In this case, it can be returned to its place. If it has not been changed for a long time, the tank has not been filled with gasoline or there are traces of corrosion on the walls of the tank, the filter must be replaced.

Gas tank

Drain the old gasoline and fill it with fresh one. If, before conservation, gasoline was filled not under the neck or was not filled at all, and the tank was empty all winter, it must be examined with a flashlight: is it clean inside? If there are signs of corrosion on the walls, and flakes of sludge or any other dirt are visible at the bottom of the gas tank, the fuel system will have to be flushed.

For flushing, you need to completely drain the “wintered” gasoline, fill in fresh fuel to the edges of the gas tank and start the engine so that it disperses along the entire highway. After that, remove the cap from the tank, add gasoline if necessary. Then we also drain this fuel and again inspect the walls of the gas tank again. If rust remains, most likely the tank will have to be removed and washed more thoroughly.

Battery

Check charge and recharge if necessary. You also need to inspect the terminals, cable lugs and the battery case itself - if there is any plaque on them. If there is, we clean it with a sponge with a solution of water and baking soda.

The ATV battery is located under the seat

Engine, drive, radiator

Engine : check if there are any oil leaks.

Drive : belt - check for integrity, chain - for rust. We also check the tension and tighten if necessary.

Radiator : Remove the grille and blow it out with a vacuum cleaner or compressor. If it is heavily soiled (for example, fluff, leaves, dirt) after the previous season, wash it under pressure.

Suspension and wheels

Wheels :

• check the condition of the tires - for cracks, deformation (especially if the ATV has not been hung out), measure the tread depth;
• we inflate the tires to working pressure, and after half an hour or an hour we double-check whether it is holding. If it does not hold, then there is a leak: the wheel must be removed, look for a pass, and eliminate it.

Suspension, ATV stands on a flat surface without slopes : alternately press on the ATV from the top front and rear, and then over each wheel separately - check if there is any play, if the shock absorbers work normally. When pressing on either side, this part should rise and fall evenly without swaying.

Suspension arms must be intact: no corrosion, dents, bends, cracks, holes0036:

• we check if there is any play in all suspension arms, if there is, it may be necessary to change ball bearings or silent blocks;
• we take each wheel in our hands and try to move it vertically and horizontally - if we managed to move it in one direction, the bearings are most likely worn out;
• we examine the anthers of the CV joint - are there any holes in them (could appear due to corrosion or from stones flying from under the wheels, or from blows). If there are holes, dust will get inside, which means the anther needs to be changed.

Installation of removed parts

If something was removed from the ATV before conservation (for example, the battery, protection of the levers and the bottom), we install everything back.

Test drive

When the external inspection of all parts is over, the parts are installed in their places, all technical fluids and consumables are replaced - you can finally start the ATV.

For the first time after winter, this must be done with particular care. The sequence is:

1. Start the engine. The engine should start immediately, without vibration and extraneous noise. If not, we check the battery charge, and if it is discharged, we remove it and charge it. You can also immediately check the condition of the candles and clean them (if there is soot) or replace them with new ones. If the candles are normal and the battery is charged, you can try starting with a manual starter or “folk” methods: drop a few drops of gasoline into the spark plug hole, heat the exhaust manifold with a building hair dryer, or replace the fuel with a higher brand (if AI-9 was filled2 - drain and fill AI-95).
2. Let the engine run for a few minutes and listen to see if it runs evenly at idle (whether there is an increase or decrease). We also look at the exhaust: it should be almost transparent and not smell like burning. Each of the deviations (unstable idling, opaque exhaust) can have several causes and solutions, so we will not list here.
3. We check whether the electrical consumers are working: light, sound signal, heating, electric winch and any others. We also check that the sensors and readings on the dashboard light up and go out correctly (for example, if all-wheel drive is on, 4WD is on on the panel if the high beam is on - its indicator is lit).
4. We check the engine compression - whether it reaches the normal parameters for the model. To do this, you need to know the performance of your ATV and have a compression gauge with a tip that fits the spark plug hole in diameter. To measure, you need to warm up the engine to operating temperature, unscrew the spark plug, and screw the tip of the compression gauge into the spark plug hole. In general, a compression check is not a mandatory item (since not everyone has their own compression gauge, and with proper preservation, compression could hardly have fallen), but useful. It can be skipped if the engine starts normally.
5. Performing a test run. The steering wheel must turn through the full range of travel and not return on its own. The engine should correctly respond to pressing and loosening the gas trigger - gain and slow down. We also check the operation of the brakes at different speeds: whether they slow down or stop the ATV normally. And we evaluate the work of the suspension when driving in different areas (flat road, uphill, downhill, over bumps): does the ATV sway, does any of the sides sag.

If no problems have been identified on all points, you can plan the first full-fledged departure.

possible causes and what to do if the ATV starts badly or stalls

The ATV is constantly subjected to significant loads, due to which the components of the vehicles wear out. This leads to a deterioration in the operation of the equipment or its breakdown. Therefore, let's figure out what to do if the children's ATV does not start. In this article, we will look at the main problems and ways to "resuscitate" the ATV.

Main Causes of ATV Failure

Usually, ATV problems are caused by improper use of the ATV, high loads and irregular maintenance. The main reasons why the ATV will not start are:

• Damage to the fuel system.
• Problems with the switch.
• Starter failure.
• Uncharged or damaged battery.
• Ignition problems.

To determine why a children's ATV is not working, you need to start with the simplest - technical fluids. Quite often, the problem arises due to the banal lack of gasoline. In this case, the quadric will not start or will start to stall. Therefore, before each ride, the rider needs to check the fuel level in the tank.

The ATV may also not perform well due to poor engine oil. If problems occur after changing the fluid, drain the lubricant, flush the system and fill in new oil. This is especially true for devices with a four-stroke engine, which must be "bathed" in grease.

Incorrect storage of the quad

Most riders store their ATVs for the winter. And if the procedure was performed incorrectly, it will be difficult to start the quadric after a long period of inactivity. Let's start with a simple battery failure. After a long stay in the cold, the battery can “leak” and completely fail. Do not forget that the battery could simply be discharged.

Also, in case of improper preservation, rust appears in the ATV fuel system, the spark plug and wiring fail.

To pinpoint the cause of the failure:

• Inspect all rubber elements (gaskets, seals, etc.).
• Check wiring, relay, terminals, fuse, replace spark plug.
• Inspect and charge the battery. When installing the battery, it is important to tighten all bolts well.
• Flush the fuel system.
• Adjust the carburetor.

But if a children's ATV does not work on a battery, it would be best to contact a specialized service. Technicians will need to check the ATV's engine, wiring, and batteries.

Problems with the electric starter

Quite often, problems with starting the quadric engine appear due to a starter malfunction or damaged contacts. To make sure that this is the cause of the malfunction, you need:

• Inspect the contacts. If necessary, they must be cleaned of oxidation.
• Check relay. Although the node is well protected, moisture can still get into it through microcracks. If traces of oxidation are visible on the wires, you need to remove them or replace the component.

But what if you are far from home and the starter does not work on the children's ATV? In this case, you need to close the relay contacts. This way you can start the ATV engine.

Problems with spark plugs

Something as small as a spark plug can also prevent the quad from starting. Therefore, it is important to inspect the part, and if it is damaged, it should be replaced. But if the electrode is intact, you should:

• Unscrew and clean the spark plug.
• Wipe the component thoroughly and dry. It is best to place the candle near the heater or hold it slightly above the stove.
• Re-examine the part. The standard is a grayish or brown candle shade. Any deviations (black color, oily sheen, bright white tint) indicate problems in certain systems of technology.

In addition, the rider should check for spark. To do this, you need to unscrew the candle, place it in the cap and touch the metal surface (without paintwork). A blue spark should jump on a serviceable element.

How to start the quadric engine?

There are many reasons why a child's ATV won't start or stall.

Learn more

• 
  How to clean tire marks off epoxy floor
• 
  How to get up early without feeling tired
• 
  How to turn an atv into a snowmobile
• 
  Tire supply distributors
• 
  How do you tell the speed rating on a tire
• 
  How to set the timing on a 110cc atv
• 
  Distributor repair shop
• 
  How tall is a 235 70 r16 tire
• 
  How tall is a 235 70 r16 tire
• 
  How to install spin tires
• 
  How do cars monitor tire pressure