No matter how often you drive your side by side, there will inevitably come a day that calls for a simple, but thorough tune up.
Many tuning tips are universal to all types of vehicles. And the following list is no different. But if power, performance, durability and fuel economy mean anything to you, it’s imperative that you keep your machine running the best it possibly can.
To accomplish that, using these basic maintenance and tune-up guidelines will be a pretty good start.
If you’re accustomed to riding and wrenching on quads, finding the fuel filter on your side by side can be tricky. That’s because in fuel-injected vehicles like the Polaris RZR, the filter is actually located inside the gas tank on the pick-up tube and isn’t easily replaceable like on your typical ATVs. This not-so-user-friendly design will require you to replace the tank and pump assembly, or cut your fuel line and add an aftermarket fuel filter yourself. Weeeeeeeeee.
The vast majority of the time, there will only be one. In the event you have two, just double the instructions!
A healthy spark is critical to getting the proper air-fuel mixture your UTV requires to run optimally.
Before you unscrew your spark plug, be very careful to clean and remove any debris that might fall through the hole once you remove the plug. Any dirt or sand that might sneak into your motor from there can put your vehicle in a world of hurt. Please be careful.
Spark plugs are inexpensive. If there’s any doubt about your current plug’s health, just replace it. It will be very important to consult your owner’s manual, local shop, or the Web for the appropriate gap distance between the center and ground electrodes, depending on what side by side you own and which spark plugs you are using.
We recommend screwing in your spark plugs by hand. Only a very gentle half turn with a wrench will be required to secure the spark plug into place.
If you’re checking your spark plugs, be sure to check your wiring.
Simply inspect for any cracks or wire breaks. And if you see any, replace your cap and wire.
If you’re spending a lot of time running in rough terrain, and your side by side doesn’t have any skid plates or A-arm guards, sooner or later something is going to puncture your CV boots.
Holes in the CV boots can lead to all of the grease getting thrown out, a bunch of water being let in, and ultimately a rusted, worthless ball bearing.
So, check for any holes or damage of any kind. If you feel compelled to change your CV boots and are not quite sure how, watch this excellent three-minute video showing you exactly how to replace those boots.
A clean air filter sends clean air to your engine, giving you more power, throttle response, and better fuel economy. It is one of the simplest and least-expensive ways to keep your side by side operating at its peak. Take the time to look at it, clean it when needed, and replace it as necessary.
If you’re not having your local shop do the work for you, don’t forget to run your engine for three or four minutes before beginning the oil-change process.
If you’re changing the oil filter, don’t forget to lubricate the new filter’s gasket with oil before attaching your new filter to the mounting surface.
Always be on the lookout for leaking oil, as it could be a telltale sign of worn gaskets or bad valve covers. Making this a regular part of your pre-ride inspections could save you some downtime in the middle of the wilderness someday, where you might get eaten by a bear, pretty much ruining the entire trip.
Keep your side by side tuned, and reap the benefits each and every time you ride for many years to come.
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Jul. 31 2020 Ownership Tips By Nielsen Enterprises
When you want to dominate the most rugged terrain, you can count on your
ATV to back you up! Whether for work purposes or for recreational use, quads are your ticket for off-roading.
With all the hard work they do, your four-wheelers need some regular maintenance in return. Without proper care, you might end up suffering a mishap on the trails.
Nielsen Enterprises is your leading ATV dealer in Lake Villa, IL and we’ve compiled some ways that you can care for your quad at home. Of course, for some things you’re going to need expert help. When you want professional ATV service and repairs near Chicago or Milwaukee, contact us and have a chat with one of our trained technicians.
Before you begin, make sure you know what’s right for your machine. Go through your owner’s manual so you know any specific instructions and recommended products. We’ve compiled some general information that can be applied to most four-wheelers but your manual is where you get the know-how for your model. There should also be instructions about regular service timings, which you should try and stick to.
The oil in your ATV keeps all the engine components from creating friction and destroying each other, so you have to pay attention to it.
When you inspect the oil, check to see if it has become dark and sludgy and replace it immediately if it has. The oil should be free of any metal shavings as that indicates the parts are beginning to grind together. In that case, you might have to bring it in to professionals to figure out the best course ahead.
The spark plugs of a quad provide the ignition to the internal combustion engine so they have to be checked periodically. More often if your engine isn’t working well. Disconnect the battery, remove the engine cover and then take out a plug with a spark plug wrench. The metal gaps should be clean and dry and the ceramic casing should be in one piece. If you know how to change the spark plugs, go ahead but if not, turn to experts.
Your ATV needs coolant to stop the motor from overheating during rough, bumpy rides. You might never need to replace this fluid but you will need to top it up whenever required.
Make sure the radiator doesn’t leak and there aren’t any pools of fluids under the quad. If there are any, make sure you get a technician to fix that for you!
The radiator cap has more to do than simply keep all the coolant in your engine. The cap also does the job of drawing the coolant into your engine. This is why you have to ensure there are no loose seals which can decrease performance or cause overheating. Check the cap and replace or repair it according to its condition.
Your ATV will run best when you put high octane fuel in it! Ethanol-enriched fuels are very capable of stretching fuel supplies but they also lead to increased corrosion and buildup in the engine. If you use the right type of gas, it’s going to make a big difference. If you’re going to use standard gas, make sure to drain your carburetor after each ride, and stabilize your fuel when it’s in storage.
Your brakes are a crucial part of your ATV.
These should be regularly checked even when they seem to be working fine so you can catch a problem before it gets too big. Always check the brake pad thickness, the routing of lines and both the condition and level of your braking fluid. If you’re not well-versed with brakes maintenance, it might be better to let a professional handle it.
We hope these tips help you take much better care of your vehicle! For more tips or if you want to get expert ATV service and repair in Lake Villa, IL, get in touch with us at Nielsen Enterprises and one of our staff members will help you out! We’re proud to be the preferred ATV dealer for our clients from Chicago and Milwaukee!
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How to adjust the carburetor on an ATV? What to pay attention to? What are the signs of misuse of the device? About this today in our article.
Using the proposed instructions, you will be able to set up the carburetor step by step without the help of specialists.
For stable operation of the ATV, it is necessary that the engine receives the optimal amount of combustible mixture corresponding to its rev range. Otherwise, the following problems may occur: nine0003
What needs to be applied in this case:
Important! Carry out tuning only when the carburetor is cleaned outside and inside, as well as when the engine is warmed up to operating temperature. nine0003
nine0010 Note. The location of the bolts on each carburetor model may vary, so read the instructions that came with your machine.
1. Start the ATV and test ride. Wait until the engine has completely cooled down. nine0003
2. Check the condition of the spark plug. To do this, unscrew the cap and inspect the candle.
What to look for:
3. Unscrew the needle cover at the top of the carburetor. Pull the needle. This is the main element that regulates the supply of fuel to the combustion chamber, since the needle is connected to the gas trigger. When the trigger is pressed, the needle rises, slightly opening the hole for supplying the fuel mixture. This directly affects the growth of power and speed of the ATV.
4. Remove the cable, then press the needle to pull it out. The needle has 5 grooves and a retaining ring. By default, it is set to medium. The lower the retaining ring is located, the higher the needle is raised, which means that a lot of gasoline and little air is supplied. Accordingly, the higher the ring - the less gasoline and more air.
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5. Reposition the circlip in the desired direction to optimize carburetor performance. Insert the needle into place.
6. Start the engine and press the throttle trigger. With proper adjustment, the engine should not stall from a sharp pressure.
And remember, you should resort to adjusting the needle only as a last resort, when adjusting the quality and quantity screw does not bring results.
The performance of a four-wheeler depends on the correct level of gasoline in the carburetor. An excessive amount will flood the candles, spill onto the ground and lead to unnecessary expenses. If there is too little fuel, the engine simply will not start.
How to optimize the fuel supply
The operation and life of the engine directly depends on the quality of the fuel mixture.
The carburetor is responsible for the preparation of the composition, but after prolonged use of the equipment, the settings “go astray”. This results in:
nine0010 Many riders who decide to buy an inexpensive ATV simply do not spare the technique and ignore this procedure. But even if you plan to change your device in 1.5-2 years, adjustment is needed. The reason for this is increased fuel consumption. A quad with an untuned carburetor "eats" 30-40% more gasoline, and these are tangible costs.
So how do you adjust the carburetor on a Chinese ATV? For this you need:
However, it is important to remember that all adjustments are made only with a "clean" carburettor. This means that the rider needs to remove all the dirt from the node and flush the system to remove condensation and sediment from it.
Note: The engine must be warmed up to operating temperature immediately before adjustment.
To set the carburetor idle speed, the float chamber must first be cleared of fuel. To do this, start the ATV, close the fuel cock and wait until the machine stalls (5-10 minutes). To speed up the process, you can take a little ride on the quadric. Of course, gasoline can be drained, but in any case you will have to warm up the device, so the first method of "removing" gasoline is more effective. nine0003
Then:
Read the manual before adjusting the carburetor on a 125cc ATV to be sure. Remember that the location of the bolts is different in different devices, so read the documentation in advance. nine0003
To evaluate the quality of the fuel composition, make a test run. After that, unscrew the candle, and evaluate its condition. If it is:
Also look out for these "symptoms": damaged tip (electrode failure), oil deposits (damage to rings and caps), chips and inclusions (sign of motor failure).
To adjust the mixture you need to twist the needle cover and pull it out. To get the needle, pull out the cable. After that, move the ring in the required direction (lower - more air, but less fuel and vice versa). Then start the engine and make sure it doesn't stall. nine0003
The final step in adjusting the 125cc ATV carburetor is adjusting the gasoline level.
