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Chinese-made ATVs like the TaoTao 110cc ATV have been growing in popularity in the past decade for a good number of reasons. They are affordable and good beginner vehicles for kiddos and youngsters training for more serious riding. This article will go over another one of these economical off-road wheelers.
The TaoTao 110 ATV is a U.S.-manufactured Chinese kid quad by Tao Motor. It features an automatic transmission, a speed limiter, a wireless key fob with an engine shut-off, utility racks, and a California Green Sticker. This mini machine perfectly caters to both beginner and experienced youngsters.
The quad’s rugged steel frame, full suspension, and a wide array of color options make it a massive hit with parents and kids who want to bond over experiencing the outdoors. Plus, it makes it a very viable choice for a fun, safe ride. Does the Chinese ATV truly live up to its reputation? Read on to find out.
Despite what others may think, TaoTao 110cc ATVs did not inch their way into the off-roading landscape simply because of their low price point. Like any other Chinese-made quads, TaoTao wheelers are feature-rich machines with all the safety features kids would need as they embark on a journey to off-roading and drag racing. Big-name brands provide quality, durability, and a solid platform for practice – and the TaoTao ATV does so, too.
Introduced to the public in the past half-decade, the TaoTao 110cc ATV had a total of five models and approximately 11 trims released in the market, as follows:
All these models boasted an automatic transmission with reverse, full suspension, a multitude of color options, and tons of safety features parents would love.
They had bike-like handlebars that provide the young rider good control of the quad. The rear rack offered an 11-lb (5 Kg) carrying capacity – great for snacks and some protective gear. Full floorboards allowed for sure footing while riding on bumpy or wooded trails.
The Tao Tao 110 ATV is brought to life by a four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. Engine displacement is 107 cm3, and the bore-stroke ratio is 52.4 x 49.5 mm (2.06 x 1.95 inches) with a compression ratio of 9.5:1. The air-fuel mixture is handled by a 19-mm PZ19 carburetor and 35-mm fully adjustable air filter. Fuel tank capacity is 2.3 Liters/0.60 US gallons.
Recommended fuel is unleaded gasoline with a PON rating of 87+ or RON rating of 91+, while oil would be 15W-40 standard motor oil, like Valvoline VV70506-05 Premium Blue 15W40 Motor Oil (view on Amazon).
Power travels to the wheels via an automatic transmission with neutral and reverse and a centrifugal clutch assembly.
Its foot-operated chain drive has a maximum torque of 6.5 ft-lb (8.8 Nm @ 6,000 RPM) and marketed top speed of 33 mph. It comes with an adjustable speed limiter that slows down the machine by turning the adjustment screw clockwise and increases the top speed by doing the reverse.
The TaoTao 110 is powered by an electronic CDI ignition with an auxiliary pull-start system. An AC-Magneto alternator powers up electronic accessories. The wheeler requires a 12V 4Ah 70-CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) 5L-BS battery with assembled dimensions of 4.49 x 4.21 x 2.76 inches (114 x 107 x 70 mm – L x W x H) – excluding wiring harness and mounting accessories. It requires an NST A7RTC or an NGK CR6HSA spark plug with a 0.024- to 0.028-inch (0.06-0.085 mm) gap.
Tubeless valved 14.5 x 7-6 front and rear tires with textured tread are mounted on steel rims and enable this youth ATV to navigate diverse terrain, making it beginner-friendly. Tire pressure should be 34.47 kPa (0.
35 kg/cm², 5 psi). 68.95 kPa (0.70 kg/cm², 10 psi) should be the maximum pressure when seating the tire beads. When airing down your knobbies, never go below 13.79 kPa (0.14 kg/cm², 2 psi). Replace stock rubber with Kenda Scorpion K290 ATV Tires (view on Amazon) in case of wear and tear.
This four-wheeler is equipped with hand-operated front mechanical drum brakes and foot-operated rear hydraulic disc brakes – unlike the brake setup for most ATVs with hydraulic disc brakes found at the front and mechanically sealed drums placed at the back.
The TaoTao 110cc ATV features 10.8-inch front shock absorbers and 9.6-inch rear shocks without rebound damping. You may find stock front suspension to be too long for the vehicle (and too stiff for young riders despite being on the softest setting). In this case, replace them with shorter shocks for the quad to operate correctly and prevent the shock from slamming or jumping back to its stock position.
While there is nothing documented in the service manual, you can determine the optimal shock length you need with a bit of testing. Do this by placing the front end of your wheeler on a jack stand and removing one of the shocks (keep the wheel in place).
Next, see if bump steer exists by cycling the wheel up and down through the range (this is the paramount issue that needs addressing). If it does, select shocks that allow the wheel to travel up and down without turning left or right spontaneously.
The quad’s overall dimensions are 45.7 × 28 × 33.3 inches (1,160 x 711 x 845 mm – L x W x H). Conversely, carton dimensions are 45.5 x 27.2 x 24 inches (1,155 x 690 x 610 mm – L x W x H). The vehicle wheelbase is 31.5 inches (800 mm), while its seat height is 24.4 inches (620 mm). Gross weight is between 205 and 225 lbs (93-102 Kg), depending on the ATV model. The maximum loading capacity is 132 lbs (60 Kg).
The TaoTao 110cc comprises a tubular steel frame and plastic body material (in Pink Camo, Yellow Camo, Green Camo, Black, Burgundy Red, blue, Red Spider, Black Spider, Pink Spider, and Blue Spider).
All models feature modern aesthetics and an 11-lb-capacity rear utility rack.
The fuel tank is under the driver’s seat. The front brake and throttle levers, speed limiter, parking brake button, and lanyard are on the right handlebar, while the main and start/stop switches are on the left.
The list price of a TaoTao 110 ATV ranges from $799 to $1,099, depending on the seller, trim, and whether the quad is delivered fully assembled. This amount generally does not include shipping fees, liftgate service, and product warranty – although other reseller sites like TX Powersports already include shipping expenses in the four-wheeler’s resale price.
Buyers can even get more savings by purchasing more than one unit. Layaway and finance plans are also available for consumers who cannot pay the full cost of the wheeler upfront.
Based on most (if not all) Chinese ATV forums, the main complaint about the Tao Tao 110 ATV has to do with no spark, starting, or idling issues.
And TaoTao owners could not agree more. Like full-sized ATVs, starting problems with kiddie quads typically indicate plugged fuel lines or a dirty carburetor.
It is not necessarily a standard problem for Chinese wheelers. But for buyers of secondhand units, this is something to be expected, especially if the vehicle has had multiple previous owners.
Since the TaoTao ATV has a fully automatic transmission, you can skip checking on the choke position. However, compression and voltage tests, spark plug inspection, and CDI box/wiring diagram checks are still required.
Part of what you need to inspect should be ensuring that exciter coils are producing a lot more volts and black/white kill wires are earthed with the correct switches. Rule out a potentially defective trigger coil or CDI box by swapping either one out with a working unit.
In some cases, the stator cover may need to be removed to see if there is a wire cut in half. Repairing this usually gets your quad’s spark back and takes care of starting issues.
Other times, a simple gasket replacement or fuel change does the trick.
Owners often forget that the TaoTao 110cc ATV is a bit picky with fuel and ethanol-added variants (with sulfuric content) lead to a clogged carb and an adverse reaction with TaoTao 110cc ATV parts having brass and aluminum components. A fuel stabilizer helps mitigate damaging effects. But the right type of fuel always works best.
Note that this is one of the potential causes for the engine to bog up or die intermittently.The TaoTao 110cc ATV top speed is 33 mph (53.1 km/h) and could be lowered further, depending on how young the rider is. This speed perfectly fits youngsters and first-timers. But for those who find the quad’s top-end lacking, here are some things to try to help increase it:
Many experienced owners advise upgrading to a higher fuel rating in moderation so as not to blow up the engine right away. Going one to two fuel-grade points each time is fine – for example, going from 85 to 87 instead of jumping straight into a PON rating of 91. Additionally, researching the fuel composition is also recommended, as some higher-grade variants may have additives that are harmful to your ATV.
These components comprise a more unorthodox approach but are guaranteed to increase your TaoTao 110’s top speed.
The fan makes for forced induction, while the alcohol injection for more combustion. When put together, more airflow and combustion mean more power.
Porting the head, having a good cold air intake, and taking the exhaust system out are also sure-fire ways to wake up your quad’s powerplant. The biggest challenge with these is that you may not find many aftermarket parts to accomplish this job since 110cc ATVs were designed initially for kids or younger riders.
Taking off useless or unnecessary parts from your 4×4 reduces aerodynamic drag and helps improve top speed. Not so much so on a straightaway, but this will be evident when going uphill. Pair that with new shocks for better bump absorption, and you are certain to go faster off-road. Complete the setup with new tires and wheels (these also improve your vehicle’s handling characteristics), new clutching, a larger carburetor, and different gearing – and you are all set.
Tao Motor – the maker of TaoTao 110cc ATV – is a subsidiary of Taotao Vehicles Company Ltd. It is a premier Chinese motorsports vehicle manufacturer that produces all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, go-karts, scooters, and electric vehicles.
This firm has earned itself a reputation for producing quality ATVs at family-affordable prices and has several warehouses in Indiana, Georgia, California, and Canada. Tao Motor has followed through with its commitment – to provide families a means to revel in the outdoors on value motorsports vehicles. Today, Tao Motor continues to develop and expand its product line and services.
TaoTao 110cc ATV reviews are largely positive, and that is what is great about this vehicle. Given its price point, it surprisingly delivers on quality, features, and capabilities. It has a sleek, sporty design, is beginner-friendly yet versatile, and is one of the few youth ATVs that can boast of a California Green Sticker.
It rides great on trails, tracks, and dunes.
Installation and repair are not as difficult as counterparts – thanks to its huge community and aftermarket support. It is an off-road vehicle youngsters can learn from without hurting their wallets so much.
So, the question remains – does this Chinese ATV live up to its reputation? I would say yes – it does!
THIS IS DOCUMENT IS A ROUGH DRAFT - IN PROGRESS - A VIDEO WILL ME MADE SOON!
1 - insert key and turn to the on position
2 - put handlebar switch to run position
3 - check for any kill tether buttons and make sure they are mounted securely
Squeeze the front brake lever and check the tail light to see if it have illuminated
If it doesn’t then - Repeat but this time apply pressure to the footbrake brake lever and check the tail light to see if it have illuminated
If the brake light is NOT working still
- locate the fuse holder which is usually under the seat in a clear cylindrical casing .
On the red wire between the battery and the starting solenoid
- check the fuse to see if it has broken it’s internal wire
- if broken replace the fuse and start over (this is a common thing no need to worry)
If the fuse was good - then the trouble points to
- dead battery (charge and try again)
- bad key switch
- front right brake lever safety switch unplugged or bad
- Locate starter solenoid and use a Screwdriver as a jumper between the 2 posts to see if you manually bypass the off and on switch
STAGE2: (tail lights comes on and engine spins over with e start button pressed) but won’t start
- bad kill tether button (red button on the handle bar) or a bad left handlebar On/Off
- Left Handlebar assembly on/off switch is bad
- check wire or wires that connect to the ignition coil to make sure they didn’t slide off (very common) - follow the spark plug wire up to a little black box and look for the spade type connector or connectors and make sure the wires are connected
STAGE3
Remove spark plug from engine
Plug spark plug into the spark plug boot
Lay the metal part of the plug on the metal of the engine and try to start it
You should be a spark at the tip of the plug
No spark still - could be a faulty Stator, coil , cdi or wire harness
If you have spark
- make sure spark plug is no fouled (wet or all black)
- then check fuel is turned on with ample full in the tank
- try starting with choke lever up and down to gauge a difference
******* BYPASS Options ********
RED KILL TETHER BUTTON LANYARD ON HANDLEBAR
red button - follow the 2 wires down and disconnect them from the wire harness plug (some models would require that you cut the connector off the wire harness side and connect them together)
FRONT BRAKE STARTING WIRES
- cut the wires at the lever or follow them down and disconnect them at the wire harness - keep the 2 wires from the harness away from each other - so wrap with separate electrical tape or twist locks etc
COMMON ISSUES - CARBURETOR
Carb - bad gas sitting in carburetor for a couple weeks and or stored outside and moisture gets in the carb
- you can try to drain the carb and fuel tank and start with new fuel
Buying a reliable ATV is great.
But in order for it to be really reliable and not fail at the most inopportune moment, it must be regularly serviced, and in particular, the brakes must be bled after the repair of the elements of the brake system.
To bleed the ATV brakes yourself, you will need the following tools:
ATV's brake circuits operate from the front and rear brakes. The first is located on the frame of the vehicle, and the second is on the steering wheel.
To complete this procedure, and Linghai ATVs are no exception, you need the help of a friend. Bleeding the rear and front brakes of the ATV is as follows:
These actions must be continued until all the old brake fluid has poured out of the barrel and a new one has come out; Checking if the ATV's brakes have been bled correctly is quite simple, just press them. If you feel a moderate hardness, then everything went well, and if they are still soft, then this means that air has entered the brake system. To get rid of it, slightly loosen the brake hose fasteners.
Among the most common breakdowns of the brake system of an ATV, it is worth highlighting:
If your ATV's disc brakes are deteriorating, it is recommended that you bleed them by changing the brake fluid. Preliminary check all elements of the brake system for serviceability and absence of damage in order to exclude the possibility of their wear. If any part of the ATV is still out of order, then it should be replaced with a new one. nine0003
Brake pads break more often than other functional motorcycle components because they are made of composite materials instead of metal. The pads can be replaced both independently and by contacting a service center. Quite often, the brake calipers of the ATV also break. With sudden braking, they overheat, which negatively affects the service life of this component. In order not to have to repair the brake calipers too often, it is recommended to change the oil regularly. Sometimes calipers from OKI are put on ATVs, but before that they need to be somewhat modified on a milling machine. A good option if the original calipers cannot be repaired.
nine0003
Bleeding the brake system on children's ATVs is the same as on full size motorcycles. The main thing is to choose a high-quality and reliable brake fluid that will cope with its task at a decent level.
The most wear and tear-prone component of a child's ATV is the brake pads. Fortunately, you can determine this malfunction by eye. If the pads look frayed and worn, then it's time to change them. Among other signs it is worth highlighting:
While children's motorcycle brakes are not subjected to excessive stress, they should be checked for stability and performance at least twice a season.
Diagnostics and timely repair of the brake system of an ATV should always be given special attention, since the safety of the rider largely depends on its operation.
Regular maintenance of the rear and front brakes of the vehicle can be done both on its own and by contacting the services of service center specialists for help. nine0003
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ATV brakes are a basic safety system and should work perfectly. And if you notice the slightest slippage or decrease in the efficiency of the nodes, the system needs to be checked. Therefore, let's figure out how to pump the brakes on an ATV and diagnose all the components.
The first fluid change is recommended as soon as the rider has purchased the ATV. The fact is that many manufacturers fill in the cheapest composition, which does not have a high operational resource.
After buying a used ATV, you also need to service the brake system: change the fluid, check the hoses and pads. Remember that during the operation of equipment, moisture and air enter the composition.
This leads to the formation of corrosion and even freezing of the liquid in winter. For example, if the composition contains only 3% water, its operating temperature drops from 230 to 165 degrees. nine0003
You need to figure out how to pump the front and rear brakes of an ATV even if they “fail”. If the lever has lost its elasticity, then air or moisture has accumulated in the system, which has affected the characteristics of the fluid.
Before you adjust the brakes on your ATV, have the necessary tools ready. To bleed the system you will need:
Choose only a high-quality composition, because the operation of the entire system depends on it. It is worth noting that in order to pump the ATV, you need a partner who will clamp the brake lever. If there is no assistant, you can fix the position of the brake lever with a belt. nine0003
Bleeding the brakes scares many motorists. However, the procedure itself is very simple, so even a novice ATV rider can handle it. The rider only needs:
nine0008 This procedure is carried out for all calipers (front and rear). But if the brakes on the ATV do not pump, then you need to find places in the system where air accumulates and eliminate them. nine0003
Experienced motorists recommend using only high-quality brakes that are suitable for specific temperatures.
