6 Ways to Prepare Your ATV for Desert Season
Getting your quad in good running order after being in
storage
Before you head out to
your favorite riding destination, there are several basic tasks you will want
to complete to ensure you don’t spend your first trip back to the sand
lamenting how your machine isn’t running as smoothly as you remembered; or even
worse, stuck at camp playing mechanic, trying to fix a broken quad during your
limited amount of play time.
Here are a few tips for
simple maintenance and preparation to ensure your Polaris ATV is serviced and
running as fast and strong as it was when you hopped off of it for the last
time in March or April.
Servicing Tips for your Polaris ATV:
1)Check Your Fuel:
An ATV's fuel system is
one of the 3 key components you need to make your internal combustion engine
work. The other two are air and fire, or spark.
If the fuel is old or gets
water in it you could have a poor running engine, or worse, a no running
engine.
It may all seem very easy;
you go to the gas station and get some gas in a can, take it home and top off
the quad. Right?
Basically yes, that's it.
But there really is a lot more to it than just fillin' her up, especially if
your ATV has been sitting for any length of time.
Here are some do it
yourself fuel maintenance tips for your ATV that will help you keep it in top
shape for riding season, or work if that's what you do with your quad.
2) Kick the Tires:
Your tires are your only
connection to the ground. They not only allow your Polaris ATV to roll, they can also
allow it to slide, which is important when riding offroad.
Tire pressure needs to be
adjusted to match the conditions you will be riding in. The drier the sand, the
lower you will want to set your tire pressure. Anyone who’s spent any
significant amount of time in the dunes will tell you that sand conditions shift
and change every day.
What may have been the
right pressure settings for your tires in March may not be right after a long
dry summer in October. Best to check the weather forecast (and maybe how much
rain the area you will be riding in received over the summer) and make your
determinations accordingly.
3) Clean Your Air Filter:
Your quad won't run
without a good supply of clean air. When you ride in the sand dunes it's even
more important because sand gets into everything.
In addition to being a potential
hazard the accumulation of dirt and grime within your intake system robs you of
horsepower that would be better spent on making the wheels spin really, really
fast.
Taking a few minutes to
remove and clean your air filter and air box at the beginning of a new season
will go a long way to allowing your quad’s motor to reach its’ maximum
potential.
4) Chain Reaction:
Your drive chain is what
take power from the transmission and sends it to the rear wheel. It is just
like the chain on a bicycle except it is a little thicker and stronger.
It also takes a lot more
stress and is usually subjected to a lot more abuse. That's why it's important
to maintain your drive chain more than you would on your bicycle. If your chain
fails while your out in the middle of the desert or miles into a wooded trail
it could be a long trip back.
5) Don’t Forget the Spark:
To check your spark
plug(s) and oil levels before any and every trip. You won’t necessarily need to
replace these at the start of every season. It all depends how much use your
ride has endured since last replacement. If you’ve gone more than a full
season, chances are your ATV could do with a few fresh quarts of oil and a new
spark plug or two.
Know more about Polaris ATV Servicing and get it serviced
by us. Visit us at www.polarismumbai.com
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