Give your ATV some tender loving care it deserves!
Everyone deserves some tender loving care from time to time, and in my opinion, so does your ATV. It has given you so much joy and excitement riding on it, so don't you think that it's your turn to show your ATV some tender loving care? After all, your ATV will only lasts as long as you want it to - so the more effort you put into taking care of it, the longer it lasts. Many a times, we tend to be a little careless when it comes to things like maintaining or taking proper care of our ATVs, but this attitude will have to go - IF you want to your ATV to be in tip top condition.
If you think that maintaining your ATV is a hassle, consider the hassle and trouble that you will have to go through when the parts of your ATV starts failing and you have to go all out looking for its parts - or worse, when the ATV parts that you want are not available and you have to wait for it. Waiting for your ATV parts is one thing, but missing out on the fun of ATV riding? That's another story altogether. So, are you able to go without riding your ATV for months while you wait for those parts to arrive? No? I don't think so too. Besides, it doesn't have to be expensive to maintain your ATV, it may be a little time consuming but it will be even more expensive for you when you have to replace the parts of your ATV just because you were too lazy to take care of it.
So, what's a responsible ATV owner to do then? First of all, if you love your ATV, you would want to take good care of it, so be sure that you clean up your ATV after every ride. Give it a wash after every ride and as you dry it off, be sure to check all the fasteners and levers and ride it for a minute or two to dry out the brake pads. It is also a great idea to apply WD40 to all the pivots, levers and exhaust pipe to prevent rust and premature wear and tear. To remove stubborn gasket remains and rust from exhaust pipes, I'd recommend that you try to use Scoth-Brite pads to scrub them off - yes, it works! And don't throw away your old toothbrushes as they make good small part cleaners so you don't have to try to squeeze your fingers into those hard to clean areas. Another great trick to keep your ATV shiny is to use some floor polish (such as Mop'n Glo) on the plastic areas of your ATV - try it and see it for yourself. It's an inexpensive way to give your ATV that "polished" look!
Maintaining air filters regularly will make your ATV's engine last longer and be sure to check your tire pressures for every ride, as ATV tires are inherently leaky. If you intend to ride on rocky conditions, remember to run higher tire pressures. Before every ride, always remember to check the coolant level as sometimes we are not aware that our ATV is overheated until we look into the radiator, which by then would be too late.
If you take the extra time to check and service your ATV before and after every ride, you can be sure that your ATV's life span will be extended. Improper usage and carelessness in maintaining your ATV will only cause unnecessary damage to your ATV as well as a shorter life span. For more tips and ideas on maintaining your ATV, check out the forums at www.jackel.com or www.atvoutdoors.net - and if you have a great tip to share, by all means do so - your fellow ATV riders will thank you for it!
