To make your investment in your ATV worth your while, you should do your best to keep it to a regular maintenance schedule. Just like a car, motorcycle or any other vehicle, there are things that wear out and break down with time and use, and knowing how to repair these things will save you time and money down the road. However, you should first assemble a toolkit to ensure that you have the right implements for the tasks at hand.
At Bright Powersports of Lincoln Park, Michigan, we know a thing or two about four wheeler maintenance concerns, so we’ve provided this list of the most useful tools to keep in your shed or garage for tuning up your quad before your next ride.
Quality wrenches are often passed down through generations since they last a very long time. If you don’t have your own set, invest in a set that includes both standard and metric measurements, as many quads have metric parts. You can usually save money by purchasing the two sets together. You should also invest in some allen wrenches, crescent wrenches and vice grips.
A torque wrench applies precise amounts of pressure to your ATV’s fasteners, which is great for all those parts that are held under high amounts of force. You can tighten loose bolts with ease this way, too.
A breaker bar is essentially a wrench with a very large handle to give you more leverage when removing those very tight fasteners that might be frozen in place.
Socket wrenches are great when working on ATVs because their design lets you remove nuts and bolts without scratching paint coatings or finishes. They work faster than standard wrenches, which will save you time in the shop. Get some ratchets and a full set of sockets to go with them.
A multimeter is a small handheld device that measures amperage, voltage and resistance, which comes in handy when determining electrical conductivity. Your ATV’s electrical system may be malfunctioning and reducing performance on the trail, so using a multimeter can help you determine where the problem lays. You can also use this device around the house to check other electrical systems.
The tires of your ATV hold it up on the road and have to handle every obstacle you drive them over, so your care of them should be diligent. Check the pressure of every tire before each ride so you can spot a slow leak, embedded object or worn tread before it creates a major problem on the trail. A tire pressure gauge will serve you as well in your ATV toolkit as it does in your car’s glove box.
If you want to save yourself the trip to the gas station or repair shop to air up your tires, investing in an air compressor can save you a lot of time. Not only can you use it to air up your quad’s tires, but it’ll come in handy for your passenger car, motorcycle, the kids’ bicycles and anything else that needs inflating. Balloons for a birthday party? You’ll be ready!
While it might seem counterintuitive to hit your treasured quad with a mallet, you’ll find that there are times when this force is applicable and necessary. A mallet with a wooden or urethane head is unlikely to damage your ATV’s finish or paint, so you should carry one in your ATV toolkit and use it judiciously.
If you’re looking for a wide selection of new and used ATVs for sale, check out our showroom to see all the great four wheelers we have in stock. Bright Powersports serves the Detroit metro area, including Wayne County, Oakland County, and Livingston County, as well as the city of Macomb, Michigan, with our Lincoln Park location.
