Now most farms are settled into the winter work routine, it is the ideal time to tackle machine maintenance ahead of the usual spring workload.
ATVs and UTVs are key areas of focus as they tend to return to work as soon as livestock return to the fields.
Below, we offer some practical maintenance advice to ensure your ATV remains in good working order.
For those less mechanically minded, this might serve as a reminder to book your machine in with a local dealer for a service.
For those ahead of the curve, this may prompt you to give your machine the once-over from a safety point of view.
Before starting the service, you should consult your dealer as to what oil, quantities and filters etc are required to service your make and model of ATV.
The model photographed here is a popular 500cc Honda Foreman TRX500, a renowned workhorse on many Irish farms.
The service intervals mentioned will be to suit this particular model and act as an indicative guide for many. However, we advise finding out the intervals to suit your machine where possible.
General appearance
Many ATVs tend to rarely see a power washer. Start by giving it a wash to expose service points. While doing this, assess its general condition.
Treat all nuts and bolts with caution as they tend to be aluminium so threads can be easily stripped from over tightening.
If possible, try to maintain your machine cosmetically as this often tends to dictate resale value. Areas such as side steps, engine side covers and mudguards should be maintained, especially from a safety standpoint.
Body panels and footwells should be secure and not damaged or hanging apart.
These panels are often held together with plastic clips or plugs that tend to break and fall out over time. Replacement clips are only a few euros and are worth replacing before further problems occur.
Older machines especially should be well maintained as certain spare parts are becoming hard to source and discontinued in some cases.
Engine
Like any engine, recommended service intervals should be adhered to. The general rule of thumb for engine oil and filter replacement is every 100 hours.
The engine air filter should be replaced every 100 hours.
Before doing so, run the engine for a few minutes. This is because oils become less viscous at working temperature and therefore drain better. Once oil has drained, replace the oil filter and seal, but first lightly rub the new seal with oil to ensure the filter housing seals properly.
Before the service procedure starts, ensure you have the correct oil and filters for your make and model.
The aluminium bung on the bottom of the sump should be tightened back into place once all oil has drained, taking extra care not to over tighten as ATV sumps tend to be aluminium, meaning threads can be easily stripped.
A standard engine oil and filter service is inexpensive and should be carried out on or before the recommended intervals.
Now fill the engine to the correct level using the recommended oil. Most modern ATVs use 10W-40 but to be sure consult with your dealer first. Once the service is complete, the quad should be run for a number of minutes and its oil level checked again when cool.
The air filter should be either cleaned or replaced at every service as good air flow is essential for optimum engine performance and fuel efficiency. The spark plug should be checked and replaced if necessary. Symptoms of worn spark plugs include loss of power, engine misfire, increased fuel usage and trouble starting.
Worn ball joints will leave steering heavy, with a lot of play. These should be checked and replaced.
Transmission and suspension
Front and rear differential oil levels should also be checked every 100 hours. If oil is milky or black it needs to be replaced, front differential oil will be in better condition than the rear, depending on how much time the quad spends in 4WD.
Each differential has a fill and drain bung. Oil should be up to the level of the fill bung on the front differential but not the back. The rear differential has a separate check bolt (lower down than the fill bung) which should be opened to check the oil level.
ATVs with rear independent suspension have more moving parts and therefore need more attention than a model with a solid axle.
Steering linkage components wear over time which lead to play in the steering and may eventually result in steering failure if not addressed in time. The condition of shocks both front and rear should be checked. Then check wishbone, track rod and ball joints for wear or excessive play. Rubber CV boots should be checked for damage and replaced if necessary. Wheel bearings also need to be checked. A good way to check for play or wear in these components is to jack the front wheels off the ground and physically rock each wheel with two hands. Often it may be easier to get a local dealer to carry out this kind of repair as they are fully equipped and trained to do so.
Brakes and tyres
Most farm quads are fitted with hydraulic brakes up front and cable drum brakes on the rear, although more and more ATVs are coming fitted with discs all round.
The rear foot brake cable has a tendency to seize over time.
Each type has its own service procedure. It’s a good idea to remove the front wheels and examine brake pad and disc condition. Although pads and discs should last a long time, they still wear and need to be inspected.
Rear drum brakes may need adjusting via wing nuts.
Wear on brakes completely depends on use. The footbrake can seize from lack of use, this usually involves replacing the complete brake cable. Rear drum brakes can be adjusted using the two rear hub-mounted thumbscrews, one for the handbrake and the other for the footbrake. These will need slight adjusting as brake shoes wear.
Tyre condition should be assessed and they should be replaced if needs be. Correct tyre pressure is essential, varying pressure can hugely change the quad’s handling.
Now most farms are settled into the winter work routine, it is the ideal time to tackle machine maintenance ahead of the usual spring workload.
ATVs and UTVs are key areas of focus as they tend to return to work as soon as livestock return to the fields.
Below, we offer some practical maintenance advice to ensure your ATV remains in good working order.
For those less mechanically minded, this might serve as a reminder to book your machine in with a local dealer for a service.
For those ahead of the curve, this may prompt you to give your machine the once-over from a safety point of view.
Before starting the service, you should consult your dealer as to what oil, quantities and filters etc are required to service your make and model of ATV.
The model photographed here is a popular 500cc Honda Foreman TRX500, a renowned workhorse on many Irish farms.
The service intervals mentioned will be to suit this particular model and act as an indicative guide for many. However, we advise finding out the intervals to suit your machine where possible.
General appearance
Many ATVs tend to rarely see a power washer. Start by giving it a wash to expose service points. While doing this, assess its general condition.
Treat all nuts and bolts with caution as they tend to be aluminium so threads can be easily stripped from over tightening.
If possible, try to maintain your machine cosmetically as this often tends to dictate resale value. Areas such as side steps, engine side covers and mudguards should be maintained, especially from a safety standpoint.
Body panels and footwells should be secure and not damaged or hanging apart.
These panels are often held together with plastic clips or plugs that tend to break and fall out over time. Replacement clips are only a few euros and are worth replacing before further problems occur.
Older machines especially should be well maintained as certain spare parts are becoming hard to source and discontinued in some cases.
Engine
Like any engine, recommended service intervals should be adhered to. The general rule of thumb for engine oil and filter replacement is every 100 hours.
The engine air filter should be replaced every 100 hours.
Before doing so, run the engine for a few minutes. This is because oils become less viscous at working temperature and therefore drain better. Once oil has drained, replace the oil filter and seal, but first lightly rub the new seal with oil to ensure the filter housing seals properly.
Before the service procedure starts, ensure you have the correct oil and filters for your make and model.
The aluminium bung on the bottom of the sump should be tightened back into place once all oil has drained, taking extra care not to over tighten as ATV sumps tend to be aluminium, meaning threads can be easily stripped.
A standard engine oil and filter service is inexpensive and should be carried out on or before the recommended intervals.
Now fill the engine to the correct level using the recommended oil. Most modern ATVs use 10W-40 but to be sure consult with your dealer first. Once the service is complete, the quad should be run for a number of minutes and its oil level checked again when cool.
The air filter should be either cleaned or replaced at every service as good air flow is essential for optimum engine performance and fuel efficiency. The spark plug should be checked and replaced if necessary. Symptoms of worn spark plugs include loss of power, engine misfire, increased fuel usage and trouble starting.
Worn ball joints will leave steering heavy, with a lot of play. These should be checked and replaced.
Transmission and suspension
Front and rear differential oil levels should also be checked every 100 hours. If oil is milky or black it needs to be replaced, front differential oil will be in better condition than the rear, depending on how much time the quad spends in 4WD.
Each differential has a fill and drain bung. Oil should be up to the level of the fill bung on the front differential but not the back. The rear differential has a separate check bolt (lower down than the fill bung) which should be opened to check the oil level.
ATVs with rear independent suspension have more moving parts and therefore need more attention than a model with a solid axle.
Steering linkage components wear over time which lead to play in the steering and may eventually result in steering failure if not addressed in time. The condition of shocks both front and rear should be checked. Then check wishbone, track rod and ball joints for wear or excessive play. Rubber CV boots should be checked for damage and replaced if necessary. Wheel bearings also need to be checked. A good way to check for play or wear in these components is to jack the front wheels off the ground and physically rock each wheel with two hands. Often it may be easier to get a local dealer to carry out this kind of repair as they are fully equipped and trained to do so.
Brakes and tyres
Most farm quads are fitted with hydraulic brakes up front and cable drum brakes on the rear, although more and more ATVs are coming fitted with discs all round.
The rear foot brake cable has a tendency to seize over time.
Each type has its own service procedure. It’s a good idea to remove the front wheels and examine brake pad and disc condition. Although pads and discs should last a long time, they still wear and need to be inspected.
Rear drum brakes may need adjusting via wing nuts.
Wear on brakes completely depends on use. The footbrake can seize from lack of use, this usually involves replacing the complete brake cable. Rear drum brakes can be adjusted using the two rear hub-mounted thumbscrews, one for the handbrake and the other for the footbrake. These will need slight adjusting as brake shoes wear.
Tyre condition should be assessed and they should be replaced if needs be. Correct tyre pressure is essential, varying pressure can hugely change the quad’s handling.
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