Yearly ATV Maintenance

Yamaha Sport and Utility ATVs are exciting and functional vehicles that can help with outdoor tasks, cruise dirt trails and tracks, be your hunting transport, and much more. To maintain peak performance and longevity for your ATV, you’ll need to follow your owner’s manual. The Periodic Maintenance chart will specify the areas you must check and parts to replace based on months, the odometer reading, and, and hours. Yamaha’s manuals do a great job of putting this into easy to read charts so you can quickly figure out what you need to check. The manual, paired with common sense and preparation, will keep your ATV functioning excellent year after year.

Your Yamaha ATV Owner’s Manual

If you purchased your ATV new, it came with a manual detailing everything you need to know about your specific model. In this is the Periodic Maintenance Chart, which is your friend for yearly ATV maintenance. If you purchased a used ATV that didn’t come with a service manual, replacing it is easy. You can view and purchase them online at yamahamotorsports.com. Depending on your ATV’s mileage, hours it’s been run, or month of the year is how you will determine when to service the specified areas. Yamaha says that whichever comes first is the best way to proceed with maintenance. It’s important to note their tips, which we’ll reproduce here:

• For ATVs not equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the month maintenance intervals.
• For ATVs equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the km (mi) or hours maintenance intervals. However, keep in mind that if the ATV isn’t used for a long period of time, the month maintenance intervals should be followed.

These can be found in any official Yamaha ATV owner’s manual. So, say you own a 2013 Raptor 90 and the hour meter reads 160. You’ll look at the 160 column for the hours to see the recommended items to check or replace. Some of these include the carburetor, the exhaust system, the drive chain, brakes, and fuel line. You’ll find that some areas for your ATV will require more maintenance than others, especially if you ride yours through muddy or rocky terrain, in wet conditions, or use your ATV in races. While the Periodic Maintenance Chart is perfect for laying out every aspect of maintenance, you need not take it as finite. This is not to say to disregard their recommendations! For example, the manual might say to replace your brake hoses every four years. When you check them, you see that they’re in fantastic condition. Times like these you can use common sense to determine whether replacements need to be made after examination.

Ongoing Yearly Maintenance

There will be an array of areas that you’ll need to service very often throughout the year. These are the less costly procedures that stand in the way of potential damage in the future. When properly carried out, you’ll be able to keep your Yamaha ATV running and looking its best years after purchase. Here are a few of the most important ones to place at the front of your maintenance to-do list.

1. Change Engine Oil: Your ATV’s oil will need to be changed frequently, especially if you’re logging long hours and mileage on it. Check the oil level before each ride and top it off it it’s low.

2. Check Final Transmission Oil: To locate the final transmission oil filter cap, simply consult your owner’s manual. You can change this oil on your own; however, if you find that this oil is leaking, you should have a Yamaha dealer or other service technician check your ATV.

3. Check Spark Plugs: The condition of your spark plugs can say much about your ATV’s engine. They’re easy enough to check on your own. If they show corrosion, replace them immediately to keep your engine running well. These should be checked frequently, so keep a spare pair on hand.

4. Reapplying Lubrication: Lubrication is key for your ATV’s internal mechanisms to continue running. Without it, these parts will wear down and eventually show signs of corrosion. Applying grease can be time consuming, but it’s crucial to the overall function of your ATV. Pay attention to areas like the drive chain, cables, brake levers, wheel hub bearings, and other places mentioned in the manual’s lubrication chart.

5. Long-Term Storage Maintenance: Even during the off season, you’ll need to perform maintenance tasks to keep your ATV from dying and corroding. While your owner’s manual will provide step-by-step instruction for your ATV, key points are to fill your fuel tank (with the addition of a fuel stabilizer), lubricate all cables and bearings, place your battery on a battery tender, cover the exhaust pipe (to keep our moisture and critters), and keep the vehicle in a cool and dry location. Periodically check on your ATV to ensure these precautions are still in place so you’ll be ready when the off-season comes to a close.