Maintenance

Routine maintenance for any mechanical product is the best insurance policy that any consumer can invest. This definitely applies to the ATVs that we sell at Killer Motorsports. All-Terrain Vehicles are built to handle extreme road conditions and take a tremendous amount of abuse. Due to these facts, owners should take proactive measures to create a maintenance schedule that will ensure their ATVs last longer and ride with optimal performance. Here are a few particular items to consider when creating your maintenance program.

• Oil Most of our ATVs are shipped to customers with oil already inside the engine crank case. However, this is a break in oil that should only be run for about 30 minutes. Once you've started your ATV and have run it for about 30 minutes with moderate throttle, you need to change this oil and replace it with new oil. Here are the steps that you should follow to change oil for an ATV sold through Killer Motorsports.
1. Gather the appropriate tools and supplies including a 17mm (in most cases) end wrench, oil collection bucket, rags and replacement oil (follow manufacturer’s specific recommendations however, 10W40 conventional or blend oil is best).
2. Locate the oil drain bolt in the center section of the engine pan - it is typically a 17mm bolt. With the engine turned OFF, remove the bolt and drain all oil into a collection device.
3. Locate the oil filler cap, remove the cap and continue to let the oil drain for a few minutes. Once the oil has stopped draining, reinstall the oil drain plug and tighten BEFORE you pour the new oil into the reservoir. Tighten the oil cap after all oil has been inserted into the engine, start the engine and verify that the “oil” light does not come on once the engine has been running for at least one minute.
4. It's recommended to replace your oil every 10 to 15 hours of operation.


For more info on how to change the oil on your ATV, check out the video below.

• Spark Plug The spark plug is an important part of keeping your unit running in tip-top shape. Every time you start your unit, carbon is burned onto the tip of your spark plug. Eventually carbon can build up and weaken the intensity of the spark you are getting to your motor and cause your unit not to run at 100%. Every so often, maybe every time you change your oil, check your spark plug to see if it needs replacing. Most consumers will replace their spark plugs every other oil change with ATVs. The spark plug you will need is an NGK CR6HSA Plug.


• Gasoline Premium Unleaded Gasoline should be the only fuel used for ATVs. The small cc-displacement motors can make a tremendous amount of power; however, these engines were manufactured to operate on premium unleaded gasoline. Although the engines will run with regular unleaded gasoline, over a period of time, performance of the engine will decline, carbon buildup on spark plugs will increase and the lifespan of the motor could be compromised. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU EVER RUN RACING GASOLINE or ANY LEAD-BASED ADDITIVES in your ATV. Please contact the manufacturer for any recommendations they would make in regards to fuel stabilizers, especially if you store your ATV for extended periods without operation.


• Brakes The brake system of an ATV is a critical safety measure that should be included in your routine maintenance program. Make sure you inspect your brakes during every oil change and check a few specific items such as - remove debris, check and inspect brake pad integrity, and inspect for any brake fluid leaking from lines or the master cylinder. Operation of ATVs in sand or compact dirt can cause brakes to wear faster due to friction caused by dirt and sand on the brake rotors. If you notice that your brakes are spongey or the ATV does not stop as well as it used to, it's probably time to have your brakes replaced.


• Chain Most ATVs are chain-driven. As such, making sure your chain is tight and adjusted correctly is another important maintenance step. If a chain is loose, it can snap or cause extended damage to your engine, transmission or the drive axel. There are chain adjusters located on the bottom of the swing-arm for you to service the chain. If you are not comfortable with adjusting the chain, contact Killer Motorsports and we'll help you find a service expert.



For more info on how to tighten your chain, check out the video below.

• Radiator There are two types of cooling systems with the ATVs we sell at Killer Motorsports; air cooled and water cooled. When you first get your ATV, if it is one that is liquid cooled, you'll need to do the following:
1. Make sure that your radiator fluid is filled up to full. Most of the time it is full, but sometimes it is close to empty.
2. Anytime you add coolant to your radiator, it needs to have a 50/50 mix of recommended coolant with distilled water.
3. You should always run your engine for about 10 minutes and let the engine heat up and then refill your radiator unit to ensure the radiator unit is full. When you run your engine, the heat will run out the bubbles that can be in your lines. This is why you will need to add more fluid.

The items listed above represent the majority of service areas recommended for ATVs. It's also important to routinely check the tires for proper inflation and wear, tighten bolts occasionally and replace fuel and air filters as recommended by the manufacturer. For specifics about recommended maintenance for these items, refer to your ATV owner's manual that was included in your shipment.