Advice For Choosing A Top Quality Used Four Wheeler
Buying an pre-owned four wheeler can be a serious undertaking. With the economy in the shape that it’s in, many all terrain vehicle owners are looking to unload their atv’s for extra cash. All used atv buyers should beware though. The last thing you want is to buy someone elses problems.
By following the used four wheeler buying advice below, you can help ensure that you won’t be laying down your cold hard cash for someone elses problem.
The first thing you’ll want to do is check out the tires. You’re going to check to see if they’re worn. This could indicate tires that need replaced or an ATV that has been abused. Also, if the tread is worn down, you’ll looking at the purchase of four new atv tires!
Always take a friend with you when going to look at an used atv. Raise the ATV up if possible to check the underside. Make sure to look at all the shock points and check for any rust or damaged areas. This includes cracks in the frame. Look for signs of fresh paint.Fresh paint, mismatched paint, new parts or fresh welds can all indicate recent repairs.
When {buying|purchasing} a used 4×4 atv, check out the cv joint boots. If they are cracked, this can allow water to get inside. This will cause rust and lead to major damage, which leads to major repair cost!
Take a look at the oil level in the differentials. Chocolate colored oil, or milky looking oil, means water. This can indicate problems that you don’t want to mess with.
Don’t over look the sprockets (if equpped). This can indicate extreme use. The same is true if the sprockets have a hook appearance. Wear on sprockets can mean they need replaced, as may the chain.
Take the time to check the wheel bearings. You can do this by raising the machine and try to move the wheels back and forth. Do this on the front and back. Bad bearings will eventually lead to spindle damage. Bearings are known to go out when you’re furthest from the trail head.
Another area you’ll need to check is the tie rod ends. This is done by checking for excessive play in the handle bars when moving them.
If you don’t know what the air box is or where it’s located, get educated. This is one area you need to check out. To find the air box on most models, simply look beneath the seat. What you don’t want to see is a bunch of dirt or water inside the air box. This is bad news.
Don’t forget to check for rust in the gas tank. You check for this by taking a flashlight and shining it into the tank. Rust in the gas tank isn’t good news. It means there was water in there at one time.
Check the electrical system by turning on the lights. You also should make sure any cigarrete lighter plug works. These are used for accessories.
Don’t forget the test ride. Beware of Sellers who will not let you ride the machine. Listen for any unusual noise. Note how it handles and be on the lookout for any loose parts.
The exhaust should have a spark arrestor. Many owners remove these. However, National Forest and other public trails require spark arrestor’s to be in place. Owners without them can be fined and prevented from riding in these places.
Another important thing you want to check is the age of the atv itself. You may be able to pick up older atv’s inexpensively, but many times you’ll have difficulty in locating used atv parts for these older machines. If you can try to stick with atv’s that are only a few years old.
By following these used atv buying tips and you’ll increase your chances of purchasing a quality used atv that will give you many years of service. They’re not hard to follow. You just need to remain focused and don’t let the Seller pressure you into hurrying up or skipping over a some of the tips above.
