Must-Have Tools for ATV Maintenance
Owning an ATV, also called a 4 wheeler, means you have the keys to fun, thrilling rides whenever you want. Your vehicle can tackle the toughest terrain, tearing up fields, gravel, mud and more. Whether you spend every weekend on your four wheeler or you just ride it every so often, you’ll need to keep it maintained. Fortunately, home maintenance is pretty easy, provided you have the correct tools. To help you fill your toolbox, we’ve created this quick list of must-have tools for ATV maintenance. Barnes Bros. Motorcycle and Off-Road is in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, so if you have any ATV maintenance needs you can’t address yourself, call our service department to schedule a maintenance check with our mechanics!
Tire Pressure Gauge & Air Compressor
Your ATV is held up by its tires and they have contact with all the harshest terrain, so you’ll want to check them before every ride to make sure they’re equal to the task. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure and examine your tire treads for uneven wear, balding, cracks and embedded nails or other objects. Invest in an air compressor to fill your tires up quickly to the manufacturer’s specified pressure. You can use the air compressor on your other vehicles’ tires and on bicycles, motorcycles, air mattresses and more around the house, so it serves many purposes.
Multimeter
This small handheld device lets you check your ATV engine’s amperage, voltage and resistance, so you can quickly figure out why it’s not performing well. Use it when you feel like your ATV isn’t delivering the power you’re accustomed to and you’ll be able to resolve the problem. You can also use this tool around the house for other electrical systems, so it’s a wise investment and not terribly expensive, either.
Breaker Bar & Torque Wrench
Sometimes the fasteners on your ATV are under a great deal of pressure and you need more leverage to pry them loose. Breaker bars and torque wrenches are useful for this as their long handles give you the power you need to undo those parts and then torque them back to where they were when you’re done working on your ATV.
Socket Wrenches & Screwdrivers
A good set of socket wrenches will come in handy when you’re tuning up your ATV. Make sure you get a set of both standard and metric wrenches with some ratchets, since many ATVs have parts measured in metric. You can usually buy these together to save a little money if you don’t already have a set in your tool shed. You should also have some allen wrenches and crescent wrenches in a few sizes on hand as well as an ATV axle wrench for your rear axle.
Screwdrivers in both flathead and Phillips head styles are necessary for many tasks, including working on an ATV. Get a set with comfortable grips so you’re not hurting yourself. Pliers are another tool that will be useful for your ATV maintenance.
Wooden or Urethane Mallet
While hitting your ATV with a hammer might seem counterintuitive, a mallet can be quite useful if applied carefully. Invest in a soft headed hammer made of wood or urethane that will serve you well without damaging your ATV’s finish or paint.
Looking for the perfect four wheeler for weekend off-roading trips? Come to our showroom to view our expansive inventory of new and used ATVs by all the greatest brands. If you have any ATV maintenance questions, our staff will be more than happy to answer them. Barnes Bros. serves the greater Pittsburgh metro area with our location in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.