ATV Maintenance Tools

Your ATV is a valuable investment and your source of recreational off-roading fun. It does so much for you and you should return the favor by keeping it in good working order. While some aspects of ATV maintenance require professional service, there are a surprising number of regular ATV tune-ups you can perform at home in your garage or shed. However, if you lack the right tools, you’ll have a harder time of this.

At Dunfords of Havelock, we know how essential ATV maintenance is, so we’ve provided a list of the most important tools you’ll want to keep on hand when it’s time to tinker with your ATV. If, while you’re performing your adjustments, you discover that your ATV requires parts or professional service, call our dealership to schedule an appointment with our capable mechanics, who will get your ATV fixed up and ready to off-road in no time.

Tire Pressure Gauge

This is a tool you likely already own if you have a car, truck, bike or motorcycle. Any wheeled vehicle needs to have evenly pressurized tires, and ATVs are no different. The recommended pressure is usually listed on the tire, making it easy to check all your tires on a regular basis. While you’re down there, look at the tread to see that it’s wearing evenly and that there are no bald patches. Look for embedded objects or a tire that’s consistently lower in pressure than the rest, and take your ATV into the shop if you suspect you’re at risk of a blowout. Never ride on bad tires!

Air Compressor

When you do find your tires are low, you’ll save yourself time if you already have an air compressor at hand. These allow you to quickly inflate your tires to the recommended pressure, sparing you a trip to the gas station or the shop. While air compressors can be expensive, they’re also versatile and again, useful if you own any other wheeled vehicles. You can also use them to inflate pool toys for the kids or to spray paint your house if you like!

Multimeter

To ensure that your ATV’s electrical systems are functioning properly, you’ll want to hook them up to a multimeter to check the voltage, amperage and resistance. These small handheld devices are inexpensive and, like the air compressor, will find further use around the house, so they’re a great investment. Checking your electrical systems will alert you to the potential causes of reduced performance so you can figure out what needs fixing faster.

Breaker Bar

A large wrench with a strong handle, breaker bars are helpful when you need more leverage to loosen a particularly tight fastener or bolt. They give you power without doing damage to your ATV’s finish.

Wrenches

You should have a set of standard wrenches and a set of metric wrenches, as many ATVs have parts measured in metric. Usually you can save money by purchasing the two sets together. Maybe you’re lucky enough to descend from mechanics who have passed on their wrenches to you -- a good set of wrenches can last for decades and they’re invaluable around the house, too.

Socket Set

Socket wrenches are another tool you want to have in a full set, along with some ratchets to speed up your work. The design of a socket wrench lets you remove nuts and bolts from your ATV without doing damage to the finish or paint, and they can work faster than regular wrenches.

Torque Wrench

As your work on your ATV progresses, you may find a torque wrench useful for loosening and tightening fasteners and parts under high pressure. It’s simply another wrench that will prove itself useful both with your ATV and around the house.

Wood Or Urethane Mallet

While you don’t want to bash your ATV with a hammer, there are times when the force of a mallet can be quite useful, and wooden or urethane mallets are designed to apply force without causing damage like a metal hammer might. The soft heads are safe for your ATV’s finish.

Screwdrivers

You probably have a set of these kicking around in your garage, too, because screwdrivers are universally useful tools. You should make sure that whatever set you obtain has a comfortable grip. Get plenty of flat-heads and Phillips heads for all the various screws you’ll need to adjust.

Now that you have a list of ATV tools, you can hit the home improvement store to stock up on everything you need. Remember to give us a call if you need professional maintenance! If you’re looking to upgrade your current ATV or add to your fleet, stop by our Havelock showroom to see the great models we carry. Dunfords of Havelock serves the cities of Peterborough, Belleville, Kawarthas, Kingston and Oshawa, Ontario.