UTV Maintenance
By Kristin Lewis Hawkins
Tool, toy or a little of both, there is no denying the popularity of utility vehicles on the ranch, hunting lease and beyond. They help you get where you need to go, haul you and your equipment over terrain too difficult for your street vehicle and perform a great number of tasks nothing else can. They will keep working hard for you if you give them a little attention.
Routine maintenance on all ranch equipment is a good idea, but especially the tools you depend on and invest hard-earned money in. As with all vehicles and heavy equipment, consult the manual for recommended maintenance schedules, diagrams and warnings. If you don’t have a manual, consult your local UTV dealer or repair shop for more information.
Here are a few maintenance tips to help keep your work buddy in tip-top shape.
Give it a look
The easiest thing to do — and often the most forgotten — is to give your UTV a good once-over before you start it up. Walk around the vehicle and check for any debris caught in the chassis or dangling straps and hoses. If your vehicle has a bed, carrying bucket, case or rack, make sure any tools or other items are secured and buckled tight.
- Air filters: Locate the airbox, if your model has one, and check any air filters, especially if you operate in a dusty environment or travel dirt or caliche roads. If your model is air-cooled, make sure the cooling fins are clean and free of debris. It doesn’t take much buildup to affect performance and cause engine damage.
- Chains, drive systems, shafts, belts: Replace any belts or chains that appear frayed, cracked or worn. It’s much easier to change out a belt or chain in your garage or driveway than in a muddy pasture that could be miles away from the hunting lodge or truck. Make sure no debris, long grass or limbs are wrapped around drive shafts, belts or chains.
- Safety restraint systems: If your vehicle has a safety restraint system, give the buckles, snaps or guides a once-over and replace anything that looks worn or cracked.
- Exhaust: Make sure no mud, grass or dirt is collecting in your exhaust outlets.
- Battery: Give the battery a look and make sure there is no corrosion and that all cables are secure.
Check the fluids
After checking fluids, make sure all caps are sealed tightly!
- Oil and coolant: Keep an eye on oil and coolant levels, especially if your vehicle sits for a long time on a lease or in a barn. Coolant levels are important in all weather conditions. If you can’t remember the last time you changed the oil in your UTV, it’s probably time to get that done.
- Gas: Make sure that everyone who will be using your UTV is aware of its fuel needs. Include instructions on fuel stabilizers, as well as how to store the vehicle if it won’t be used for a while. Check in the tank before starting it up, even if you’re sure the last rider filled it up or drained it dry.
Kick the tires
- If your UTV is prone to long periods of sitting, check the rubber for signs of cracking or dry rot before a ride.
- With the wide variety of tires available for the UTV market, when it comes to proper inflation, almost none of them are easy to assess by eyeball alone. The most foolproof method is to check with a tire gauge. Inflate tires to the recommended PSI and get slow leaks professionally patched or repaired.
- Check your tire treads for thorns, rocks, nails or anything that could cause a flat or become dislodged and fly free.
If at any point you’re unsure about a sound, feel a different vibration or your UTV just won’t start, consult with a repair shop or dealer. They may have a handy tip or bit of advice that will help.
Following a few easy steps and keeping an eye on your UTV with a little maintenance can save you time, money and possibly a very long walk back to the barn. ❚
“UTV Maintenance” is excerpted from the August 2017 issue of The Cattleman magazine.