How To Inspect Your Used ATV
Buying a used ATV is a great way to save on a big investment. However, it’s well known that shady third party sellers will often try to sell you an ATV that isn’t well maintained. To help you avoid playing this risky guessing game with your used ATV, we’ve written an inspection guide to follow when shopping! However, we encourage you to shop with us rather than third party sellers to avoid walking away with a bad deal. We’re located in beautiful Goldsboro, North Carolina, and have a number of high-quality and well cared for ATVs.
Ask Questions
Generally speaking, your inspection should only take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how thorough you want to be. It’s impossible to check every single piece of equipment, and it’s very easy to miss small signs of damage. Instead, try and prepare a number of questions for your sales person about the ATV, its maintenance history, and various equipment. You can also ask for documentation regarding previous owners and accident history.
Checking Fluids
There’s a few different fluids you’ll want to check, the first being the ATV’s gas. Simply take the top off the canister and make sure the gasoline doesn’t have a sour smell to it. Gas has a pretty memorable smell, and if it’s sour it should be apparent. This is not a sign that anything is wrong with the gas itself, but instead the fuel injector or carburetor.
You’ll also want to check the coolant and brake fluid. Coolant should be bright green or orange and shouldn’t look diluted or cloudy. Brake fluid is the opposite, and should be almost clear with a yellow tint. If the fluid is dark or even brown it needs to be replaced immediately.
Lastly, be sure to check your oil! This should be pretty similar to checking the oil on a car. Simply remove the dipstick, wipe it down, and place it back into the container. Remove it again and you’ll have an accurate measurement of your oil. It should look somewhat transparent, although a somewhat dark color is fine. It shouldn't smell or be excessively thick though.
Undercarriage
Go ahead and take a look at the undercarriage of your ATV. Inspect the frame, as well as your axles, for any cracks and bends. This is a sign that the vehicle has been rolled or in a crash. While you’re down there you’ll also want to take a close look at your CV boots. If they have any cracks in them, they likely won’t be lasting for much longer. Once you’ve confirmed that you can't see any cracks or bends, you’ll want to touch your shocks. Run your fingers over each one and make sure your hands don’t come back wet or oily. This is an indication that the ATV is leaking fluid.
Tires
Once you’re done checking under the carriage you’ll want to stand up and give the tires a quick once over. Check closely for punctures or foreign objects stuck in the rubber. Give the tires a good kick to ensure they’re filled and listen closely for the sound of leaking air. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the tread of the tires. It should be clearly visible with moderate to low wear. If the tread is extremely worn you could easily slip and crash off-road. If the tread is worn unevenly across the tire, it’s a sign that the wheels need to be realigned. Lastly, as you stand up, give the ATV a solid push downward on its bumper. Watch carefully as the vehicle shoots back up. It should only bounce once. Anymore than that and it’s a sign that your shocks will need to be recalibrated.
We hope this guide will prove to be helpful to you as you shop for a used ATV! If you’re located in the cities of Greenville, Wilson, or Raleigh, North Carolina we hope you’ll visit us here at Fun Products Goldsboro! Our used ATVs will easily pass inspection and our helpful staff will be able to answer any question you may have about our vehicles.