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All-terrain vehicles can be a lot of fun, but only until they stop working. As you stare at that machine, you are probably thinking about the cost of repairs. Many people cannot afford to spend a bunch of money on a non-essential vehicle. With that in mind, let’s go over a few simple tips that can save you money on an ATV repair.
Go The DIY route
As a general rule, it’s usually cheaper to fix things than it is to replace them. In like manner, it is also usually cheaper to do the job on your own. This might seem like an intimidating prospect, but it’s not as hard as you might think. There are many good books on the subject of small engine repair, and many of them are available online for free.
As long as you can find a good source for parts, there is no reason that you cannot do these repairs. Thankfully, these machines are not usually as difficult to repair as your car. With fewer working parts, there are fewer things that can go wrong. Not only that, but the smaller size of these vehicles will make it easier to reach whatever part you need to replace.
If you don’t know where to begin, watching a video wouldn’t be a bad starting point. After you are done with that, you should do a search for “small engine repair” to continue your research. Not only will this help you with your ATV repairs, but you will also learn valuable skills that can be used to maintain lawn mowers, weed eaters, and anything else with a small engine.
Of course, every specific model of ATV is different, even if most of them are similar. Because of this, you will need to acquire the repair manual for your type of machine. You can usually find these online, or call the shop where you purchased your ATV.
Buy Off-Road Parts Online
Because an ATV is less expensive than a car, you might be tempted to think that its parts are also cheaper. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If you go to an ATV dealer, you will probably pay a lot more. One reason for this is the fact that a dealer buys their off road parts directly from the manufacturer.
In many cases, ATV dealers will buy right from the manufacturer for two reasons. First, they don’t want to void the warranties. Second, they have probably made binding agreements with these companies. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about all that, there are several places online where you can find the correct parts for much cheaper.
When You Have To Go To The Shop
Unfortunately, the DIY route is not always an option. In fact, a DIY attempt could potentially make the problem worse if you don’t know what you are doing. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to save money in a case like this.
For one thing, make sure you wash your ATV before taking it to the shop. Most of these places will charge you by the hour, and that includes any time that it takes to wash the thing. Thus, anything that saves time is likely to save you some money. Using this same principle, you can also save repair time by removing the parts yourself.
You should also make sure that you fully understand the things your ATV mechanic tells you. When you know exactly what is being done, you can make more informed decisions as to whether or not you want it done. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of crooked mechanics in the world, and these will often try to sell you repairs that are not needed. Once they see that you are educated on the subject, a crooked mechanic will most likely look for an easier mark.
Even if you are not all that mechanically inclined, the ATV is not a terribly complicated device. When compared to most vehicles, it is actually quite simple. As such, repairs can be a smooth and efficient process.