Pre and Post ride inspections make keeping up with your side by side maintenance much easier, because who really wants to wait until something is broken. Depending on the type of rider that you are, some riders go with the 50 hour/500 mile rule when it comes to servicing or inspecting their machine. Others will go by the book and change fluids after 200 hours or 2,000 miles - for those who do mild riding, and 100 hours or 1,000 miles for severe riding. There are things in the maintenance checklist that are more difficult to check than others so if everything seems to be riding right you may postpone maintenance until the suggested time/distance is met. Most maintenance can be done at home with basic tools that you probably already have! Make sure to always check your owner’s manual before to perform proper maintenance on your machine. Every machine is going to be a little different so make sure you get informed beforehand! Here is a basic schedule for maintenance on machines. EVERY 500 Miles or 25 hours of operation in a normal environment (whichever comes first)EVERY 250 Miles OR 12.5 hours of operation in extreme environments. (whichever comes first) -Inspect and clean (or replace if necessary) engine air filter and foam filter. For dusty conditions, we recommend oiling the foam filter -Inspect and clean CVT air filter -Inspect and clean hose and reservoir of the air filter housing -Grease rear propeller shaft joint -Inspect tie rod ends and ball joints -Inspect and lubricate front suspension arms -Inspect and clean muffler spark arrester -Check brake fluid level -Inspect brake pads -Tighten wheel lugs nuts -Inspect the drive shaft boots and protectorsEVERY 1,000 Miles or 50 hours of operation in a normal environment (whichever comes first)EVERY 500 Miles OR 25 hours of operation in an extreme environment (whichever comes first) -Replace engine air filter and oil foam filter -Inspect, adjust, and lubricate throttle cable -Check battery condition -Inspect front differential/rear final drive oil level -Inspect drive shaft joint condition -Inspect front/rear propeller shaft joint condition -Inspect shock absorbers -Lubricate spherical bearings -Inspect wheel nuts and studs -Inspect steering system (check for abnormal play)EVERY 2,000 Miles OR 100 hours of operation in a normal environment (whichever comes first)EVERY 1,000 Miles OR 50 hours of operation in an extreme environment (whichever comes first) -Replace engine oil and filter -Replace rear final drive oil -Inspect and adjust valve clearance -Inspect engine mounting fasteners -Inspect exhaust system -Inspect engine coolant -Check engine coolant strength -Inspect and clean throttle body -Carry out a fuel pump pressure test -Replace fuel vent breather filter -Inspect CVT drive belt -Inspect, clean and lubricate CVT drive and driven pulleys (including one-way bearing) -Check gearbox oil level and condition -Inspect 4 x 4 coupling unit -Inspect wheel bearings -Inspect handlebar fasteners -Inspect front wheel alignment and adjust as required -Inspect and clean brake system -Inspect hitch condition -Inspect seat latch operation -Inspect ACS shock absorber hoses fittingsEVERY 4,000 Miles OR 200 hours of operation OR 2 years in normal environment (whichever comes first) EVERY 2,000 Miles OR 100 operation in an extreme environment OR 1 year (whichever comes first) -Replace engine coolant -Check cooling system and perform a pressure test on pressure cap and cooling system -Check fuel system condition and perform a fuel system leak test -Inspect the fuel pump pre-filter -Replace spark plugs -Replace front differential oil -Replace gearbox oil -Clean vehicle speed sensor -Replace the brake fluid -Inspect or replace gearbox and differential seals In conclusion, maintenance is very important for your safety and the longevity of your machine. This is just a basic overview of what most manufacturers recommend for their maintenance, but make sure you check your owner's manual that came with your specific machine to see if there are other recommendation for your machine. Stay safe and enjoy your machine!
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