boss mckannick

By Joe Kosch SOUND ADVICE The sounds ATVs make are just some of the things that make me like them so much, and I think most ATVers are moved by what they hear from their machines. The sounds your machine puts out, and the sounds it doesn’t, are a big part of the mixture of things that make riding so enjoyable and so memorable. Even the sounds of ATVs you don’t have anymore can get your attention. Have you ever been at a riding area and caught the sound of the first ATV you ever rode? Even if you don’t see the…

ADDING A SPEEDOMETER TO OLDER ATVs Dear Boss, I’m wondering if it’s possible to install a speedometer on the Kawasaki KFX700? If so, how would you go about doing that? Thanks. Paul Bassani Colorado Springs, CO ADDING A SPEEDO TO OLDER ATVs On the surface your question is simple, but if you take a deep dive into all the equipment available that can read your speed, you had better pack a lunch, son! So, let’s start off with the simplest speedometer—the bicycle speedometer. Back in the day before speedometers were…

HOW TO MAKE YOUR QUAD RUN BETTER From Dirt Wheels Dialed In, by Winston "Boss" McKannick. Dear Boss, I have a 2009 Kawasaki Brute Force 750i with almost 5000 miles on it. A while back it started spitting and sputtering when I hit 30 mph, and it wouldn’t go any faster than that. I sent it to the dealer, and the coils and the filter screen for the fuel pump were replaced. When I got it back, I took it riding the same day and it began spitting again at 30 mph. The longer I rode it, the slower it would go. Before we got…

FIXING ELECTRICAL ISSUES - Winston "Boss" McKannick is the shop foreman here at Dirt Wheels and one of his main jobs is to help out readers who may have a problem with their quad or UTV. He is the Mister-Know-It-All when it comes to mechanical problems and how to fix them. Today's question comes from a reader in South Dakota: Dear Boss, I purchased a leftover 2016 Polaris Ranger High Lifter 900. I love it, except for its ability to “eat” headlight fuses. About three times a month the 10-amp headlight fuse…

-- Boss McKannick gives his advice -- MAKE MY MACHINE LOOK GOOD: Dear Boss, I have a Polaris RZR S 1000 that’s a couple of years old and it doesn’t look as good as it used to. I’m thinking about sprucing up its appearance with a graphics kit of some kind. I’ve been hearing a lot about wraps. Is this something I could install myself, or does a professional business have to do it? What would you suggest for a guy like me with average mechanical skills? Eric Harrington Glendale, CA Well, Eric, some…

-- By Winston "Boss" McKannick -- WHICH WAY IS BETTER, 2 TO 3, OR 4 TO 3? Dear Boss, I am wanting a “modern” three-wheeler. I have looked at the kits where you can convert a dirt bike to a three-wheel- er, but I was wondering, can you go the other way? Say, take a Honda 400EX four-wheeler and make it a three-wheeler? Which do you think is easier, better or just more practical? Clyde Forman Dallas, NC Well, it is easier to convert a two-wheeler to a three-wheeler mainly because there are kits available.…

Got a problem with your ATV or UTV? Boss McKannick knows how to fix it. E-mail your questions to him at [email protected]

-- Dirt Wheels shop foreman to the rescue -- By Boss McKannick: Hey Boss -- My son has an RZR170 and I would like to get a speedometer to measure current speed and distance traveled. It would also be nice to accurately measure any performance modifications done. By the way, what is the max speed of a stock RZR170? Do you recommend mechanical or electrical speedometers? Dean Daniels Tabor, SD.     Well Dean, I don’t believe there is a mechanical speedometer made. If there is I am not aware of it. Plus if…