How-To

-- There is nothing to fear -- By Allen Knowles  and staff of Dirt Wheels When performance quads were two-strokes without power valves, rebuilding an engine was relatively cheap, even with labor included. Modern two-strokes with power valves are definitely more expensive to work on, but those are not available for quads unless you are willing to build your own. With modern quads, it doesn’t matter whether you are working on a sport quad or a 4x4, you will be working on a four-stroke. Costs soar with the increased…

-- How they work and how to recognize problems --  By Cameron Dickie CVT clutching may seem like magic: they work, but not many people understand how. They do not operate on spells and wizardry but on simple ratios. This is an article on learning the basics of how a clutch operates and to answer some of your questions (based off of Polaris-style clutches). It may seem like a crazy thing to learn, but trust me, if I can understand how they operate, you can as well. The definition of a CVT clutch is an automatic clutch…

-- Make sure your ride is ready, By the staff of Dirt Wheels -- Have you noticed that your ATV or UTV isn’t tracking straight like it used to? Or it might be that the handlebar or steering wheel isn’t in the correct position? Either way, these things can become a nuisance if the front end is off even slightly. So, how can these things be fixed without taking it to a repair shop? Fixing each of these problems is much easier than you think, and hopefully you’ll save some time, money and aggravation with these tips.…

-- STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO GUIDE --  By the staff of Dirt Wheels We recently noticed that there was a lot of wet lubricant on one of our Polaris RZR front axles. Looking closely, we found that a stick had gone through the lower front part of the machine and wedged between the front axle CV and the front differential. We assumed the CV boot was punctured, so we pulled the axle out. This is what we found, and we thought it might help our readers. To begin, make sure the machine is supported safely, then remove the wheel.…

If you get a flat, beadlock wheels will hold the tire onto the rim, allowing you to limp back home. This is why experienced UTVers always use them.

During the making of our project Raptor 734 we gathered parts to widen it up and beef up the suspension. Part of matching the longer Houser A-arm setup is a wider racing axle, like the one we got from Tusk for under $200. The $196.95 axle is adjustable from 2 3/8 inches wider to 4 3/8 inches wider than stock, depending on which spacers you use for the hubs. This particular axle requires a 70mm and 46mm axle nut wrench, or a giant crescent if you have it, so make sure you have all of your tools ready beforehand! So, let’s…

Every ATV currently being sold by a reputable manufacturer has shock absorbers. It’s how they isolate rough terrain from the rider, and it’s perhaps the most important part of your ATV besides the engine. Shock tuning can make or break a machine, as it controls comfort, handling characteristics, safety in rough terrain, and how enjoyable your ATV is to ride. We have been working with shocks since day one, and we can never leave the settings alone. Why would manufacturers offer adjustable shocks if they didn’t intend for you…

Making your quad faster is easy. Just bring money. There are endless tips on how to make your motor stronger, your suspension better and your chassis crisper. But by the same token, we have ridden some very expensive machines that feel like junkers because the builder ignored basic setup fundamentals. Wayne Hinson at Hinson Racing was one of the pioneers in ATV racing and was crew chief for riders like Gary Denton and Doug Gust. He never lets an ATV leave his shop without going over some very basic setup items. Here are a…

When upgrading the wheel and tire combo for your ATV or UTV, you have many options to choose from with styles, colors, and beadlock or non-beadlock. In this how to, we will show you how to mount your new tires onto a set of beadlock rims from OMF Performance Products. The purpose of a beadlock rim is to prevent the tire from spinning around the rim at low air pressures, or in the event of a flat you can still make it back to your camp or trailer without the tire flying off the wheel. Many top race teams use beadlocks for the…

The thumb throttle that comes stock on ATVs can be very tiresome on long rides. We experienced that under racing conditions or on long trail rides, our thumbs would become very sore or even useless at times. We contacted Motion Pro and got their Vortex throttle kit to convert our thumb throttle to a twist throttle that you would find on any dirt or street bike. We installed this kit on a 2015 Yamaha YFZ450R project quad. INSTALL When you first start this install, make sure you have all the necessary parts needed,…

The snow is beginning to melt, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are chirping. Spring is finally here, and, for most Dirt Wheels readers, it couldn’t have come faster! The harsh winter months had you cooped up in front of a fire and your ATV in storage. It’s time to get off your lazy bum, thaw out, throw on some gloves and get your quad prepped and ready to ride. If you rode your quad at all during the winter, the onset of spring is even more important in terms of maintenance, because winter riding is usually hard…