DIVISION I - SAFETY
! WARNING
Indicates a potential hazard that could
result in a severe injury or death.
15
Prevention
Eye Protection
Wear eye protection, such as goggles, to
completely surround your eyes to prevent
getting dirt or other items in your eyes.
Do not depend on sunglasses for proper
eye protection. Sunglasses are not recom-
mended; they don’t prevent objects from
flying in through the sides.
Long Pants and Long
Sleeved Shirt
The goal is to protect your body from air-
borne objects or anything else that could
scrape your skin. The more thick and
durable the material, the better protection
it’ll provide.
The second step in Prevention is checking
the condition of your ATV. Chances are
good that you’ll be using your ATV in
some rough terrain, and there’s no way you
want your brakes to go out when riding
downhill. You need to check the following
parts on your ATV before every ride.
1. Tires and Wheels
2. Controls and Cables
3. Lights and Electric
4. Oil and Fuel
5. Chassis and Suspension
6. Miscellaneous Items
Tires and Wheels
Correct tire pressure is crucial. Consult
the Specifications section of this Opera-
tor’s Manual for tire pressure guidelines.
Incorrect tire pressure can cause poor
handling, instability, and a loss of ATV
control.
While checking the tire pressure, inspect
the tread and sidewalls of the tires for
cracks, cuts, or other damage that could
indicate they need to be replaced.
Controls and Cables
With the engine running and brake
applied, check all transmission posi-
tions: forward, neutral, and reverse.
A. Brakes
Squeeze the hand brake lever. If it feels
soft or “squishy,” it could be low on fluid
or have a leak — refer to the General
Maintenance section of this Operator’s
Manual for instructions. Don’t use the
ATV until the brakes are operating nor-
mally.
Test the brake lever lock and see if it
locks the hand brake lever into position;
then disengage it to release the brake. Be
sure that the foot brake is working; your
brakes could fail during a ride if they’re
not maintained.
B. Throttle
The throttle should have a free, smooth
range of motion. If it seems to “stick” at
any point, refer to the General Mainte-
nance section of this Operator’s Manual
for instructions. Driving your ATV with a
sticking throttle can turn your leisurely
ride into an unwelcome accident. Don’t
drive your ATV if the throttle sticks.
Lights and Electric
Turn the hi-beam and lo-beam on and off
to make sure they work. At the same
time, check that the taillight, brakelight,
turn signals, and hazard lights work.
Also, check the status/warning indica-
tors (reverse, neutral, hi-lo beam, turn,
and hazard) on the handlebars when you
start the ATV. Don’t drive the ATV
unless all systems are working. Check
the ignition switch.
Condition of the ATV
Check:
1. Tire pressure
2. Tire surface (tread and sidewalls)
Check:
1. Forward
2. Neutral
3. Reverse
Check:
1. Hand brake lever
2. Foot brake pedal
3. Brake lever lock
Check:
1. Free, smooth range of motion
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