ATVs and UTVs are powerful and complicated machines that need proper care and maintenance to see their full power and longevity. Sometimes they’ve just seen their day. Engine rebuilds are expensive, so you want to delay them if you can and choose the right time and way to do it so that it costs less. We’ll tell you how to rebuild ATV engines the best way.
The cost to rebuild an ATV engine ranges from $500-$800 if you do it yourself. Professional labor costs around $800 on average.
1-3 months is the most common. The fastest it can be done is 10 days to 3 weeks.
You can extend the life of your engine and make a rebuild less likely by taking several precautions.
Delay the need for ATV engine repair by:
You have to rebuild or replace your engine when it stops running surrounded by dramatic black smoke. This is worst case scenario. You can rebuild it before it gets to that point so it requires less work and money.
Use an hour meter to keep track of the wear and tear of your engine. After around 50 hours, a sport ATV’s piston will need to be changed.
If your magnetic drain plug gets severely clogged, you’ll need to rebuild.
If you experience hard starts or see exhaust smoke, check the cause. You may need to rebuild your engine sooner rather than later. If you can’t find a more easily remedied explanation, perform a leakdown test on the engine.
You can probably do it yourself. If you have a service manual and the patience to do the steps the right way, you’re good.
Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t want to or don’t feel comfortable to do it. It’s better to acknowledge it, have the job done right, and avoid extra stress.
The next question is who to take the ATV or UTV to. The dealer is the most qualified, but they’re also the most expensive. Other reputable mechanics should quote you a price around 30 percent less than the dealer. Read reviews and ask friends to determine if the mechanic you’re considering is someone you can trust.
Ask for a quote on this ATV motor repair before you agree to let them do it. Ask them what all they’ll be doing to your engine and what happens if something goes wrong. Educate yourself on the laws dealers and mechanics have to adhere to.
If you’re doing the rebuild yourself, you can save money by not assuming you have to completely rebuild the engine.
The pistons are the first thing that needs to be replaced. You can check the valves and seats by spraying a little contact cleaner on them to see if they leak. If they fail, do them too. If not, you’re probably good. Your cylinder is probably fine unless you see wear or damage. The crank is also probably fine unless it has play in it. The gears are fine if the engine stays in gear. Modern cams are the last thing to need to be replaced.
Both the dealer and the mechanic will try to charge you retail prices. This is normal procedure, but also something that’s nice to avoid, if you can. You might be able to keep your ATV engine rebuild cost down by purchasing your parts on the internet or through mail-order. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than O.E. parts, though you will have to be sure you’re choosing something that’s right for your quad.
Get the most reward for your headache by using rebuild time as an opportunity to get more power out of your machine. With high-compression pistons costing the same in labor to install as O.E. pistons and high-performance cams actually costing less, you can easily upgrade your machine at the same time you rebuild it.
The question may not be so much how to rebuild ATV engine as whether to do it. Compare how much to rebuild ATV engines and how long your engine is likely to have left. You may be better off selling an old motor than trying to rebuild it. It’ll be less headache and less cost. If it’s old, but it still runs, people will still buy it from you for a low price. If it doesn’t run, you can sell it for parts.
