How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part Three

After you’ve found the oil filter and oil cap, it’s time to locate the drain plug. It will be positioned on the underside of the vehicle, so you’ll have to get a little dirty. Once you find the plug, place your oil pan directly underneath it. Open the drain plug and allow all of the used oil to run out.

Use your wrench to remove the oil filter while you are waiting for the oil to drain. Scrub off any gunk or oil on the mounting surface. Add some lubricant to the gasket of the new filter and screw it into place by hand. Secure the filter with a couple of turns from your wrench, but be careful not to over tighten it. By now the Yamamlube 2S oil should be finished draining, so put the plug back into place and discard the used oil properly.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part Two

Before you remove the first panel and start digging around in your machine, be sure that you’ve gathered all of the necessary supplies close by. Move the ATV to a spacious area with level ground where you’ll be able to work comfortably. Fire up the machine and let it run for a few minutes. This will heat up the oil and disturb any deposits that may have settled at the bottom, allowing them to be removed with the old Yamalube 2W oil.

Once you’ve run the engine for a few minutes, remove any panels that may be obstructing your access to the filter and oil cap. The dipstick will be connected with the filter, which you can use to check you oil levels periodically. Now that you know where the new oil needs to go, tomorrow we’ll go over how to get the old oil out.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part One

Like all vehicles, you need to change the oil in your ATV periodically to keep the engine running smoothly and prevent buildup. Since you will have to be dealing with the oil filter anyways, this is usually a good time to see if it needs to be replaced too. Before you begin, be sure that you have all of the necessary supplies with you. Here is a quick list of what to have at hand before you get started:

~Yamaha 2M or another leading oil
~Gloves
~Drain pan
~Funnel
~Extra oil filter
~Wrench
~Other necessary tools (varies by machine)
~Towels

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Yamaha History

With roots tracing back to the late 19th century, Yamaha has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers in a wide range of industries. Torakusu Yamaha, the eponymic entrepreneur, began his career as a watchmaker before taking over as the president of Nippon Gakki Co., which eventually become the Yamaha Corporation. The name has become so entrenched in society that many people forget that the company has only had the Yamaha name since the 100th anniversary in 1987.

Originally, Yamaha started out selling piano and reed organs. Although the company has since branched out into a variety of other industries—from motorcycles to Yamalube 2M—musical instrument manufacturing continues to be the foundation of the company. Currently, Yamaha is the world’s leading manufacturer of instruments and had recognized over $4.5 billion in revenue as of March 2009.

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Boat Engine Maintenance 101: Emissions

Emissions wreak havoc on the environment and pose a serious threat to those onboard your vessel. Luckily, you can work to minimize your emissions through a few simple maintenance procedures. The main hazard from your engine is carbon monoxide, which is difficult to detect because it is invisible and odorless. If you have water leaking out of the exhaust system, you can be sure that exhaust fumes are escaping as well.

In order to reduce your emissions, first look to the intercooler. Here, the air is cooled before it enters the engine, and although this is an integral component of the system, it is often overlooked. You’ll want to check these intercoolers regularly and be conscious of any water escaping from the exhaust system. If this is the case, you’ll probably want to take the craft to a professional. Also keep in mind that engines with premium oil, such as Evinrude XD 100, will run cleaner as well.

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Boat Engine Maintenance 101: Cooling System

Most systemic problems with boat engines can be traced back to a neglect of the cooling system. The cooling system in your boat will function much differently from the one in your car, so it’s important to be familiar with the discrepancies. Regardless of what type of cooling system you have, the water you’re floating in will be used to regulate the temperature of the engine, which means that all of the debris, algae and gunk in the water will now be pulsating through your boat.

The first way to prevent damage to the cooling system is to inspect, clean and replace the filters on the water intakes regularly. This will help you catch any large debris from the water that would otherwise be sucked through the system. If you are boating in salt water frequently, gasket failure will be your chief concern. When you see any signs of rusting or corrosion here, immediately switch out the parts and work to remove any deposits. In addition, changing your outboard motor oil regularly will help rid the system of deposits and keep the engine temperature in an acceptable range.

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Boat Engine Maintenance 101: Inspections

The cornerstone of engine maintenance is routine inspections. You can save yourself a lot of money and headache in the future by taking a few minutes to do a quick inspection every time you leave the dock. Most people assume that this is a complicated process requiring an extensive knowledge of engines, but it really just takes some common sense.

For the most part, it’s easy to see when there is a leak, loose fittings or unwanted debris clogging up the system. If you don’t feel comfortable looking around under the engine cover, seek out someone at the marina who can show you the ropes. I could write ten pages on how to check your Evinrude XD100 oil and examine the bilge pump, but unless you do it yourself, you will never get the hang of it. The important thing is to perform routine inspections and address any concerns before they have a chance to burgeon.

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Boat Engine Maintenance 101: Making a Plan

Every boat owner—without exception—needs to know the fundamentals of engine maintenance in order to prevent long-term damage and have the ability to make adjustments when they’re on the water. Before we delve into the specifics, it’s crucial to get an understanding of the end goal of engine maintenance. Not only do you want to prevent long-term corrosion and wear, you also want to ensure that your boat is performing at its maximum capacity.

The biggest catch-22 about engine maintenance is that although your vessel is constantly in the water, water—and salt water in particular—is the engine’s worst enemy. Water is corrosive in and of itself, but it also facilitates the growth of fungus and other microbes. To that end, it’s imperative that you maintenance plan includes measures to prevent corrosion and protect against water damage. Over the next couple of days, we’ll be covering everything from how to mix your gasoline and outboard motor oil, to basic steps you can take to maintain your cooling system.

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How to Operate a Boat: Emergency Scenarios

If you encounter an emergency at sea, the most important thing is to not panic. Since you’re out in the middle of the water, you need to think quickly and clearly, as you never know if help is going to arrive. One of the most common emergencies on a boat is having a man overboard. If you can’t see where the person has gone, turn off the engine immediately to avoid causing them any more harm. Have one of the other people onboard raise your warning flag to alert other boaters to the person. Once you’ve identified the person in the water, throw them a flotation device and slowly move the boat in their direction.

Whether you have a medical emergency or simply didn’t pack enough gasoline and Evinrude XD 100, there may come times when it’s necessary to signal another boat. It’s always a good idea to have a VHF or CB radio onboard, but if you don’t, you can use one of these internationally recognized distress signals: waving of your arms, reflecting sunlight with a mirror, SOS message or a flare.

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How to Operate a Boat: Shifting, Steering and Stopping

Before you push away from the dock and open up the throttle, be sure you have reserve gasoline and outboard motor oil on your vessel. If you’re operating an outboard motor, the throttle arm will also act as a tiller. Remember, the boat will go in the opposite direction that you point the tiller. You should be able to get the hang of it rather quickly when you’re going forward, but be sure to exercise extra caution if and when you have to back up. Once the throttle arm is turned to “run” or “shift,” adjust the shift lever and turn the throttle handle until you reach your desired speed.

Unlike your car, a boat doesn’t have brakes. The only way to reduce your speed is by lowering the power, which is actually quite effective due to the immense resistance from the water. And don’t try to stop on a dime. Shift the engine down to neutral well before your stopping point. If need be, you can give it a little more juice to get your all the way there.

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How to Operate a Boat: Starting the Motor

The first thing you’ll need to know when operating a boat is how to get the machine started. Begin by making sure that the shift lever is in neutral, which will be straight up on most models. Pull the choke if the engine is cold; if the engine is warm, only use the choke if it doesn’t start up after a couple of tires. Turn the throttle until it’s in the “start” position.

The engine will have a pulley like a lawnmower; pull this rope gently until there is resistance, then pull quickly. This process often will need to be repeated numerous times. After the engine starts, push the choke in slowly if necessary. Turn the throttle back to the “run” position. If the engine doesn’t start up after a few tries, check to see if there is enough gas and Evinrude XD100 oil in the tank.

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How to Operate a Boat: The Basics

Whether you just bought your first boat or just plan to ride along as a passenger, learning the boating basics is a good idea for anyone who is going to be out on the water. Even if you aren’t planning to drive, you never know when an emergency will arise—or the skipper will want to take a turn being towed.

If you’re not riding in your own vessel, be sure to learn the basics of the craft when you get on. This should include locating the fire extinguisher and emergency supplies and learning how to start it up—although you should be able to do that after our crash course. Over the next few days we’ll be covering the essentials of boating—from how to properly check outboard motor oil and gasoline, to basic driving operations.

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