Looking for a good tech support forum for ATVs

[KE4AVB]

Any recommendations of good ATV, RTV, and UTV tech support forums?

Started doing light work on these per customer demand here. I joined one forum but tech is nil there or at least for my question.

Currently I a Yamaha Rhino 450 in the shop with starter problems. It appears someone has installed the starter clutch bearing in backwards; Awaiting a couple of pullers I ordered in order to get the alternator flywheel off.

[bgsengine]

Usually the best forums end up being the "owners groups" forums specific to a given brand , from what I have found - there is no one best forum - Sort of like generator questions get better responses over at smokstak than they would here.. I've never really found any one "all in one" tech forum that covers everything - usually ended up finding the best ones from google searches of my specific question - (Ask google your question and see what comes up) - and most times the most reliable info came from brand specialty forums - so for a Yamaha Rhino. probably a yamaha forum I have a bunch of old bookmarks on my linux box at home if you want them.

[bobodu]

Yep..I go to Suzuki groups and Polaris groups.....and Honda groups on those exceedingly rare times when I have a broken Honda.....

[KE4AVB]

Basically then there is no such thing I'm looking for then. Just was hoping not to need to join make and model specific forums. The ATV forum join that had Yamaha specific section is useless. Just too many passwords to keep track of.

As far as what I have seen in the shop it been Polaris, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Sport Works Trail Wagon, and Kubota so far.

One of the Kawasaki was a Pita repair. The front end was ragged out. Differential was ran without oil, and it a royal pain to get out and in; only comes out one way and you may not even get a feeler gauge between it and the frame. CV axles had to be rebuilt along with A frame arms. Then the sliding sheaves had to replaced because someone decided to toss a few 6mm screws and washers in the air intake.

The TW-650 was in the dealer shop six times for engine problems which they couldn't even figure out that the Subaru carburetor was simply needing cleaning. I have since rebuilt the most of the CV axles due boot failures. Had to replace one axle because manufacture doesn't even the 3/4" Circlips for CV axles. One sheared during the disassembly of the axle.

The Suzuki was fairly easy as the owner had burn up the drive belt puling a calf out.

The Polaris have two of its rear drive chains replaced which I had to order wait on the factory to source new chain for (took a month on back order and probably came out of China) and rebuilt its carburetor.

I even had one ATV that barb wire in the Sheaves which prevented them from sliding thus no drive.

The Yamaha is my latest project to straighten out someone else screw-ups. It appear they have install a starter clutch bearing backwards. I didn't know it was even possible. Awaiting a puller to remove the alternator flywheel to even get to it. And then I can get to the sheave problem I see but I need the engine running first.

Upon this Spring startup I got a customer here with a JD ZTR that was told by the service tech at JD shop that he didn't even have oil pump in the Kawasaki engine even when it has an oil pressure sensor and oil filter. This engine does have an oil pump and probably a failing pressure switch since low pressure alerts are random.

What are they hiring? Are they hiring a body just to be there to give stupid answers like this? Of course they are the same shop that couldn't even repair a carburetor problem on a Stihl chainsaw.

Enough whining on my part ; just frustrated at the stupidity I have been seeing lately. No wonder I have migraines lately.

[bgsengine]

What are they hiring? Are they hiring a body just to be there to give stupid answers like this? Of course they are the same shop that couldn't even repair a carburetor problem on a Stihl chainsaw.

Pretty much it - its what we pros call "parts hangers" - but it is an industry problem as a whole because shops simply cannot FIND good techs but they HAVE TO get someone to fill a position that actually wants the job. I don't know about your area but our county has the highest unemployment in the state.. and yet happens to sit smack in the middle of marcellus shale lots of jobs out there.. but nobody wants to work - you could work on a drilling platform (roustabouts) and be making $25 - $40/hour or more but no one wants to have to work that hard, so the drilling companies end up trucking in Mexicans and immigrants from Texas (even illegals) because they're actually *willing* to work that hard.

But, small engine shops, can forget it - unless you offer them some ridiculous wage and benefits package that you'd have to charge $200/hour shop labor to afford it - (And I have tried to hire a couple times for "high tech" jobs - needing a programmer analyst and a product photograhper.. and NOT A SINGLE JOB APPLICATION CAME IN!!! and then started getting resume's emailed in from people in California, Pakistan and the like wanting the job but either wanted to be making $150/hour or barely could write English.. )

So, on the one hand, yes they ARE hiring idiots that barely know enough to turn a wrench and would actually go looking for a muffler bearing if you showed them a picture of a parts catalog listing one... but on the other hand, there just are not enough candidates that want to actually WORK in the business (Many like creia's son have the interest.. and the keen intellect to learn all about them and be a top tech) .. but all too often, shops are still working in the stone age and expect to hire a top notch tech for $10/hour and still believe they're perfectly happy with the idea that they're gonna get laid off when winter comes around.. eventually those kinds of shops will be out of business and the modernized shops that know how to stay busy year around and pay a livable wage for journeyman techs will start (finally) attracting smarter people that can see themselves making a career out of small engine repair...

It's supply and demand - the demand far exceeds much of the potential supply and the supply is requiring exorbitant paychecks that no one could afford. so what's left is the "cream of the crop" and can pretty much get hired for top wages in just about any shop they apply at.. but it isn't enough to fill the demand, so we end up with the aforementioned parts hangers and warm bodies.. all you need is a wrench in your pocket and you is a "repairman"

No wonder I have migraines lately.

Yup . I feel your pain.. you ain't the only one.

[KE4AVB]

But, small engine shops, can forget it - unless you offer them some ridiculous wage and benefits package that you'd have to charge $200/hour shop labor to afford it

but all too often, shops are still working in the stone age and expect to hire a top notch tech for $10/hour and still believe they're perfectly happy with the idea that they're gonna get laid off when winter comes around..

Totally agree there...And doesn't help that customers don't understand what it takes to keep a shop operating in the black. There is a lot of behind scene cost that is involved too.

I have worked for some those less 10/hr jobs while in the office equipment repair field. Those days are long gone due office equipment replacement cost went through the floor. When I got laid off at 36 finding a job was nearly impossible; everyone of the potential employers want a long resume with lots of job references. I only had two jobs in 16 yrs; even the unemployment agency tried refusing to pay benefits because I only had two jobs. Finally had to start working for myself; of course, times were difficult until I got the knack of managing a business from top to bottom. It now 20 yrs later and I'm still working for myself; although, some days I wonder why.

[Luffydog]

well you have to start somewhere. dont think i was born with a wrench in my mouth.. but if i was i wish i would have been told back sooner because i think sometimes i rather be eating nails and shitting tacks........ i always say it has to be an easier way..... dont think none of us started out being a mr.goodwrench..... but i aslo understand where your coming from.

[KE4AVB]

No none start out knowing a lot but some do have the talent of figuring out puzzles while others are willing to help ask for help while they learn. Its those that think they know it all that gets me. I had one those last year that couldn't fix a pulley problem on a MTD deck last year. After the customer finally had it with him, I was called out to fix the problem. Of all things it was simply a missing spacer washer but that part changer had so screwed up the double pulley with BFH that I had to replace it too.

Personally I was lucky to have the ability for this kind of work. My talents were notice by good mechanic when I was young and he took under his wing before even 8 yrs old. My mother always said I could tear up a German tank with a rubber hammer and then put it back together in working condition. It also doesn't hurt to have the mental ability to see how things are put together either. That one drives some techs crazy when I walk in a shop and the tech has been working a piece of equipment all day that I have never seen and after few minutes show them what they were missing. Sometimes it only takes a new view point to fix a problem.

[Luffydog]

when we was kids we had a mini bike that quit running and we had put in the shop and stored it until we could fix. i got tired of walking so i took it apart a the age of 8 and got it running. we dad got home i thought he would be happy that i got it going. i took the worst a$$ whopping that a young boy could get for fixing something. after years went by he never told me why he did what he did. he died and never told me why. this is what i come to learn from that wonder a$$ whooping..... #1- never touch another mans tool box and tools unless your told and always clean and put them back.. #2 it dont matter how you fix it someones gonna complain and be pissed... #3 theres not alot of money envolved for errors.... #4 and the mystery ? maybe he didnt want me to be a handy tool guy and work on things and that he wanted me to be better than he.... #5 theres not a day that goes by that i am in the shop and i think about that day when he got home and my ass is still about 4 shades red but it taught me many good lessons to this day.... never touch a country boys tool box....

[KE4AVB]

Luffy, I got a brother that would nearly kill you if you touch his tools but would sneak out my tools, used them, and then just either leave them laying around or put them in his locked tool boxes. I then would have to ask for them back and he hesitate about returning them asking if I could id them. That why I marked most of the important ones including the custom made ones which was usually the ones that were AWOL. I even found a few the hard way with my mower. I finally got a real tool box that I could lock and the problem was resolve other than he was very pissed about it.

He had always been that way even when he was kid he was that way with his toys. He would do things just to get me in trouble so I would get it. One day he made the mistake of getting me to run into him with a bike and he got hurt. This time my mother witness what he did and instead me getting it he did after his foot healed. I think mostly its jealously on his part since I am 4 years older.

I remember one time he needed his Torque Flight 6 automatic transmission rebuilt. I had just put it on the work bench and he want to take it apart so let him with the warning as to not disassemble the valve body due to all the springs and balls. Behold he did exactly what I told not to do and then came to me whining that he couldn't put it back together. What got me the most was that I left the Chilton repair manual on the bench so he could read it; of course, he rather take a beating then read and follow instructions. Well after a few hours of cleaning the shop I manage to find all the parts that went flying. I was lucky the shop doors were closed at the time he took it apart. It was like some the things we all repair nowadays were you can't get the individual parts but instead only the whole assembly.

The hardest thing for me during the rebuild was finding the replacement shim washers that went between the input and output shafts. Went to one local transmission repair shop to see if they had could get me a set and they said no that they were unavailable but they could rebuild the transmission for me. I look at the tech and said "If you can't get the washers how are you going to fix the problem?". I just walked out and went online searching for the parts which I found.