Atv Condition; Tires And Wheels - Arctic Cat XR 500 Operator's Manual

Prevention
Helmets should have one of these:
1. DOT label
2. Snell label
3. ANSI Z90.1 label
These helmets should provide full-face
protection.
If you drop or damage your helmet, get a
new one immediately. Your helmet may
not protect your head from injury if it has
cracks, fissures, or other damage to its
outside or core padding.
Remember, your helmet won't do you any
good if the chin strap isn't fastened.
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
branches, long grass, airborne objects, or
anything else that could scrape your skin.
The more thick and durable the material,
the better protection it'll provide. Riding
pants with kneepads, a jersey, and shoul-
der pads provide the best protection.

ATV Condition

The second step in Prevention is check-
ing 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 rid-
ing downhill. You need to check the fol-
lowing parts on your ATV before every
ride.
24
! WARNING

1. Tires and Wheels

2. Controls and Cables
3. Lights and Electric
4. Oil and Fuel
5. Chassis
6. Miscellaneous Items
1. Tires and Wheels
Correct tire pressure is crucial. Consult
the ATV Specifications section of this
Operator's Manual for tire pressure
guidelines. Incorrect tire pressure can
cause poor handling, instability, and a
loss of ATV control.
Check:
1. Tire pressure
2. Tire surface (tread and sidewalls)
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.
2. Controls and Cables
With the engine running and brake
applied, check all transmission posi-
tions: forward, neutral, and reverse.
Check:
1. Forward
2. Neutral
3. 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 Mainte-
nance section of this Operator's Manual for
instructions. Don't use the ATV until the
brakes are operating normally.
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
the rear foot brake near the footrest is
working; your brakes could fail during a
ride if they're not maintained.
Check:
1. Hand brake lever
2. Rear foot brake
3. Brake lever lock
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious injury.