ATV carrying fodder grass

After familiarizing myself with the ATV I set out on task of doing what this is capable of. I got a carrier and a trailer built in local mechanic shop. The carrier was able to carry about 40 kg very easily. We couldn’t load more as there is risk of toppling over. Here is a old clip of bringing grass fodder from our garden. Since I needed workers to load and unload - it did not prove as useful as anticipated.

Basic ATV Handling

ATV with small footprint is not very stable vehicle and some weight shifting is necessary for safe handling. The enclosed pix to some extent emphasis the message

The long seat is to help in weight shifting and not for carrying passenger. When we climb rapidly it may result in the lifting of front end as it happens in bajaj scooters and so it is safer to shift weight forward when climbing. Lower climbing speed will lesson the hazard and weight shift may not be necessary.

Descending is not so hazardous as the centre of gravity will be within vehicle. Still we shift the weight backward for better stability.

ATV has rigid axle at the back that do not allow the rear wheels to move at different speeds. The wear and tear on tyres are more so in hard surfaces. So while taking a turn at higher speed, we allow controlled slip by lifting one of the rear wheels. This is pretty easy once you know how to ride them. The picture illustrates one wheel lifted from ground.

ATV carried around in Maruti Omni

Here  my helpers are unloading ATV from Maruti Omni after returning from a trip   LPG tank takes considerable prime space in my Omni and so loading   ATV is bit tricky.

We have  to  lower the handle bar after loosening four bolts. Two people can easily can do loading and unloading.

Not hoisting uniformly it needs some practice. Experiments with ramp for easy loading failed miserably as we have to lift more on side above LPG tank and has to push in slant position.  

Its unladen weight 130 kg is quite okay for this vehicle. The tyres we placed on the floor hold it stable even in high speed and we don’t harness the machine with rope.

One advantage of this 110 cc ATV is it is small enough to be carried in Maruti Omni . Bigger machine cannot be easily accommodated like this.

ATV carrying grass fodder in a Indian farm

Here is a video of my ATV carrying fodder grass.  It was shot  with a still digital camera  about  one and half year back   and  the  clarity is  just viewable. It gives some indication  how  ATV  can be useful in a farm.

ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾಸಂ Using ATV during monsoon

ಸಕಲದಾರಿ ಸಂಚಾರಿ, ಸದಾಸಂ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಈಗ ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷವಾಗಲು ಒಂದು ಮಳೆಗಾಲ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬಾಕಿ. ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ ಬೇಸಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಉಪಯೋಗದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಅನುಭವಗಳಾದವು. ನಾನು ಚೀನಾದಿಂದ ಸದಾಸಂ ತರಿಸುವಾಗ ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ ಮೊದಲ ವಾರವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮಳೆಗಾಲದ ಅಬ್ಬರ ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾಗಲು ಸುರುವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅದುದರಿಂದ ಆ ವರ್ಷ ಸದಾಸಂನ ಮಳೆಗಾಲದ ಉಪಯೋಗದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅನುಭವ ನನಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಉಪಕಾರ ಅನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಅಷ್ಟೇ
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ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆಗಾಲವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕಿಸಿ ಹೇಳುವ ಕಾರಣ ಕಳೆದ ಹಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ತೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದದ್ದು ಬಹಳ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾದಿಸುವ ಕೊಳೆ ರೋಗ ತಡೆಯಲು ಮುಂಜಾಗ್ರತೆ ಔಷದಿ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆ ಅಡಿಕೆ ಕೃಷಿಕನ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಅತಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ವಿಚಾರ. ಕೊಳೆರೋಗದ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆ ಬಗೆಗೆ ನನಗೆ ಕೆಲಸದಾಳುಗಳು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೇ ಸುದ್ದಿ. ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿ ರೋಗಕ್ಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಿಕೆ ಮರಗಳು ಸತ್ತವು. ತೋಟದ ನೈಜ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಅರಿಯಲು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಪರಾವಲಂಬನೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ಅಸಮರ್ಪಕ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಕಷ್ಟ ನಷ್ಟಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಬವಿಸಿದೆ.

ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೀಸುವ ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ಅಡಿಕೆ ಗೊನೆ ಭಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಮುರಿದುಬೀಳುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ಅಡಿಕೆ ಮೇಲಿನ ತೇವಾಂಶ ಒಣಗದೆ ಕೋಳೆರೋಗಕ್ಕೆ ತುತ್ತಾಗುವುದು ತೋಟದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ಮರಗಳೇ. ಈ ರೀತಿ ಅಂಗಚ್ಚೇದನವಾದ ತೋಟವನ್ನು ಇದ್ದು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಒಂದಂಶವನ್ನು ಕಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ನಾನು ಸದಾಸಂ ತರಿಸಿದ್ದೇ ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ತೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಲು. ಅದುದರಿಂದ ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷ ಮಳೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಬವಾಗಲು ಕಾಯುತ್ತಲಿದ್ದೆ. ಕಳೆದ ವರುಷ ಜೂನ್ ಸುರುವಿನ ವಾರ ಕೋಳಿ ಜ್ವರ ಅನ್ನುವ ಮಾರಿ ಬಂದು ಮೊದಲೇ ದುರ್ಬಲನಾದ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸೋಲಿಸಿತು. ಅದರೂ ಅಗತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಷ್ಟು ಹೋಗಲು ಸಾದ್ಯವೂ ಆಯಿತೆನ್ನಿ. ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷದಂತೆ ಈ ವರ್ಷವೂ ಜೂನ್ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತರ ಅನಂತರ ಕೊಳೆರೋಗಕ್ಕೆ ಔಷದಿ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಬಿಸಿದೆವು.

ಈಗ ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ ತೋಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೂತು ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾಕಿಯಾದರೆ ಅನ್ನುವ ಅಂಜಿಕೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಎರಡೂ ಚಕ್ರಗಳು ಜತೆಯಾಗಿಯೇ ತಿರುಗುವ ಕಾರಣ ಎಂತಹ ಕೆಸರಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಎದ್ದು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಅಗಾಗ ತೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ದೈರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಹೋಗಿ ಬರಲು ಸದಾಸಂ ಬಹಳ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ತೋಟದಲ್ಲಾಗುವ ಕೆಲಸದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಚಿತ್ರಣ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವರಿಂದ ಕೇಳಲ್ಪಡುವ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಈಗ ಸದಾಸಂ ಬಂದು ಅದರಿಂದ ಕೃಷಿ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ ಉತ್ತಮಗೊಂಡು ಲಾಬ ಎನಿಸುತ್ತದೋ ? ನನ್ನ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಬೆಳೆಯಾದ ಅಡಿಕೆ ಬಹುವಾರ್ಷಿಕ ಬೆಳೆ. ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋತು ಸುಮಾರು ಅರ್ಧದಷ್ಟು ತೋಟವನ್ನು ಕಳಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ವಾಪಾಸು ಪಡಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಅಸಾದ್ಯ. ನನಗನಿಸುವಂತೆ ಈಗ ಉಳಿದಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಂಬಲರ್ಹವಾದ ಊರುಗೋಲಾದ ಸದಾಸಂನಿಂದ ಖಂಡಿತ ಸಹಾಯವೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ATV maintenance

There is no accurate indication about the ATV usage  in  absolute  terms. . There is no meter to measure actual distance or time of usage. So we have to resort to rough estimation. It appears like I use it for about 100 hours consuming around 50 liters of Petrol.

I change engine oil once in six to eight months. It needs about 900 ml of Servo multigrade 20W- 40. Brake fluid tank is in handle bar. Top up the brake fluid whenever the level falls below the minimum. As transmission chain is exposed to dust and slush, I do apply a thin film of oil every week. Tire pressure is about 6 to 8 pounds & do keep an eye on that to prevent tire damage.

An ATV with semi automatic clutch should have smooth and slow idle running speed. That is where we change the gear.

My maintenance backup is provided by Mr Isubu who started as grease monkey & gathered experience on the way. He has a small two wheeler workshop in nearby Vittal town & comes whenever I have problems too big for me handle. He has no technical qualification but having seen a variety of two wheelers, he is quite proficient in his work.

My poor health and thereby logic plays mischief quite often. Many problems when I summon Mr Isubu can be handled by ourselves if able to think and act logically.

ATV tires

Tires are indispensable component of any vehicle that wears out over the usage & need to replace them. Unlike the mechanical component failure, we can plan our purchase in advance. Heavy damage rarely happens thereby needing the immediate replacement.

ATV tires not standardized and different manufacturers use different tire sizes for similar products. The front tires for 100cc – 110 cc ATV could be anywhere between 16 inches  to 22 inches in  diameter. Very small sizes mean handling limitation but too big has not much advantages. It increases the cost and height. More height mean higher centre of gravity meaning less vehicle stability.
 

My ATV has 19 x 7-00 at front and 18 x 9-50 at rear. Considering utility, available power and other practical considerations, I find they are ideal for the ATV of this size.

Some Indian manufacturers are exporting ATV tires with diameter above 22 inch for larger ATVs. Tires that I am looking for with dimensions 19 x 7-00 and 18 x 9-50 are still a matter of concern. My present set should last more than another two years & I am confident of finding a solution before that.

ATV Spare parts

Spare parts for imported vehicles  and machinery    are always matter of concern. We can never get original spare parts. By looking around we can always get good  enough  substitutes. Improvising attitude approach is very much essential.

The long bolt that attaches the engine to the frame was broken sometime back. I went with broken component to spare parts shop in nearby Vittal town to search for a suitable replacement. None of the motorcycle bolts were suitable with bigger dimensions. Finally located the bolt holding M80 moped engine to the frame  but it was little longer. It was not a problem and I used that. .

I always have been alert for all malfunctioning components. The electrical components you get from China are not of top quality & I had known  that   before importing   ATV   from various ATV discussion forums. Have successfully replaced  consumables  like   spark plug. CD units and starter solenoid.

Engine design of this ATV is very similar to Hero Street motorcycle that was in market sometime back. I have studied closely spending considerable amount of time in local Hero Honda showroom and find close resemblance in clutch and gear box design.   This  is  also  very  similar  to  a    spanish  ATV  that  I  was  very  keen  to   import  and  following  link  gives  its  spare parts list.
 
http://www.gasgasmotos.es/rcs/manuales/pdf/2006/linek/110/despiece06lkq110.zip

Hero Street, Spanish ATV and my Chinese ATV has exactly same engine and gear box design. This cannot be said of models with different engine sizes.      The dimension could vary a bit that can be known only when we get down to repairs. This should not face any problem as I see it.

Using ATV in Indian farm

ATV can be used for both work & recreation,. For partially handicapped person like me, it helps to get around the farm and also carry the essentials along.

I got carrier and trailer fabricated locally as this particular model is designed just for rides in Western countries as most farmers over there use bigger models, 250 cc and above.

I am able to carry about 35 to 40 kg in the carrier around the farm, even while climbing uphill. The trailer has handled about 100 kg so far. The limitation is because of the light weight, the rear wheels of ATV do not hold on to the ground to carry heavier loads.

I had to opt to four wheel trailer as the hitching point in ATV is not very strong and is not designed for that. The front wheels of the trailer are equipped with steering system, that is a exceptional in rural India.