Privacy | Legal

Table of Contents Back | Next | Cover Page

Technology & Development Center

Driver-Operator Guide

Chapter 6—Trail Bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles

• Operators
• Operation
• Equipment and Preventive Maintenance
• Loading and Hauling

Operators

Only four- or six-wheel, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) will be used by the USDA Forest Service.

Training

An examiner who is qualified for the type of vehicle to be used will train and test operators of ATVs. Tests for new operators will include an Operators Questionnaire for ATV Machines.

Drivers of USDA Forest Service-owned or -leased ATVs must meet training requirements and hold a valid Operator’s Identification Card, OF-346, or a USDA Forest Service-issued identification card or document authorizing use of ATVs.

Before anyone is permitted to ride a machine on a trail, the following instructions and training must be given:

1. Explain the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of the machines. Explain hazards and rules for use. Explain that the operator is responsible for checks before, during, and after operation of any vehicle.
   
   
2. Explain and demonstrate the following ATV features:

• Brake system
  
  
• Clutch—manual or automatic
  
  
• Choke
  
  
• Throttle—thumb or twistgrip
  
  
• Starter—electric or rope recoil
  
  
• Engine stop/run switch
  
  
• Lighting on/off switch
  
  
• Dimmer switch
  
  
• Odometer and trip meter, if the vehicle has this feature
  
  
• Gearshift lever
  
  
• Reverse lever
  
  
• Fuel priming pump, if the vehicle has one
  
  
• Decompression lever, if the vehicle has one
  
  
• Footrest
  
  
• Steering
  
  
• Fuel valve—on, off, and reserve positions

3. Show the operator how to start the engine, how to remove the machine from the kickstand while holding the rear brake, and how to mount the machine and start off.
   
   
4. Have the operator ride the machine on a road or level ground while the trainer is observing.
   
   
5. Have the operator practice balance and smooth application of power. The operator must show proficiency in these skills before being permitted to take the machine on an easy trail ride. New operators should keep off difficult trails until they have become proficient. The test ride should be about 5 miles long, take about 1½ to 2 hours, and be conducted under the supervision of a qualified trainer.

Operation

Safety Rules

1. The safety of the operator always comes first. Take great care when riding these machines on steep trails and extreme side slopes. Maintain balance and apply power evenly. If you lose control, do not try to hold the machine—let it go and save yourself by staying on the trail.
   
   
2. Avoid trail riding until you are proficient on easy, level terrain.
   
   
3. Speeds exceeding 8 miles per hour are dangerous. Practice defensive riding—reckless driving and horseplay are prohibited.
   
   
4. Do not allow a second person to ride an ATV except during emergencies.
   
   
5. Walk the machine past hazards such as trails along steep bluffs and areas with rolling rocks.
   
   
6. Avoid riding on wet, muddy trails.
   
   
7. When approaching stock, stop the machine, shut off the engine, and move it off the trail as far as possible.
   
   
8. Wear protective headgear that meets the Motorcycle, Scooter, and Allied Trades Association (MSATA) standards for crash helmets. Also wear proper field boots, adequate clothing (long-sleeved shirt and/or jacket), leather gloves, and safety goggles/glasses.

Operating Procedures

1. Read and understand the operator’s manual for each make of machine being used.
   
   
2. Never leave the machine with the engine running. Always engage the parking brake and remove the ignition key when leaving the machine unattended.
   
   
3. Grasp the throttle on the right handlebar. To apply power, feed gasoline to the motor by depressing the thumb, or twisting the hand grip. Apply power smoothly.
   
   
4. When traveling up steep grades, lean forward on the machine. This places weight on the front wheels and prevents the front end from rearing up.
   
   
5. When traveling down steep grades, transfer body weight to the rear, shift into low gear, and descend with the throttle closed. Apply brakes to the front and rear wheels to reduce speed.
   
   
6. Never ford any stream with deep or swift-moving water. The tires may float, making the vehicle difficult to control.
   
   
7. Remain alert at all times for pedestrians, stock, and trail hazards. Use extreme caution when approaching turns, switchbacks, steep grades, bluffs, and similar hazards.
   
   
8. Do not drive on private property without the owner’s permission.

Equipment and Preventive Maintenance

1. Trail ATVs are subject to more frequent mechanical breakdowns and need more frequent carburetor adjustment than other motor vehicles. A change in elevation of 1,000 feet or more can require carburetor adjustment. The drive chain can be broken if the drive sprocket strikes a rock with any force. Minor adjustments of brakes, belts, and the drive chain must be made often while in the field.
   
   
2. Each trail machine should be equipped with a small toolbox or a cloth bag containing at least a pair of pliers, an adjustable end wrench, three or four open-end wrenches, a screwdriver, two or three chain-repair links, extra spark plugs, a spark plug wrench, a repair kit for the drive chain, and any special tools required for the specific make of ATV. Other items, such as wire, tape, rope, and foul-weather gear also may be useful.
   
   
3. Each trail ATV should be equipped with a USDA Forest Service-approved spark arrester, an 8-ounce liquid fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and other items as required.
   
   
4. Some manufacturers furnish only a spark plug (spring leaf) ground strap to stop the engine. Because this device is inconveniently located, especially when the machine is off balance, the operator is usually unable to reach it to stop the engine, which can be a disadvantage in critical situations. An engine ground switch should be installed within easy reach of the operator.
   
   
5. Perform required preventive maintenance before starting a trip. Always conduct an inspection before starting a ride. The following tests cover most models:

• Make sure all parts, such as lights, levers, handles, pedals, frame, and tires, are undamaged.
  
  
• Make sure all controls, such as brakes, lights, on/ off switches, throttles, and choke, are working.
  
  
• Inspect tires for cuts and gouges and for proper air pressure.
  
  
• Check the wheels to ensure that lugnuts are tight; also, check axlenuts for tightness and a secure cotter pin. Grasp the tire at the front and rear, and try to rock it on its axle to detect worn-out bearings or loose nuts. There should be no free play or slip while the wheel is rocked.
  
  
• Check the oil level in the engine and transmission. Check the level of all other fluids.
  
  
• Check the fuel level and fill the fuel tank. Make sure the fuel valve turns to all three positions: on, off, and reserve. Turn the valve to on before starting.
  
  
• After starting the ATV, make sure the gearshift and all the gears, including reverse, are working.
  
  
• A two-way radio is recommended. Forest policy may make this item mandatory.
  
  
• After each field trip, inspect the ATV and perform necessary maintenance.
  
  
• Perform regular maintenance as specified in the operator’s manual.

Loading and Hauling

1. Use a hauling vehicle rated to have adequate capacity and capability for the load.
   
   
2. A tilt-bed trailer, designed especially for the ATV being used, is the best unit for hauling these machines.
   
   
3. Employ safe methods to load an ATV in the bed of a pickup. If possible, back the truck into a bank so the bed is about even with the ground. When loading or unloading, use ramps that are wide enough for the ATV and that secure firmly to the bed of the truck.
   
   
4. Before transporting an ATV, put it in gear, set the parking brake, and tie it down securely. When a truck is hauling an ATV, the tailgate must be closed. Do not allow the ATV’s wheels to damage the front of the truck’s bed or the tailgate.

Top Back | Next Cover Page

E-mail: wo_mtdc_webmaster@fs.fed.us	Technology & Development Center

 Visitor since February 9, 2007