ATV Consent Decree
In the early 1980’s the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission started receiving reports of injuries and deaths related to ATVs.
On March 20, 1984 the CPSC stated that “It is the opinion of this Directorate, based on the data in our files (ATV injury estimates had grown from 8,585 in 1982 to 27,554 in 1983) as well as information from other sources, that three-wheeled all terrain vehicles may present one of the most significant and explosively growing product hazards ever considered by this agency.”
On December 30, 1987, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the major ATV manufacturers and distributors in order to declare ATV’s hazardous consumer products. The Complaint stated that “the vehicles give the illusion of stability but they are really unique, complex and dynamically unstable vehicles. Their innocuous appearance gives no hint of the consequences that may result from the failure to receive adequate instructions and training. These drastic results may occur even while doing the most routine of maneuvers or turns.” The complaint further stated that “the safety and stability of ATV’s have been misrepresented by advertisements and salespeople.”
After months of negotiations, the Department of Justice and the major ATV manufactures agreed at the same time the complaint was filed to a preliminary consent agreement that contained, in part the following provisions:
Send notices to all known past ATV purchasers informing them of the risk of severe injuries and death associated with ATV’s.
Immediately halt sale of all three-wheeled ATV’s, otherwise known as ATCs.
Affix extensive warning labels to all ATV’s and mail a safety alert to all prior purchasers detailing deaths and injuries associated with ATV use.
Provide free “hands-on” training to all future purchasers and all past purchasers within the last 12 months.
Agree to establish advertising guidelines.
Agree not to oppose state legislation for licensing and certification of ATV operators.
Undertake a public awareness campaign including print, radio, and television commercials describing the potential hazards and risks associated with ATV’s and minimum age guidelines for various models.
A final decree was signed and approved on April 27, 1988. Any remaining inventory of ATCs were dismantled for parts or crushed.
The terms and requirements of the ATV Consent Decree expired on April 27, 1998.
ATC
Abbreviation for All Terrain Cycle, a trademark owned by the Honda Motor Corporation. Commonly used to refer to three wheelers such as Honda’s ATC90 introduced into the United States back in 1970.
In 1988, the sale and marketing of three wheelers was discontinued due to an April 27, 1988 ATV Consent Decree between the US Department of Justice and the major ATV manufactures.
ATV
Abbreviation for All Terrain Vehicle. An ATV typically has balloon tires that enable it to cover soft or muddy terrain, and can have two, three or four wheels, and in a few rare cases, even more!
Atomization
When fuel is is mixed with air in a carburetor or fuel injection system it is turned into a fine mist for more complete combustion. The process of turning the air/fuel mixture into a mist is known as atomization.
API
Abbreviation for the American Petroleum Institute. API is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry.
For consumers, API provides the API’s Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS). It is a voluntary licensing and certification program that authorizes engine oil marketers who meet specified requirements to use the API Engine Oil Quality Marks. These emblems go directly on each container of oil and is there to help consumers identify quality engine oils for their gasoline- and diesel-powered applications.
See: http://www.api.org/
Mixing Two Stroke Oil
The demise of the two-stroke motorcycle has been a heartbreaking process to witness. Each model year another manufacturer announces that they are dropping another model from their lineup. And while some of the die-hard racing OEMs have talked up their commitment to the development of two-strokes we know the time will come when two-stroke motorcycles will all be gone. The bright side is that that there are tons of crazy two-stroke fans out there that know these bikes are getting scarce and are treating them as such. A simple method of caring for a two-stroke engine is to make sure it has proper lubrication.
If you are reading this you are probably lucky enough to own or have owned a two-stroke motorcycle or ATV. You know that both the top and bottom end of your engine are lubricated by the oil that is mixed into the fuel. Making sure you have fresh fuel mixed with the proper ratio of oil is crucial to the life and performance of your two-stroke engine.
Things to consider when mixing two-stroke oil:
- Always follow the manufacturers recommended fuel type
- Always follow the manufacturers recommended oil type
- Always follow the manufacturers recommended fuel/oil ratio
- Always use fresh gas when making a batch of premix
- Never run stale premix through your engine
The following quick reference chart illustrates common premix ratios. For example, if you are going to run a ratio of 32:1 and you will be mixing 1 gallon of fuel you will need to add 4 ounces of oil to the batch. Shake it well and pour the fuel into your gas tank.
| Gallons of Fuel to Ounces of Oil | ||||||||||
| Fuel:Oil |
1 gal |
2 gal | 3 gal | 4 gal | 5 gal | 6 gal | 7 gal | 8 gal | 9 gal | 10 gal |
| 17:1 | 7.5 oz | 15.1 oz | 22.6 oz | 30.1 oz | 37.6 oz | 45.2 oz | 52.7 oz | 60.2 oz | 67.8 oz | 75.3 oz |
| 20:1 | 6.4 oz | 12.8 oz | 19.2 oz | 25.6 oz | 32.0 oz | 38.4 oz | 44.8 oz | 51.2 oz | 57.6 oz | 64.0 oz |
| 25:1 | 5.1 oz | 10.2 oz | 15.4 oz | 20.5 oz | 25.6 oz | 30.7 oz | 35.8 oz | 41.0 oz | 46.1 oz | 51.2 oz |
| 32:1 | 4.0 oz | 8.0 oz | 12.0 oz | 16.0 oz | 20.0 oz | 24.0 oz | 28.0 oz | 32.0 oz | 36.0 oz | 40.0 oz |
| 50:1 | 2.6 oz | 5.1 oz | 7.7 oz | 10.2 oz | 12.8 oz | 15.4 oz | 17.9 oz | 20.5 oz | 23.0 oz | 25.6 oz |
Christini
Christini Technologies Inc. designs and builds an All Wheel Drive motorcycle. In their fully mechanical system (no hydraulics or electronics,) power is in fact sent to both wheels at different ratios making it all wheel drive. The front wheel free-wheels until the rear wheel slips. Drive ratios to the front are between 60% and 80%. Once the rear wheel turns faster than the front wheel, the front wheel drive engages.
For more information see: http://www.christini.com/
Oil Pressure Warning Light
A few four stroke motorcycles and ATVs are fitted with oil pressure gauges that display the exact oil pressure while the engine is running, but not many. Most four stroke motorcycles and ATVs are fitted with a simple light (almost always red) on the instrument cluster that comes on when there is insufficient oil pressure. This oil pressure warning light is also known as one of the “idiot lights” (along with the neutral light, high beam indicator light and the turn signal indicator light) to let you know something is seriously wrong and you need to immediately shut off the engine to avoid damage. Yamaha four stroke motorcycles and ATVs use an oil level light instead of an oil pressure light which comes on when the engine oil is about a quart low.
Lower End
The lower engine of an engine describes the section below the cylinder base gasket surface. This includes but is not limited to the connecting rod(s), crankshaft, cases, clutch and transmission. Also called the bottom end.
Feeler Gauge
A precision made steel strip that is manufactured to a variety of exacting thicknesses for the purpose of measuring gaps between components. Feeler gauges are commonly used to check motorcycle spark plug gaps, valve clearances and for inspecting cylinder heads or clutch plates for any warping.
