Servicing your own bike...

[Snowy]

Patience, bit of experience, the right tools, manufacturers manual and another bike to use so you don't rush [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Jon_W]

Good on you Scotty, I would not fancy servicing a new bike. [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

This is why I run old FJ’s; simple engineering, easy to service, all spares are available through the owners club plus tool hire for the bespoke parts.

Ditto with the Superdream... simple, easy, cheap and only a couple of specalist tools required (all of which you can make!).

Also use piccies... better that a thousand words.

[Geordie Stu]

I will do the basics. Oil. Oil Filter, Plugs, Pads thats about it any more then off to Kawasaki Bristol as its under warranty still they can do it plus always good to get a dealer stamp in the book. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Scotty]

Well, the clearances are checked, all ok, but erring towards the lower end of the tolerance, except for one on the lower limit, and another 0.02mm below it, so the cams came out so I could measure all the shims... well, I say the cams came out, they sort of did, but someone at Kawasaki thoughtfully put a couple of holes in the sprockets at just the right place for the camchain to be cable-tied onto the sprockets to maintain the correct timing (which isn't a difficult job tbh, but it saves doing it all the same) and whilst I've got it all apart I'll shuffle quite a few of the shims around to take all the clearances back up to mid-range or just above, which does mean buying some more (at £7.80 +VAT each... ) - I'm just waiting for the spares dept at GW to ring me back so I can order them.... >

[alanTDM]

I have been in that situation and needed just one shim but get mine from Fowlers in Bristol ,if i order them they are through my letter box next morning plus i find they can be cheaper.
If you go through a middle man who orders them they useally put there postage charge on and VAT on top again makes them more expensive

[Scotty]

Yeah, I've ordered the shims and air filter from Cradley Kawasaki who are the boys for Kawasaki spares, good as gold

[Scotty]

Yeah, I've ordered the air filter and shims from Cradley Kawasaki who are the boys for Kawasaki spares, good as gold

[BoatingBiker]

Having carried out various jobs on various bikes, last year had a broken stud in the head on my 1981 Yamaha xj650 ( 4 cylinders !) couldn't remove it with the engine in the frame as one of the front down tubes was in line. So thought I would drop engine out ! That when I found a broken frame. So the decesion was made after compling a budget and requesting funds from her indoors to completely strip the bike down and complete a re-build. The project was started knowing that it would cost more than the bikes resell value but seen as a winter project rather than financial gain (is't it the same with most old bikes!)

Found a second hand M/C hydaulic bench, purchased a spares list on e-bay and started taking photo's. Have purchased a few new items from e-bay and local Yamaha dealer.

Currently the frame has been welded, shot blasted and power coated (looks great) The engine has had the broken stud removed (took all of 10 mins) and was soda blasted with baking soda and currently being painted by hand with engine paint. Hope to replace engine in frame next weekend and a trip to the Bristol Classic ( by car )

I have polished and laquared the aluminium forks legs, rear brake drum outer, rear footrest mounts etc.

The swinging arm has been replaced with new taper bearings.

The steering head refitted agian with new taper bearing replacing the orginal loose ball bearings.

Both wheels currently temporary re-fitted, more for stability on the bench than anything.

Took loads and loads of photo's now saved on the pc but nearly not enough- reminds me to take some on the rebuild for future reference.

Target completion is Easter, hopefully after sucessful passed a new MOT'd and back on the road for the Salisbury 5 Valley run in early April. If not still got the Bonnie ! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[jonnydangerous]

or you could buy a 2 stroke, 3 moving parts (piston, conrod,crank) and no valve clearances (no valves! (ok, some powervalve motors are a bit more complex)) :-) .......just carry loads of spare spark plugs and rebuild the engine completely twice a year...hahaha

i was doing some lessons, but since my "fall down the stairs" (ahem!), i havent been able to get about so well....... ;-)

some enngines are more prone to valve train wear, and can be badly affected by "Valve float" if you miss a gear, so dont rely completely on the manufacturers recommended service interval...

if i left my Honda CRF till the book said id have had engine internals that were external!...

another point worth trying, is taking photos of the thing before its stripped, and at each stage, so that its easy to see where pipes/bolts/cables went....saved my Ar5e a few times :-)