South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Right, who does their own servicing???

Cos' if you do........can you do mine plz??

I do the oil, filters, plugs chain etc....but not valve clearances or carb balancing. I'm also happy to remove my wheels for a tyre change....found a good tyre dealer in Barnstaple and got a rear bt 010 fitted and balanced for £110 Might go for a tyre deal next time, seen a pair of Dunlop D207's for £146 from MPS.

Anyone else have a mistrust of dealers and garages? You hear so many stories these days it's a real worry.

I'm at about the same level as you. Keep meaning to get a carb balancer and have a go at it, just bought a Haynes manual for my SV so i've got no excuse not to delve a little deeper.

My problem is not so much a mistrust of garages, more that i'm just to tight to spend the money

Im afraid I mistrust myself.

I'd have a go at most 'General' mechanics myself, I'd probably still ask for help from ZX6R though (He know's most things about bikes)

I'm a firm believer that you can do almost anything with the guidance of a Haynes Manual

With a little bit of patience things like balancing the carbs is staight forward.

It is quite easy for twins, it can be done with out the use of any gauges.
However with the in line four engines gauges are needed.

With most of the bikes I have owned i have bought either the Haynes manual or the manufactures workshop manual and maintained the bike my self.

With regard to the valve clearances, if it is the old fashioned (but dependable) screw and lock nut type then adjustment is fairly easy.
Its when you have the 'shimmed' type which require the gap to be measured and recorded before removing the cam. If out of spec then measurment of the shims and a replacment shim to give the correct clearance. Not that easy a task and does require specialist tools, mainly a micrometer and feeler gauges.

If you do want to do your own maintainence then why not find out if there is an evening class to learn a bit more. I did and have found it very usefull and would recommend it for the slightly more advanced stuff.

Chris

I only ride em, don't know what makes em work.

Clown

Try getting hold of a haynes for mine then, the only manual i can find is in japanese, which i aint really up learning

I do the basics but dont have the proper tools to do the carb sync etc. I've just moved house and finally have my own garage! so I can do more work on my bike. It does save alot of cash.

Been meaning to get a Abba stand for ages too.

Haynes dont do a manual for my bike but luckily I do have a proper Suzuki workshop manual.

I do everything, which can be a blessing as well as a curse cos I can't take it back and complain if it dont work.
Had the head and barrels off monday cos of headgasket replacement and stripped and serviced the carbs too.
However, I only like classics cos you dont have to strip away lots of very expensive plastic b4 you get to the engine and everything isnt squashed up and impossible to work on.

sorry to double post but no edit button that I could see. Should be able to get a Clymer manual for your bike from http://www.motohaus.com/acatalog/sitemap.html

hope this helps

Does doin the servicing yourself effect the resale value tho? I know alot of people are particular about this and the correct stamps in the book. Personally I think stamps in a book mean bugger all.

I don't think if affects the resale value but I think it looks better when your trying to sell the bike to have the servicing stamps in the book.

My Hornet had FSH when I bought it, it wouldn't have mattered to me if it hadn't but I know I won't be taking it to a garage when the time comes for a service....