Service: Do I need a stand?

Hello, I'll be doing my 1st service when I get some free time and a nice day! So engine oil + filter change and lub chain. Do I need to have the bike upright on a stand to do this? Will angled on the side stand be okay?

Originally Posted by KayDee

Hello, I'll be doing my 1st service when I get some free time and a nice day! So engine oil + filter change and lub chain. Do I need to have the bike upright on a stand to do this? Will angled on the side stand be okay?

Would def make life easier if you had at least a rear paddock stand, it can be done without so long as you have a friend at hand though.

Why would I need a friend at hand? I plan to buy a decent stand, but it wont be for a few weeks or so yet, so it's either service it on it's side stand or not ride it for a month.... hmmm

Agree with Foey. Although not essential jobs tend to be easier with a rear paddock stand.

[quote="KayDee"]Why would I need a friend at hand?

lol, provide you with cups of tea of course

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by KayDee

Why would I need a friend at hand? I plan to buy a decent stand, but it wont be for a few weeks or so yet, so it's either service it on it's side stand or not ride it for a month.... hmmm

what are you saying got no friends

No but seroiusly you can get away with out a stand, just need something to fit between the offside rear of the swing arm and the ground, tilt the bike on the sidestand and front wheel (carefully) to get the rear off the ground, and put something under the very back of the swing arm (right side) to stop it touching down when you lower it.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by KayDee

Why would I need a friend at hand? I plan to buy a decent stand, but it wont be for a few weeks or so yet, so it's either service it on it's side stand or not ride it for a month.... hmmm

It can be tiring holding the bike upright while the oil drains + its easier to lube the chain if you have someone else to push it forward a bit at a time............................Go buy a stand matey.

Makes life easier for the chain, but it's definately not neccesary for the oil.

You can leave it on the side stand while draining the oil and changing the filter. I usually let it drain for a while, and then sit on it and rock it side to side for a bit to get more out. You can also rock it forward and back against the front brakes. When filling it is more important to get it on level ground and holding it upright. I usually measure out the oil and then top up bit by bit. Having a mirror or a mate to look at the sight glass is easier than balancing the bike with one bar like I do, but a paddock stand will raise the back end of the bike and may give you an incorrect reading in the sight glass(?).

For the chain lubing, just spray, and then roll then bike forward. Then repeat until the whole chain is done. Alternatively, you can get a strongish mate to pull the back wheel in the air by pulling against the side stand. You can then spray the chain while spinning the back wheel. Seriously, it's easier than yyou might expect to lift either wheel against the side stand. Just make sure it's on firm ground. If not, use a plank or puck to spread the load of the bike. You can also spin the bike on it's side stand using this technique, which can be quite handy in tight spaces.

Originally Posted by KayDee

Hello, I'll be doing my 1st service when I get some free time and a nice day! So engine oil + filter change and lub chain. Do I need to have the bike upright on a stand to do this? Will angled on the side stand be okay?

As stated a paddock stand would make life much easier all round, but as also stated far from essential. I should point out that the oil level should NOT be measured whilst on a paddock stand!!

The paddock stand will tend to make the bike sit in a slightly ‘Nose down’ attitude, this will give a false reading when measuring the oil. The oil should be measured on level ground with both wheels on the ground and the bike vertical (if you measure oil on side stand you will be wildly out and probably end up damaging the engine where it is so over-full).

If you are going to try and DIY then a good trick is to use a marked up glass (clear plastic one probably makes more sense ) of water on the fillercap, then when looking from the side it will help indicate when the bike is vertical. It is a bit fiddly trying to hold the bike and look at the oil window, but not impossible.

As another tip (sorry if you already know this), but you need to run the bike after an oil and filter change to get the oil round the filter, only after this should the final measure be taken.

Have fun!!

I've noticed it can need topping up once the engine has been run.