Servicing your bike yourself

The lust for knowledge I tought my self mainly because the first issue i had with my SV cost me over £500 (seized calipers lead to warped discs) then i said to myself, for £500 i could buy a WS manual, NWS stand, and a dam good tool kit

I also do it for the love

What's a garage? The place where you buy the bits they don't do pattern varieties of.

Not that I'm cheap or anything

I like knowing what state the bike is in. I know my valve clearances are well within tolerance. I know what my brakes are doing (the kwak ones will need visiting soon, after I've put the SV back on the road and moved house.....). And on an SV certainly, with the most basic set of tools you can do an oil and filter change and most of the checks. Plus it really p*sses me off that most garages have an aversion to grease of any description (as do most manufacturers for that matter).

And it can't be that difficult, cos I can do it.

MT

Originally Posted by Ed

I still have 2 small screws that I can't find a home for, mind

A good engineer can always put things back together using less screws than the manufacturer deemed originally necessary

The only time I would let a garage do something for me is if I didn't have a special tool that was needed. I spent the first 8 years of my working life making and fixing things as a toolmaker. Spent the next 30+ working with computers on the systems and software side. I's just nice to get back to reality for me

Hi guys and girls,

Reading this thread has made me want to do my 4000 mile service myself (odometer reading 4011 at the mo!) I was thinking of taking it to a garage but it's not in warranty anymore anyway (bought my Y reg SV at the back end of last year with only 3300 on the clock!)

So, bearing in mind I have never serviced anything (mechanical !) in my life before, what equipment and parts will I need for a 4000 mile service? Off the top of my head I'm thinking;

Paddock stand- just the rear needed?
Oil - any specific brand or anything of the correct 'weight'?
Filter - suzuki original filter?
Tools - most of which I have (allen keys/socket set, etc)
Grease

Anything glaringly obvious I'm missing for 4000 mile service? Any tips over and above what has been mentioned already? Any help on this is much appreciated,

Thanks!
Matt

Originally Posted by cartwrim

Paddock stand- just the rear needed?
Oil - any specific brand or anything of the correct 'weight'?
Filter - suzuki original filter?
Tools - most of which I have (allen keys/socket set, etc)
Grease

Anything glaringly obvious I'm missing for 4000 mile service? Any tips over and above what has been mentioned already? Any help on this is much appreciated,

Paddock stands - not required, but if you're squeamish about your bike, worth the cost.
Oil - 10w/40, personal preference Castrol, semi-synth bike oil (don't ever put car oil in your bike!)
Filter - Suzuki or pattern, doesn't matter if it's not in warranty.
Tools, you should have everything you need. I'd recommend a torque wrench though.
Grease, there's not much that needs greasing, but it can't help whilst you've got the bike in bits. I use Castrol LM grease for most stuff.
Don't forget your air filter (again, pattern or original, doesn't matter) & your plugs (check them at least - and be careful of stones falling inside the engine, right pain in the rear that!).
Check cables & adjust accordingly.

There aint that much more to a 4k service, but I feel like I'm forgetting something (always have that feeling when I'm working on my bike too...)

EDIT: I'd be tempted to strip & clean the brakes a little too. Possibly fork oils, I'm going to get flamed for overkill for even saying that.

Baph,

Thanks for the quick reply mate, I think I will get a manual as well to help me. I know Haynes are supposed to be good but saw an advert in a bike magazine for another manual company that are supposed to be more detailed - might be worth going for one of those in the long run I suppose.

Had completely forgotten about the air filter - better at least check it I suppose. The chap who I bought the bike off had done his own servicing and did one early last year I believe and the bike 'feels' fine so I don't believe it needs anything special done to it at the moment.

I quite fancy just having a tinker!

The torque wrench - is that just for tightening the oil filter? Or other bits too?

thanks again mate,
Matt

EDIT: Hmm, brakes sound a bit more complicated - not sure a complete mechanical novice like myself should be looking at those when they feel ok - are they difficult (for an average bod!) to do?

I wouldn't really spend on a Haynes etc if you're not sure that you'll keep doing it. Have a look on the main site ( www.sv650.org ) FAQ's section about where to get a manual from. Pay perticular attention to the last sentence

Torque wrench will make sure that all your bolts are to the right tightness, but they are exensive for decent ones (Halford's cheapest one is £50).

Thinking about it you'll probably be wanting an oil filter wrench (might not be the right terminology, but you get the point - special tool for oil filters). Little tip here, tighten by hand, then use the wrench to get it up nice & tight.

The brakes, using the manual above, and taking it SLOWLY aren't an issue. You could do with a bleeder kit though if you're going to play with these, that's another £15 (Ezeebleed).

Considering experience, fork oils might be beyond you for the damage that could result (if they're not put back damn well, you can kiss goodbye to your front end mid corner!).

I've only been doing stuff on my bike for maybe a little over a month! Just take your time about stuff, and you'll soon realise that it's not as hard as you imagine.

[Biker Biggles]

Try Hein Gerricke where £25 buys you 5 litres of oil,an oil filter and an air filter on their special offer.The main item to do at 4000 miles is change the oil and filter.The other stuff can be done in dribs and drabs when you have time and inclination.To do it you need a socket for the drain plug(don't overtighten it)and some means of getting the oil filter undone.I usually end up battering a screwdriver through it and undoing it that way. You will need a container to catch the old oil in(Don't tread in it after draining )I don't tighten the oil filter more than as hard as I can by gripping it with both hands,but a little smear of oil on the rubber seal helps it to seat.Easy and so much cheaper than getting someone else to do it.(And you know it's been done)

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Try Hein Gerricke where £25 buys you 5 litres of oil,an oil filter and an air filter on their special offer.The main item to do at 4000 miles is change the oil and filter.The other stuff can be done in dribs and drabs when you have time and inclination.To do it you need a socket for the drain plug(don't overtighten it)and some means of getting the oil filter undone.I usually end up battering a screwdriver through it and undoing it that way. You will need a container to catch the old oil in(Don't tread in it after draining )I don't tighten the oil filter more than as hard as I can by gripping it with both hands,but a little smear of oil on the rubber seal helps it to seat.Easy and so much cheaper than getting someone else to do it.(And you know it's been done)

I personally tighten the oil filter with one hand as much as possible, then use the wrench to take it 1/4 turn further.

Last thing you want is the oil filter popping off as you're flying down the road, and dropping all the oil pronto, but whatever works to get it tight enough