maintanance

[wupwup]

from what ive read alot of you guys do your own maintinance on bikes. how hard is it? do you need loads o specialist tools e.c.t. and wheres the best place to learn? cheers

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Look at your bike to determine what you need, although a good socket set, screwdrivers, allen keys and a torque wrench is a half decent starting point.

And use a Haynes or workshop manual to work out when you need to do, start with simpler things and move up.

I'm sure colleges do evening classes though.
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[ms51ves3]

A Halfords pro socket set is a good place to start for tools. You can do a lot of jobs on a bike with just that. If you get one of the big sets it will include a few screw driver bits as well.

If you want a separate screwdriver set, not sure if they still do it but Wilkinson used to sell one for about £5. I've got one, came with 30 bits and it's brilliant.

Torque wrench isn't essential (and is only useful if you have the settings) but is a handy thing to have and you can pick up a decent Draper for £20 from Amazon. Probably best to buy one when you need one though.

On top of those you will probably need a rubber mallet, needle nose pliers, fat nose pliers and wire cutters.

[Rowey]

If it's an old bike an impact driver and a big can of WD40
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[Skudd]

You don't need to go wild with tools, I bought a cheap Draper socket set from ASDA 25 years ago and it is still going strong, Get a selection of screw drivers, again they don't have to be expensive, and a set of allen keys, a G-clamp. I did buy my self a torque wrench a few years ago, well about 10, but have only used it a hand full of times and then it was only to play with the damn thing. as long as you tighten enough but don't over tighten you will be ok on most jobs.

Start with the little things like tightening the chain, taking a wheel off and putting it back on, then go for changing brake pads, then the fluids like oil changes and brake fluid. Find out where your battery is and your fuse box, you may have more than one of those.

Once you have the feel for doing the little things then the bigger things do become easier. Things like new exhausts are just bolt off and bolt on things, changing bulbs are fiddly but not hard.

If in doubt don't touch, I wouldn't do anything with my engine as it is a modern fuel injection one, but there again I would take the top off a carby 4 stoke either, that is for mechanics or those that don't mind sitting at the road side waiting for the RAC. There are loads on here who will say do this or do that, but they forget to tell you that their bikes never ran properly afterwards if at all.
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[mr_s81]

[kingsmith]

just start with something simple tool kit and when you have to do a job and you dont have the right tool then go out and get what you need..
that way you not got lots of tools you never use, i have loads i never touch but few i use time and time again, even on car or bike...

so buy buy buy .

have fun
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honda cg 125 copy cheap and crap, perfect for work..
suzuki gsxr600 srad 2000
passed 12/11/09 happy boy

[iooi]

Basic set of sockets and spanners covers most jobs. Just build up as you go along.

Like a poster above i bought a touque wrench and it must have been used all of 10 time in around 20 years.....
Its only stuff, like when replacing heads that you need one. Rest of the time you can feel your way.

As to learning.

See if anyone in your local is prepared to help you with stuff you are not sure on. Will cost a couple of beer tokens But if you are a quick learner its the best way.
If you have to take it to a garage see if you can watch them.

Other than that if you have some spare cash. Buy a old cheepie and then start to take to bits and then put back together.
Having a manual always helps, as does taking a few pics as you go along.

I learnt much the hard way. Like learning how to change valves and lap them in after having a head gasket blow on my car, and not being able to afford garage prices....
Sadly i got the timing wrong on replacement and bent a valve.....

Nothing is really beyond you if you take your time.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Alexio]

I have:
two adjustable spanners (big and little one),
a £5 (cheap but just about does the job) emergency little socket set from a petrol station (was actually broken down at the time of purchase)
and two screwdrivers (Philips and flathead).

I do believe that this is all I have ever required for my CG125 changing tires, sprockets / chain, cables, oil, changing my seat...

I might have had to borrow the odd tool from a friend, but you really don't need much to start out
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[kitty kat]

I do most of my own maintenance, (bar major engine work which hasn't been required yet). I use the tool kit that came with the bike and I have a cheap (£20) socket set from Halfords and a small selection of screwdrivers. The only specialist bit I have bought is a 32mm socket to remove front sprocket when I change c & s.
Most things can be done with a minimum of tools.
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[Pernig]

Going off-topic, does anyone rate the socket set they sometimes have on offer at Wemoto?

[ms51ves3]

[wupwup]

ok thanks guys. if i get a 125 sports bike what kind of things will i need to do to it over the years ? thanks

[neil.]

The Workshop section on this forum is an excellent place to get help and advice, especially when things go wrong (I will say WHEN because something will in the end!).

I started doing my own maintenance with small jobs like adjusting the chain tension and wheel alignment, then as my confidence grew, I managed to do a chain and sprocket change and get the back wheel off to get a new tyre fitted (saving money as they'd have charged extra for them to remove it). I just did my first service which took a whole day (8.30am - 6pm) but I really enjoyed myself, despite having a couple of difficulties (but that's how we learn and develop).

I have nothing but a Haynes manual and the service manual from the manufacturer of my bike and they have all the info I need really. The Haynes is particularly good as it offers a lot of information on what tools to get and how to use them well. I am a technician (sound/music) by trade and always had an interested in how things work as a kid, so for me this is a bit of a natural progression and a great learning experience. If you can take things apart and put them back together again, like computers or electronics, then a bike won't be too much of a problem.

As for tools, firstly look carefully at the procedure you're planning to do, even act it out, so then you'll know what you need to do the job. Some jobs do need obscure tools, for example, I needed a particular size socket with an allen key head that was impossible to find in local tool shops (had to order on line). As everyone has said, a socket set covering all the fastener sizes on your bike is great. I also found I needed some crowfoot socket spanners for my torque wrench to get into really tight places (like valve covers on the engine, where the frame gets in the way of a normal socket). Choose a torque wrench that covers the range of torque settings needed for your bike. Also, a breaker bar for those really hard to undo fasteners, and a ratchet tool for getting things on and off quickly. And some extenders and long sockets to get into those deep recesses can be essential too. Other things that come in handy are pliers, wire strippers, mole grips, and screwdrivers (I have a really small stumpy one that has proven invaluable).

Don't forget consumables like oils, lubes, cleaning solvents etc.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[neil.]

[ms51ves3]

[Pernig]

[27cows]

The thing I love about my long term vehicle (RXS100) is that you can pull the whole thing to bits with minimal difficulty and need no special tools (unless you call a flywheel puller a special tool). You can also reuse gaskets and seals if you're careful.

These modern plastic bikes - doing your own work is most inadvisable unless you have a good bit of experience. It's extremely easy to do a lot of expensive damage.

[That_Hornet]

I'm 2/3 the way through a college cource. Help me a bit (Basic cource), But wanting to carry onto the advanced cource.

Worth the money if you want to be pulling your engine apart.



Other than that, I got a few spanners, allen keys, screwdrivers, hammer, socket set, copper greese, 3 set of pliers, grips and Multimeter is useful for fault finding.

[Banned]

I have a really small stumpy one that has proven invaluable

I have a really small stumpy one that has proven invaluable


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