What's the extent of your bike mechanical knowledge?

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

I made this thread to see what kind of in depth jobs some of you have done on your machines.

Myself I've swapped heads on my XJ600, obviously had to do the timing in there.

I've had swingarm out on the TZR250, I've had the engine out of both bikes.

I've changed fork seals. I'm sure I could check valve clearances, but I didn't want to scare myself by trying on the XJ.
I'm going to be impressed with those people who've changed pistons/rings.
I've not done any kinds of bearings either, when the wheel bearings needed doing on the rear wheel on the XJ we bought a new wheel with tyre for a tenner.

Gaz

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Do a reasonable amount. Sometimes chicken out of nasty jobs (eg, drilling out sheared bolt).

All the best

Keith
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freestyler_onli · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Karma :

Yeah i clean mine sometimes Shocked

Thats about all i can do. Evil or Very Mad

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

feef · Energiser Bunny Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :

rebuilt the engine on the GPZ,
replaced fork seals on same.

so far have stripped and serviced brake calipers front and rear on the 'ace, and have replaced the rear disk.
Replaced rear wheel bearings.
fitted aftermarket grabrail.

will be stripping the water pump to check that's okay, as I suspect a possible coolant flow problem (only noticed it on a trackday, when the bike got hotter than normal)

Have a spare engine I'm about to split and fit a YZF750 gearbox in, maybe fettle it a bit too.

(reminds me.. Must PM that guy about the 'box)

a
edit:

Forgot to add...

fitted big-bore kit to an NSR 125, made a footpeg for it out of alu alloy bar and replaced/repaired almost all body work after I got it for £90 as an insurance write of after the owner siezed the engine on the motorway.
:edit
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Irezumi aka Reuben · Carrot Top Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

Usual basic maintanence. Am going to do a piston/ring/crank seal/gearbox selector fork overhaul in the coming weeks. It's an old 2-stroke so should be simple. Chances are it wont be though.

Changing fork seals, bearings etc is normally done easily enough. Head bearings and fork seals are a bastard as you have to take the front end of, and you will always ball's up getting the cabling sorted for the headlight/throttle and have to do it again! Rolling Eyes

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Wave2k · G's Stalker Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :

i usually get my dad to do scary jobs, so if it goes wrong i can blame him and he pays Laughing

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Aikman666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Karma :

Completely rebuilt and resprayed a 2-stroke BSA last year. Gave the engine a nice clean and a top end rebuild. Done some machining on the parts here and there. Had to redo timing, and edit some of the carburation settings. Had to redo the electrics on the bike too (was helped at that part though). All that at the age of 14 Laughing

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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

done oil changes, installed new throttle cable, stripped a carb once.... not much really. The idea of doing anything complex scares me, I'd be so worried about messing up.

My lack of mechanical knowledge annoys me. I keep meaning to learn more but I'm not sure how to go about it. Anyone recommend a good book- 'motorcycle mechanics for dummies' maybe? Razz

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Zoffo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

I'm willing to have a go at most things but the only thing I shy away from is electrickry Shifty

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Josh|RD125LC · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Karma :

Stripped the RD totally to bare frame. Not hard. I have taken carbs apart and cleaned them out before, not hard either. Fitted a replacement piston and rings. Now thats tricky. Got my dad to rebuild the RD engine though. Didn't fancy doing it as I want it to be alright. When I buy another project, I'll make sure I do it all myself next time.
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Barry_M2 · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Sep 2004 Karma :

Anything and everything.

And if there is anything I dont know how to do, I'll learn.

You just need to have confidence in yourself and not be afraid to give it a try.

When I was 16 my mechanical knowledge was ZERO! I started off doing basic maintainence on my bikes, then cars, now I'm more than competant stripping and re-building an engine. Next on my list of things to learn is head modifying and gas flowing etc..

Oh, never taken a gearbox apart either!

Smile

0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

I only started riding recently so i've not had much to fix. Just service stuff, cleaning the carb out and putting a new clutch in so far. But i've done plenty on cars from building high spec engines to complete bare shell rebuilds so i recon i'd have a go at fixing most things on a bike.

spitfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Karma :

pretty good, only a warranty and lack of workshop facilities stop me doing little more than tightening the chain at the moment!

biggerjohn · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

If I had a project bike I would be happy to do just about any thing to it in the knowledge if I fuck it up or can’t work out how to do something there and then I can always come back to it the next day and sort it out. But when it comes to my bike I have to use every day for commuting I don’t mind spending a few quid on an experienced professional to do the job for me.

It like my job it has taken years of day to day experience and training to become as proficient as I am but that’s not to say a talented novice couldn’t do the same given enough time and the chance to fuck it up a few times before getting it right and even then they may not notice the very minor things I would that could potentially cause a major fuckup.

I just can’t risk the fuck ups with the bike I need to get to work.

Dom_ · Points Mean Prizes Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Karma :

Just basic stuff like top end rebuilds on 2 strokes, stripped/cleaned carb, top end bearings, wheel bearings, stripped the bike down to it's minimum.
It's all pretty easy, just like a 3d jigsaw. Wouldn't mind learning about 4 strokes though, will do when i get one. Mr. Green

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

DynaMight · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Karma :

I started off knowing nothing at all, Changing a sparkplug would be out of my league.

I'll do most things now (tools permitting) have never totally striped a bike, rebuilt a engine or anything drastic like that. If it aint broke dont fix it!
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

I'm pretty competent and willing to have a poke around most things, recently dropped the engine out of the ZXR, wouldn't work after but that was due to my lack of knowedge when it comes to electrics, its all good now.