A big ol service

[Kd750 14]

Hi folks, 

 

TLDR: Honda wanted a fortune for mostly basic stuff, so I'm doing it myself. Any tips welcome!! 

 

Long version:

I thought I'd treat my bike a few weeks back - there were a few bits needed doing (I mentioned the forks in a separate thread - which I will update next week when I get the forks off!). Figured - 75k km on it, a trip to a Honda garage for a full going over might not be a bad idea. 

 

2 hours and one phone call later, having picked my jaw up off the floor at the pricing - I picked my bike up, (paid 57.60 for the time spent by the mechanic assessing the work....) rode it home and parked it up. The price was between 2000-2500, with the following needed: 

 

1. Chain and sprockets 

2. Front and rear pads (and brake flush)

3. Front and rear tyres

4. Valve Clearance

5. Plugs, oil, filters

6. Suspension (don't actually know what they were budgeting for, new forks, replacing individual parts etc - they didn't inspect it and didn't quantify their estimate).

 

The bike has pretty much been serviced every year I've had it - as I've been too afraid to take over management myself and had tight requirements to have it ready to commute to work, I've left it to bike shops etc. But no more... 

 

So! The plan is: 

 

Chain and sprockets, pads, plugs, oil, filters, myself (cost of parts looks in the region of 250-350). 

 

Going to get the right fork off and see what's going on with it that might be causing the leak and decide next steps from there. 

 

Will leave the valve clearance and tyres to a garage.... I'm confident with bits and bobs but I think that is outside my skills!

 

If it's okay I might track my progress through here - might be boring for some, might help someone! 

 

If there's any pearls of wisdom you'd throw at me right off the bat, they're very welcome!!!! 

 

 

[prr 153]

I did the valve clearance myself in less than 3h.

I also switched to K&N air filter after Honda asking 120E and the K&N cost of 150E with washing solutions for at least 5 treatments.

Edited May 28, 2023 by prr

[steeve139 98]

Hi,

 

It is a shock, isn't it?  By using the highest prices for parts, and then labour, and then tax, they can soon magic up a big number.

 

Chain and sprockets, and Front and rear pads, and tyres, are all replaced on condition.  If there are reasons why they are needed, then they are needed.  Just do one item per month to spread the cost across paycheques.  Use a tyre specialist rather than a franchised motorcycle dealer.  And have a look at the brake pads yourself, to see whether they are needed now.

 

Valve adjustment - if it is too loud, then it needs to be done.  If not, not.  It is easy for me to type that adjusting the grub screws and locknuts is easy - but I am omitting the valve adjustment from my next major service - because it doesn't sound like it needs to be done.

 

Spark plugs?  Take them out and look at them.  Probably they are OK to go back in.  Once again,  I am going to leave mine undisturbed at the next major service - maybe I'll look at them next time.  With electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, and super duper Iridium plugs, they enjoy a very long life.

 

The oil and filters are cheap enough.  Use hiflow for the oil filters.  I have bought a chinese air filter for £20, but I haven't fitted it yet.  Even if I make a policy decision to replace the air filter at every service, it will still be cheap enough.  The clutch oil filter o-ring cost as much as the filter.

 

Maybe an independent mechanic might be able to shave 50% off the price, and you could regard it as a mid-life refit.

[Xactly 5,438]

I’d say if you’re willing to do the chain and sprockets yourself you should be capable of doing the valves. There are loads of videos on this job; I like the New Zealand bloke’s videos the best. Brake pads and fluid change are simple enough. The slight PITA is the air filter, but it’s just tedious rather than difficult - again videos are available.

[Kd750 14]

Definitely a shock! particularly as I gave it to a garage only a year ago for a "recommission post-****" for commuting that was about 600 quid and I'm now left wondering did they do the half of what they were meant to! 

 

Thanks so much! I'll post some pics tonight of condition of bits and bobs! - best guess is the front sprocket is worn, chain is tight in spots so best to replace.. (also considering a scott-oiler - see a lot of mixed reviews, but the amount of crud built up around the front sprocket was a shock of its own!!) 

 

Haven't pulled out the air filter yet, but might as well whilst I have the rest off... ! 

 

There's lots of surface rust patches and bits, is there any really successful cleaner (ACF 50 mentioned) that's worth going through? 

 

thanks - yep, have watched most of the videos on his page  might well give the clearance a go, definitely don't think there's a calling for it immediately or anything - and might tee it up in a couple of months as could possibly do with a new radiator and coolant flush. 

[Skidt 1,315]

As others have said above…………if you’re up to changing a chain & sprockets, doing the valve clearances is well within your grasp. As are the brake pads etc.
The only job that you’d really need someone to do for you, would probably be the tyres. 
I took my loose wheels in for the tyre change and while they were out, did the chain & sprockets and cleaned up the brake callipers / replaced the front pads / adjusted the DCT hand brake / cleaned up and acf50’d the rear swingarm / removed the swingarm linkage and regreased the bearings etc while I had decent access. 

If you order everything up in advance and diy, you’ll know EXACTLY what has been done, rather than being told what they’ve allegedly done and / or just charged you for. 
I’d be interested to see / hear what the air filter is like when you change it? That should give you an idea of how thorough your previous service agents have been, as it is a pita to get at.

As with all things, rewatch the YouTube stuff and just take your time. 

Best of luck. 👍

[Kd750 14]

Thanks! ye, to be honest the crap built up in the front sprocket housing tells me it wasn't getting the love it needed elsewhere! So I'm only too happy to take it on going forward. Don't have a hex for the front wheel yet - but should have front wheel off by the end of the week and yep - will send the two tyres loose to get new rubber while I dig into the rest! Hadn't considered swingarm bearings thanks for that! 

 

I'm definitely excited to be getting the hands dirty again. Just hope I don't regret it....!

[poldark 1,525]

To possibly put your mind (a little) at rest, often excessive front sprocket gunk is merely due to over liberal chain lube application - ask me how I know? 😂

[Kd750 14]

That does sound familiar...

 

 is it safe enough to lash degreaser in there to clean it out?! 

[Skidt 1,315]

@Kd750 Whereabouts are you based? You never know, there might be a fellow forum user just down the road from you that might be able to assist in some way? 

[Xactly 5,438]

One of the reasons I fitted a Scottoiler to mine was because of the crud build up caused by spray on grease. Thin oil doesn’t clag everything up nearly so much. 

[Kd750 14]

Thanks for the suggestions! 

 

I've thrown the photos from this evening into a video for anyone interested!  I'm thinking the radiator needs replacing - bottom left corner is as good as gone... 

 

 

The dirt is savage all over, definitely feeling like a neglectful owner!! A fair bit of corrosion too. Found the coolant tank is at the lower levels, so kind of lucky the rest needed doing! 

 

Air filter had a few bugs and a bit of gunk too!! (after a small wrestle to get it out!) Think it best where I'm at now to just replace everything and start fresh!!! 

[Kd750 14]

hi folks... only small progress since then, I've gotten the offending fork out - there were rust spots along the top, but to be honest the area that the seal would travel over all looks spotless, is there anything else I should be looking for in terms of issues that might have caused the leak? Could it have been that one bad bump pushed the seal over the pitted bits up near the top and sprung a leak?! 

[Kd750 14]

Hi folks, I'd appreciate your views... And I know it's subjective, but curious to hear thoughts... 

 

I got the fork looked at today, staunchions need replacing as well as bushings. Quoted about 700 euro for both...With the few photos in the YouTube clip , and that knowledge... Would anyone be thinking money into a cursed pit don't bother... Or does everything needed seem reasonable and 1500 quid (radiator excluded) or so now should see her straight for another few years?!

[jeremyr62 2,574]

The bike is neglected but it is being used in the manner for it was intended. There's no point trying to tart that up now, but there is no reason why it can't be a perfectly functional bike, but if you are going to be getting dealers/others to do the work then I wouldn't bother, and I'd be looking for another one, and maybe this time taking  a more proactive approach to maintenance. Paying 700 euro to get forks serviceable is silly when you can get used ones off the auction site for less. If the radiator isn't leaking then you don't need a new one. It looks like a winter hack so do the bare minimum to keep it roadworthy.

I detect an Ireland location.That  bike would be advertised as immaculate on the websites over here 

[poldark 1,525]

On 29/05/2023 at 18:18, Kd750 said:

That does sound familiar...

 

 is it safe enough to lash degreaser in there to clean it out?! 

 

Paraffin and an old paint brush is good for chain cleaning, including sprocket.

[Kd750 14]

Thanks a mill, you're bang on the money with neglected and my next bike will hopefully live a different life! (also it is originally an English bike bought in CMC Cannock with only 692 miles on it!) And what worries me is that it would often be said in Ireland to look across the water cause the quality is better 😆

 

I think at this stage I need to put on my big boy pants and get it back on the road come hell or high water as there's only so much sitting on a bus on a sunny evening instead of the bike that I can take 😆

[RoyG 233]

Tell the truth. How long was it parked in the sea ?

[Kd750 14]

Didn't get the ferry home, just rode it across the water 🫣😆