johnt
Sunday Rider
Posts: 22
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Post by johnt on Feb 6, 2007 0:12:56 GMT
Hi Does anyone have reccommendations re servicing. Is it worth doing yourself or putting through a shop. Any idea how much I should pay for a full service?
Thanks JohnT (2002 1200R)
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Post by lightspeed on Feb 6, 2007 1:55:01 GMT
Oil change and a filter are easy and quite quick. Some encounter a bit of fiddling to get the filter cover to clear the exhaust header, but a bit of slack on the mounting bolt usually allows enough movement to let the cover drop down.
BTW, be sure to apply some grease to the swingarm pivot via the grease fitting on the underside of the arm. Some folks have found Kawasaki to be just a mite stingy with the grease.
Check all you bolts (engine mounts, frame, etc. and even the ones under the seat that hold the tail on - they can be secured with a slight daub of Loctite Blue.
Basically the cost of your supplies and 45 minutes of time, and you know how the servicing was done. How much is that worth do ya.
If you're not used to wrenching, this kind of service is doable. Depending on your comfort level, you may want to either grab a manual and read up on more complex maintenance, or have a reliable shop do it.
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Post by wardourdrive on Feb 6, 2007 17:50:19 GMT
Don't be a plonker like me and over tighten the oil drain plug and crack the sump. I didn't have a torgue wrench at teh time so did it hand tight them too much on the wrench All m e own fault I did this and had a cry afterwards. fixed it with some stuff from halfrauds Like has been said it is basically an easy job changing the oil. Oil from Hein Gerike and you get air (£12.99) and oil (£3.99) filters free. I think alot change the oil every 2K miles or so any way
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Post by Les on Feb 6, 2007 17:53:15 GMT
These engines are virtually bulliet proof, regular oil and filter changes will see them last a long long time. The only real bug bear are the shims, and I know some motorcycle garages who wont touch them, everthing else is doable.
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Post by Burchy on Feb 6, 2007 23:30:47 GMT
Hi Does anyone have reccommendations re servicing. Is it worth doing yourself or putting through a shop. Any idea how much I should pay for a full service? Thanks JohnT (2002 1200R) I've just done the 15000 service on my 02 "S". The local bike dealer didn't wan't to know even though I bought it from him and the Kwak dealer said £5-600 if nothing goes wrong, but if you need shims, pads or pins, add another £100 or so! A cup of tea revived me and I decided to do it myself. Firstly get yourself a manual and a torque wrench. And a metric micrometer. After that it's just a case of taking it slowly and I recorded all the major moves with a digital camera. It turned out very useful several times!! Took me about 7 hours altogether to do the lot except changing the fork oil and the hydraulic fluid. I hate bleeding bleeding brakes and mine are OK so I left well alone. Costwise: - Oil and filters £26.00 shims and gaskets £65.00 Anti-freeze £4.99 4 iridium plugs £27.50 Rear caliper pins £3.30 Also carb balancer £50.00 All told a lot cheaper than Kawa! Shims are a bit of a pain and I ended up taking off the cams to speed things up. Cable tie the camchain to the sprockets and you don't lose cam timing. If you do decide to DIY I have an excel spreadsheet that will help you decide which shims need replacing and how many can be shuffled around the head. Good luck - it makes you feel good when it sparks up for the first time and it certainly sounds and goes better as well
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Feb 7, 2007 1:01:08 GMT
why didn't I think of that the last time I did mine? That ought to make the job sooooo much easier. It's a real pain with those cams in the way, even with my nimble little fingers. Sounds like you did a proper thorough job AND saved yourself a small fortune int the bargain. Well done mate, you're an inspiration to us all. Have some Karma for your troubles.
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Post by Burchy on Feb 7, 2007 11:43:53 GMT
Well done mate, you're an inspiration to us all. Have some Karma for your troubles. Grem, what all this "karma" about then? I'm intrigued!
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Post by BADGER on Feb 7, 2007 12:10:01 GMT
It's all just a bit of "fun" really, if you agree with some ones post, find it funny or think it's a good idea, or what ever reason you can give them a Karma. (just click on the Exalt and give them a Karma) if you dont agree with something they post, you can take a Karma away by clicking on the Smite. Ive just given you a Karma.........
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johnt
Sunday Rider
Posts: 22
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Post by johnt on Feb 8, 2007 19:42:14 GMT
Fantastic advice and a link to the pdf manuals. Can't be bad. Thanks to all! By bike has 9000 miles and is an 02 1200R. I'm tempted just to have the straightforward service - plugs, filters, oil etc. A mechanic I know pretty well and have used before has told me that there should be no need to look at the shims with this kind of mileage. What do you think? Thanks again. JohnT
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Post by Burchy on Feb 8, 2007 21:39:41 GMT
All depends, really when it was last serviced. the Good Book says for an 02 that it is serviced every 7500 miles or 12 months. Bearing in mind that yours is now nearly 5 years old, I reckon that a longer service could well be in order. Valve clearances should be checked at 7500 intervals anyway. If you intends on keeping it for some time (and I can't think of a good reason for getting rid of it) then I, personally, would set a benchmark now and do the "big" one so that you know where you are from here on in.
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Post by floog on Feb 11, 2007 11:56:40 GMT
After about fifteen years of 'I must get one', I have just bought a decent torque wrench...... But I have no dea what all the numbers mean Then my dad chimes in with: "Oh yes I bought one several years ago and the first time I used it, it cracked the sump on my MGB" I must do a service soon on Greta, I always enjoy it and the feeling of satisfaction afterwoulds makes it worthwhile Fully synth, Iridium plugs, titanium promolybium grease......ooh I can smel,them all now
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Post by Burchy on Feb 11, 2007 16:01:35 GMT
Yeah, watch out for the numbers. Usually they show both metric and imperial and you really don't want to do it up on the NM scale thinking that its Ft/Lbs or vice versa.
70Ftlbs is about 95 Nms
I assume its a "clickstop" sort and if so always remember to slacken it right off before you put it away (as the actress said to the Bishop)
You really need fully synthetic? or is that a completely new dabate?
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Post by floog on Feb 11, 2007 16:47:56 GMT
Usually they show both metric and imperial and you really don't want to do it up on the NM scale thinking that its Ft/Lbs or vice versa. 70Ftlbs is about 95 Nms I assume its a 2clickstop sort and if so always remember to slacken it right off before you put it away (as the actress said to the Bishop) You really need fully synthetic? or is that a completely new dabate? BURCHY, Metric & Imperial, Nm, Ft/ibs.....95 is equal to 75, and s click stops..... is that even English....... Secondly, the reference to FULLY synthetic was my little side-swipe. I can hear BIKESNOOPY sharpening his sword right now You DO NOT NEED to use anything fancy on the archaic old Rex engine......lovely though she is LIGHTSPEED and myself use FULLY synthetic and always have, but we are definately in the minority. A good quality ordinary mineral oil of the correct grade is absolutely perfect, and designed to work exactly as Kawasaki intended IRIDIUM spark plugs however, are obviously far superior to basic NGK, Bosch or Denso's...... I just can't help myself
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Post by Les on Feb 11, 2007 22:17:49 GMT
LIGHTSPEED and myself use FULLY synthetic and always have, but we are definately in the minority. A good quality ordinary mineral oil of the correct grade is absolutely perfect, and designed to work exactly as Kawasaki intended I think, that Mr Kawasaki actually intended people to ride his bikes. I dont think that Mr Kawasaki intended one of his finest creations to be tickled to death with cotton buds and vaseline. But there again, when it comes down to it, what do I know, in fact who am I. What was the subject again. However, I am now gonna sit here until gets here :corn: and watch the :smack:
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Post by firmhand on Feb 12, 2007 1:24:27 GMT
LIGHTSPEED and myself use FULLY synthetic and always have, but we are definately in the minority. A good quality ordinary mineral oil of the correct grade is absolutely perfect, and designed to work exactly as Kawasaki intended I think, that Mr Kawasaki actually intended people to ride his bikes. I dont think that Mr Kawasaki intended one of his finest creations to be tickled to death with cotton buds and vaseline. But there again, when it comes down to it, what do I know, in fact who am I. What was the subject again. However, I am now gonna sit here until gets here :corn: and watch the :smack: :corn: :corn:
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