How often do you service these items ?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,863
Likes: 55
From: Sedalia,Missouri
I'm thinking I will change the plugs myself, leave the clutch alone because it feels good and I like wear the grab point is. I looked at my service manual and I don't think I want to tackle changing the fuel filter myself at this time so I think I might leave it alone.I don't feel comfortable adjusting the belt so I will probably have the dealer do it.If I had the guage maybe I could check it and see if adjustment is needed. Don't know how expensive the tool is.My only other concern is my brake pads which are the originals with 26,000 miles on them. I can see the wear indicators are not worn down all the way yet. I was thinking about changing them before my road trip in June which is a 3,000 mile trip and then Sturgis will be a 2,000 mile trip. I noticed in my service manual that there are special sensors with my ABS that have to be delt with. I'm not sure how much of a pain that will be, maybe somebody can chime in that has done it. I might mention I'm not a hard rider and since my last belt and clutch adjustment which was 8500 miles ago, 4700 of those miles was a road trip to the West Coast. Thanks again for your comments. I need to try and do as much as I can myself and stay away from the dealer to hold my expenses down.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
I check them every time I service my bike.
I service the bike every 5,000 miles.
That includes changing all 3 lubes.
Then I go through everything else. Service is a misnomer. Most often you will check cables, brakes, clutch, front end, etc. and it requires no service. But I check it every time anytime
Once it is on the jack, it doesn't take long to go through everything.
I try to stay ahead of maintenance and upkeep.
I service the bike every 5,000 miles.
That includes changing all 3 lubes.
Then I go through everything else. Service is a misnomer. Most often you will check cables, brakes, clutch, front end, etc. and it requires no service. But I check it every time anytime
Once it is on the jack, it doesn't take long to go through everything.
I try to stay ahead of maintenance and upkeep.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Belt and clutch? I look at the belt fairly frequently, but I don't adjust anything unless there's an indication it needs it. By indication, I mean performance, time and mileage figures are just to get you back to the dealer in my opinion, and actually I do a lot of those checks more frequently. I change my own tires, so checking wheel bearings and neck bearings is easy to do at the same time, and check primary chain with annual oil changes. There are also things I do with a newly purchased used bike - all of the above - and on a new one, would pull the wheels and swingarm to coat the axle and pivot bolts with anti seize so when the time came for maintenance involving them, they wouldn't be rusted in, as I've found in most used bikes - Harley (all manufacturers) short change us on lubrication, in my opinion.
Just get a nice evo, no problem! 
But it might need a bit of tlc to start with...
But it might need a bit of tlc to start with...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,888
From: Newcastle, OK
I'm thinking I will change the plugs myself, leave the clutch alone because it feels good and I like wear the grab point is. I looked at my service manual and I don't think I want to tackle changing the fuel filter myself at this time so I think I might leave it alone.I don't feel comfortable adjusting the belt so I will probably have the dealer do it.If I had the guage maybe I could check it and see if adjustment is needed. Don't know how expensive the tool is.My only other concern is my brake pads which are the originals with 26,000 miles on them. I can see the wear indicators are not worn down all the way yet. I was thinking about changing them before my road trip in June which is a 3,000 mile trip and then Sturgis will be a 2,000 mile trip. I noticed in my service manual that there are special sensors with my ABS that have to be delt with. I'm not sure how much of a pain that will be, maybe somebody can chime in that has done it. I might mention I'm not a hard rider and since my last belt and clutch adjustment which was 8500 miles ago, 4700 of those miles was a road trip to the West Coast. Thanks again for your comments. I need to try and do as much as I can myself and stay away from the dealer to hold my expenses down.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
I bought a high mileage bike a year ago- One of the first things I did was take the spark plugs out. They were completely rusty,and didn't want to come out too easy.[mine has the Harley brand covers over them,so you can't see the plugs,without pulling them] I soaked 'em with liquid wrench,and turned them out very carefully.
Even though it was running fine,I like to check simple things like that. I'm glad I did-I don't know how long those plugs were in there,but much longer and they could have been a real problem to get out. And,I put a dab of never seize on the new ones.
Even though it was running fine,I like to check simple things like that. I'm glad I did-I don't know how long those plugs were in there,but much longer and they could have been a real problem to get out. And,I put a dab of never seize on the new ones.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,984
Likes: 5,221
From: Michigan
With the relatively low cost of spark plugs, and the high cost of gasoline I think changing plugs every 5,000 miles is a good idea.
I keep the old pair (or a new pair) in my tool bag, just in case.
Most of our vehicles have 4,6, or 8 cylinders so losing a spark plug isn't a big issue, but when you only have TWO and one gets weak or dies that puts a lot of load on the remaining cylinder.
I used to change my fluids every 2500 miles (using dino oils) but with the cost, and the longevity (supposedly) of the synthetic stuff I'm going with the 5,000 (or close to) recommendation.
I keep the old pair (or a new pair) in my tool bag, just in case.
Most of our vehicles have 4,6, or 8 cylinders so losing a spark plug isn't a big issue, but when you only have TWO and one gets weak or dies that puts a lot of load on the remaining cylinder.
I used to change my fluids every 2500 miles (using dino oils) but with the cost, and the longevity (supposedly) of the synthetic stuff I'm going with the 5,000 (or close to) recommendation.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
First of all I do have a service manual but I'm curious how often some of you adjust your belt and clutch? I know what the book says but some times I think the book is overkill. I had both of those items adjusted about 8500 miles ago. My clutch feels fine so I'm thinking I'll leave it alone but I'll probably have the belt checked before my roadtrip in June. I have about 26,000 miles and I see where the book says I should have changed my plugs and fuel filter at 25,000 miles. I haven't touched either of these last two items. Thanks for your comments.
i adjust my clutch every 5k when i do a engine/primary oil change.
the belt, i check the tension at every oil change as well. usually don't have to adjust it after the 1k adjustment.
i use shell rotella t in the primary (it is wet clutch certified) and i get it for $13 a gallon. at 38 oz per change, i get over 3 changes per gallon. with the clutch adjustment, and the primary oil change, the bike feels like a new bike everytime. you may think your clutch feels fine, but in all honesty, it's one of those things that change so slightly over time that you don't notice it. do an adjustment and i'll bet you'll notice the difference. like tires, notice how your bike rides so much better when she has new shoes?
spark plugs i usually just change every year. with the newer high detergent gasolines, and efi, plugs last a lot longer than they used to. but, it is a good idea to pull them now and again to look for oil fouling.
the fuel filter, well, honestly, i've never changed one on my bike. i wasn't having any fuel issues on my bikes, so i sold them with 40k on the original filter. just for reference, on my 2010 the manual recommended changing the filter at 25k. on my wife's 2012, the manual recommends changing the fuel filter at 100k. same filter, same gasoline. so not sure why they changed the maintenance interval.
Last edited by skratch; Mar 23, 2014 at 08:08 PM.
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Joe Kucinski
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Northampton
Check the belt tension every 5K miles and only adjust if it's out of spec.
I never adjust the clutch unless it starts to feel funny. (ie. starts to grab at a different point than usual) I'm not hard on the clutch tho.
I pull the spark plugs and change them every season. They are cheap and a fresh set will help fuel mileage with this corn syrup we have to use. I do the same thing for the fuel filter.
I also run a can of sea foam through the tank every 5K or so. I hate corn syrup.
I never adjust the clutch unless it starts to feel funny. (ie. starts to grab at a different point than usual) I'm not hard on the clutch tho.
I pull the spark plugs and change them every season. They are cheap and a fresh set will help fuel mileage with this corn syrup we have to use. I do the same thing for the fuel filter.
I also run a can of sea foam through the tank every 5K or so. I hate corn syrup.