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Debunking the maintenance myth

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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 02:27 AM
  #21  
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I guess I'm lucky, I got a dealer an hour away, I pass by It while working often.
There Is a wrench there, he answers every question I have,
never says, "bring It In",,
He's the one who said, "The first thing you buy for your bike Is the HD service book"
I take His advice,,
Also got a freind who's been into sporties for decades, has built, rebuilt, modified,
raced, for 30 plus years,,,
I Listen to him also,,,,
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 02:34 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by desert drifter
I do all my own work, yea I have a mechanical background and would gladly show someone else how easy it is, preventative maintenance is the key, looking and checking your bike even when you are cleaning it is a good start.
I service mine every 2,000 miles (my choice no technical reason), sounds a bit excessive but clean oil never broke an engine, and only costs me €50 for engine oil, oil filter, and primary oil from HD.
Ain't nuttin wrong with that,,,
I don't get to log many miles a year,
so I change my Oil twice a year,,
Primary,,It tells me when,

Changing fluids Is real cheap Insurance.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 06:33 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by HOTLAP
I agree.
It's the same with cars, my last one had over 400k on it with the original timing belt, if I had changed the timing belt by the book every 80k I would have put in five timing belts at over 350 bucks each, that's over $1700.00 wasted.
I may be misunderstanding you, but I have over 35 years experience as an auto mechanic, and I have never, ever heard of a timing belt or chain lasting 400 thousand miles. What kind of car do you have???
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 10:13 AM
  #24  
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That was a 1990 Daytona with a 2.5 and I'm talking kilometers eh. 400,000k = 250,000 miles.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 10:26 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by HOTLAP
That was a 1990 Daytona with a 2.5 and I'm talking kilometers eh. 400,000k = 250,000 miles.
You are still very, very,lucky Hotlap. Go out and play the lottery...
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 01:26 PM
  #26  
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About the only thing right now I am not comfortable doing myself is checking the spokes to make sure they're not loosening up. I read the instructions on how to do it and the tools I'd need to do it. Just seems like a fairly complex process.

Other than that I do all my own work other than tire mounting. The article, with a couple exceptions, seems to be for those that religiously rely on the dealer for their maintainance.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2011 | 04:26 PM
  #27  
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Yep buy the manual and some good tools. Spend your money on cool stufff not overpriced inspections.
 
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Old Sep 30, 2012 | 12:23 PM
  #28  
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Had my bike worked on at Bruce Rossmeyer in Sunrise Fl. and they scraped the powder coat off my transmission. That was the day I bought a shop manuel and started doing my own work!
 
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Old Sep 30, 2012 | 08:49 PM
  #29  
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Being a Chrysler mechanic myself, I know how exaggerated service intervals can be and how much dealers rape customers. That said, since I am mechanically inclined And have plenty of tools, I do all my own work. No one touches my vehicles except me except tires since I don't have the equipment to do that.
 
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Old Sep 30, 2012 | 09:05 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Aces and 8s
Being a Chrysler mechanic myself, I know how exaggerated service intervals can be and how much dealers rape customers. That said, since I am mechanically inclined And have plenty of tools, I do all my own work. No one touches my vehicles except me except tires since I don't have the equipment to do that.
Heck, what equipment? I do my tires myself. Couple of harbor freight tire irons and a little bit of muscle and its a piece of cake. Biggest pain can be breaking the bead but I just line up the tire with my cage and drive on to it. Instantly breaks the bead. I had to do 5 tires this summer, 3 rears and 2 fronts. After you do it a few times its no big deal. Takes about 30 minutes by myself.
 
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