D.I.Y.

[eric1789uk]

Still tinkering with the burger, after a disappointing air filter check yesterday, this morn I decided to examine the drive belt filter. On taking the filter out I could tell the nuts and bolts giving access to the filter had never been released since assembly in the factory, the condition of the filter confirmed my suspicions of neglect, it was filthy. Its my belief it had never bee examined, just like the air filter in its 3 years and 3800 miles, despie having 3 service stamps in the book from 3 different places. Its just too hard for an average grease monkey to take the tupperware to bits to clean a poxy air filter on a rubber band. Do it yourseld servicing is a must if you want to be sure the fiddly bits get done, problem is I got 2 yrs warranty with the bike as part of the deal and must try and find a half decent place to try and do the minimum for the warranty to be validated with a stamp in the book and sevice sheet. Anyone got a good place within 50 miles of Doncaster?

[Hexatony 2]

I had a similar experience with my car. I bought it from a main dealer as a one owner three year old vehicle, and they serviced and mot`d it as part of the deal. When I serviced it myself before it`s next mot, the air filter and cabin filter were filthy, but hadn`t been changed because the specified mileage hadn`t been reached.

[Funkycowie]

Gotta get around to doing this to the TMax I just bought... but feeling kinda lazy about it

[Steve_D]

Under the block exemption rules, you DO NOT have to have your car or bike serviced by a main dealer or any garage. You can do it yourself as long as you adhere to the service schedule and use parts of equivalent or better quality than the manufacturers. In the event of a major claim it would be down to them to prove you did not service it correctly and/or used sub-standard parts/oils. I've serviced two new bikes and three new cars without problem. Just don't expect them to bend over backwards for any warranty work or expect any goodwill from the manufacturers for faults that occur just outside warranty. As you have stated, you'll probably do a more thorough job on your own bike than a garage would. Just fill in the service book yourself and keep receipts for any parts fitted.

[visfix]

It's probably pushing your 50 mile radius, but Eccleshill Motorcycles in Bradford are a sound set of lads.

[eric1789uk]

Cheers all, perhaps my problem is I can do all the "Service" items and up to brake pads, clutch and variator/belt are a bit of a mystery, perhaps if I saw a belt being changed it would spur me to do a change. As for identifying an engine/electrical fault, thats another matter so would like the benefit of a trustworthy dealer to give me a once yearly stamp in my book and carry out any repairs beyond my capabilities

[johnp]

I can imagine they aren't the only dealer who do that.

[smeghead]

Hi Eric,
I'm with you on the clutch/variator/belt thing. I think it's a lack of confidence as I've never been in there to have a shufty. Looking at various vids on 'tinternet it all looks quite straight forward with the correct tools. I've got a great socket set, spanners and a torque wrench, apart from holding tool I don't think much else is needed. I live in Armthorpe, maybe we should put our heads together and have a faff?

[michaelphillips]

Hi Eric,
I'm with you on the clutch/variator/belt thing. I think it's a lack of confidence as I've never been in there to have a shufty. Looking at various vids on 'tinternet it all looks quite straight forward with the correct tools. I've got a great socket set, spanners and a torque wrench, apart from holding tool I don't think much else is needed. I live in Armthorpe, maybe we should put our heads together and have a faff?

you dont need a variator or clutch holding tool, the best thing to get if you have 1/2" Standard Socket Set, is a 12V Impact Wrench Digital Display & Torque Settings piece of kit, ideal for the car as well... the Digital Display and Torque settings means you are in control of how much your nuts should be tightened, and easily gets off the variator or clutch nut in a matter of seconds, this is all i use and at £37.99 delivered same or cheaper than faffing with locking tools.
you can get one HERE THE CLUTCH NUT IS USUALLY LESS THAN 80NM SO I JUST TIGHTEN UP FREEHAND THEN USE IMPACT WRENCH AND MARK THE SOCKET SO YOU CAN SEE IT TURN THE EXTRA QUARTER TURN (oops cap lock on ) the variator side is always above the scale the digital 80 nm starts so you set that to whatever your supposed to have, in my case its 93nm.. never got on with my torque wrench for higher settings, this does it all for you
i have a variator holding tool sat in shed doing nowt for the master engine.. so saves buying new kit

[Dave Weller]

Eric, my scoot was the same, get a socket set rail of alan key sockets if you haven't got one already and shift the rear caliper brake pad pins, you can just get to them with a big extension bar through the back wheel, copper slip the threads so that come the day you really need to work on them you, will save the cost of a new caliper. Do the fronts as well, this will save time and costs later.
I do all my own servicing from day 1 of owning an enclosed bike, why pay someone to work on a scooter or Deauville when I'm sure the mechanics hate any complications in getting access to servicable parts. If I remove any panels, I clean, polish and protect anything else in that exposed area, as preventative maintenance, mechanics don't have to time for this on their work sheets.
I don't bother with the service schedule, but do zonal maintenance, I do an engine oil change and tune up (spark plug/air filter) at the correct schedule, but the brakes usually get cleaned before and after winter, and at every tyre change. Water and brake fluid can be attended to on a less frequent basis, if they remained 'sealed'.
I've yet to do a belt and variator service, but I'm in there soon, the transmission oil needs changing, so I will clean everything and inspect. I have a 12v impact wrench to release the shaft nuts. I've noticed that the transmission is much smoother after a good workout (the bike not me).
I'm so impressed with the Burgman 400, I'm temped to exchange the 2013 Deauville in for a new Burgman, but my existing K9 is lovely so little point in doing it.