A few wee problems

[timmy]

I bought a kdx about a month ago and am really loving the bike, but it seems a few wee things are already comming up for maintaince.

First there seems to be a leak round the exhaust where it exits the cylinder. Just a faulty gasket? easy to fix?

The forks are too soft, so new springs are on the cards, but is this a simple thing to do? I pulled apart some mountain bike forks and they were very simple, and changing the springs was as simple as pulling off the top caps and swapping the springs. Roughly the same?

And the chain is at the end of its adjustment. Can i buy a chian breaker and just take a link out or am i better to get a new chain. does new chain = new sprockets?

Rear wheel bearings. Are they simple to change? ie pull out old and put in new?

I know these are all simple maintainence issues that will be old hand for most of you guys but im licking experience here.

[dammad1]

If your going to change the springs you may as well get someone to do the valves for you at the same time.
I upgraded my springs and had a tech suspension valving kit put in at the same time. This made a huge difference and has really helped me survive some big hits that would have normally thrown me straight off.
Wheel bearings are easy, the exhaust will probably just need a new oring but check that the exhaust hasn't taken a knock and just unseated it. If the sprockets dont look worn then I wouldn't worry just change the chain if need be.

[timmy]

What sort of coin is it going to be for a valve job?

Also where is the best place to buy parts? local bike shop off the internet somewhere?

[dammad1]

It cost me $700 to the valves, new springs, new seals & oil etc and that included the labour for them to pull them off the bike and put it back together.

I'm not sure who the best is down there, but try to find someone that really knows what they are doing when it comes to suspension.

[scott411]

springs are easy to do and they make a difference by them selves, i raced the tarawera 100 on a std kdx with just fork springs, if you want to valve the front end as well it deos work even better, should be between 550-700 to do wither race tech gold valves or suspension tech stuff as well, i would pick race tech but its only my personal opinion,

rear wheel bearings are easy. just remeber thier is a circlip to removes on opne side and then they come out easy, they are 6004 bearings and you can get them from any bearing shop or bike shop,

the chain is streched that far you can take a link out of it to get more life but its on its way out anyway, check your sprockets, if they are nearly worn out cut the link out and then get a full sprocket kit with an o ring chain and it will alst for ages, these kits are about $180