yamaha fzx250 preventive maintenance

[erik]

I've finished uni for the year and have a couple of months to sort my bike out before uni starts again.
I'm planning on checking the valve clearances and maybe doing the shims depending on how expensive they are and also want to check and adjust the camchain tension.
But how do I get the camshaft cover off? It's got a thick rubber gasket and seems like it might be glued in place or something, I couldn't just pull the cover off last time I tried.
Any suggestions?
I was thinking maybe slit it with a knife and then use the silicone gasket stuff to seal the slit bit when I put it back together.

[James Deuce]

I've finished uni for the year and have a couple of months to sort my bike out before uni starts again.
I'm planning on checking the valve clearances and maybe doing the shims depending on how expensive they are and also want to check and adjust the camchain tension.
But how do I get the camshaft cover off? It's got a thick rubber gasket and seems like it might be glued in place or something, I couldn't just pull the cover off last time I tried.
Any suggestions?
I was thinking maybe slit it with a knife and then use the silicone gasket stuff to seal the slit bit when I put it back together.

Always buy new Gaskets.

[backfire]

I was thinking maybe slit it with a knife and then use the silicone gasket stuff to seal the slit bit when I put it back together.



Jim2 is right....new gaskets every time.

[jrandom]

We should do it together, assembly-line style. I have a nice clean-ish gargre we can use. I'm sure my Zeal could do with the attention, too.

Wonder if gaskets come in two-for-one deals.

NB: I have no idea what I'm doing, so don't expect any useful input from me. I'll just nod, shove things around, and follow your lead.

I might be able to bribe an appropriate acquaintance to turn up and give technical valve/camchain advice, though.

PM me if you're interested. Next weekend, mebbe?

[FROSTY:Me]

The last time it was off they may have used a little bit of silicone sealant to seal her up.
double check that ALL the bolts are undone--There may be two down between number 1 and 2 spark plug hole and number 3 and 4 spark plug hole.
I give the rocker cover a series of whacks with a rubber or plastic faced mallet. That usually loosens things off.

[erik]

We should do it together, assembly-line style. I have a nice clean-ish gargre we can use. I'm sure my Zeal could do with the attention, too.

Wonder if gaskets come in two-for-one deals.

NB: I have no idea what I'm doing, so don't expect any useful input from me. I'll just nod, shove things around, and follow your lead.

I might be able to bribe an appropriate acquaintance to turn up and give technical valve/camchain advice, though.

PM me if you're interested. Next weekend, mebbe?

I don't really know what I'm doing either, I'm kinda learning as I go, so it'd be two people that don't know what they're doing, twice as many bikes, so is that 4 times the confusion?

It could be fun working together, but my bike's already in bits with the sprockets off because they need replacing too, so it isn't going anywhere at the moment. Plus I dunno how long it'll take if it turns out I'll need new shims.

Did you say before that you were going to do something to harden up the forks? I've tried changing the fork oil to SAE15 with little effect but nodman has suggested that I put some spacers in to give it a bit more preload. I'm also toying with the idea of trying to find some stiffer springs that'll fit at a wrecker.

Always buy new Gaskets.

Jim2 is right....new gaskets every time.

Even when you're trying to do things on the cheap and you live in west auckland?

[James Deuce]

Even when you're trying to do things on the cheap and you live in west auckland?

Nick some cork tiles from your Aunty's kitchen floor bro. Use the old gasket as a template and cut them out from there.

[Teflon]

Haynes manuals are great; about $60.

[erik]

I wish there was a haynes manual available for my bike. But as far as I know, there isn't.
I got the cover off successfully, it just needed a bit of a tap with a mallot like Frosty suggested

But it's back on there now, just to keep the dust out. My back's starting to feel a bit knackered and to be honest I think I'll have to do some more reading or ask more questions before I go any further.

Does anyone know if the valve clearances would be the same as for an FZR400 (intake valve: 0.11 - 0.20 mm, exhaust valve: 0.21 - 0.30 mm)?

[Yamahamaman]

west auckland?

What has living in West Auckland got to do with it?

[erik]

What has living in West Auckland got to do with it?

I was just joking about westies being a bit rough with repairs. I thought it was kinda steriotypical, but maybe I'm confused.

[Hitcher]

I have just had a portent of Zeal doom...

En la tierra de la persiana un hombre tuerto es rey

Don't do it!

[erik]

I have just had a portent of Zeal doom...

En la tierra de la persiana un hombre tuerto es rey

Don't do it!

If I don't do it, how am I going to learn how to fix bikes?

[Hitcher]

If I don't do it, how am I going to learn how to fix bikes?

For everything there is a time:

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time to sit in another Westie's gargre with a bottle of beer and take Zeals to bits, a time to resist temptation and get a qualified mechanic to do it...

[Bonez]

If I don't do it, how am I going to learn how to fix bikes?

Soom folk don't want to service there own cickles. Good on ya for giving it a go.