Hornet Maintenance

**Trudes** · 11th December 2006, 20:10

Hi all. Would anyone in the Wellington area be willing to teach me and the other half about servicing our Hornets?
Thanks.

**gijoe1313** · 11th December 2006, 20:32

Wah! Poor Hornets, need some TLC now do they? Mine just started leaking fork oil from my front left ...

I will be getting it attend to ASAP so we can go riding again, have gotten myself a great handbook

"The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance" by Mark Zimmerman and it absolutely rocks - add it to your library today!

And of course, you are paid up members of the Hornet's Nest ain't ya?

http://www.hondahornet.co.uk/

You can log on and d/l the speccies for your rides and check out the msg board there too! And of course, I'm sure other Hornet riders should be coming out and making their presence known!

**Trudes** · 11th December 2006, 20:36

Nah man, wanna save some money and do the basic servicing ourselves. Maybe I should have named the thread "Hornet servicing for dummies."

**TerminalAddict** · 11th December 2006, 20:41

its a mans job y'know

just crack that whip a little more

**Trudes** · 11th December 2006, 20:57

Ha, funny you say that, it's really me who wants to learn, Kendog is quite happy to let someone else do all the hard work and get their hands dirty, personally I love that kind of thing! I used to do most of the servicing on my old bombs of cars and think it would be great (and cost effective) to do the bikes too (once mine is out of warranty).

**Kendog** · 11th December 2006, 22:05

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

its a mans job y'know

just crack that whip a little more

Haha.

I see it like this.

My free time (after work or weekends) is valuable to me and could be quantified as say $60 per hour. I could do the servicing my self costing me $60 an hour, or I could pay someone to do it while I am at work.

But, if you enjoy servicing your bike then absolutely you should do it yourself.

**gijoe1313** · 11th December 2006, 22:37

Yep, I hear ya Kendog, when my chain and sprocket needed replacing - I left it to the professionals so I could plan the ride down to Wellington. My front fork seal needs to be done now, I'm looking at doing it myself - but if'n it turns out that I won't be riding it for a while, I'd rather pay the dollars instead!

**Trudes** · 12th December 2006, 06:04

Originally Posted by Kendog

Haha.

I see it like this.

My free time (after work or weekends) is valuable to me and could be quantified as say $60 per hour. I could do the servicing my self costing me $60 an hour, or I could pay someone to do it while I am at work.

But, if you enjoy servicing your bike then absolutely you should do it yourself.

So does that mean when I change the oil etc in your bike, you'll pay me $60 and hour? Sweet!

**Colapop** · 12th December 2006, 06:10

That reminds me - either get my own bike stands or come and steal yours again!!

**Trudes** · 12th December 2006, 06:12

Originally Posted by Colapop

That reminds me - either get my own bike stands or come and steal yours again!!

Lol, you're welcome to Col.

**Trudes** · 12th December 2006, 20:17

But seriously folks, is there nobody out there in KB land who would like to teach me how to change my oil and some of the other servicing stuff on my baby? Unlike my very macho husband *cough*, I like to get my hands dirty and don't like paying other people to do something I could do myself. I'll buy you some beer and help you drink it. Thanks.

**Skunk** · 12th December 2006, 20:22

I could give you some tips, but I'm self-mis-taught. I service my bikes when I have the time.

**Squiggles** · 14th December 2006, 16:18

Originally Posted by Mrs Kendog

But seriously folks, is there nobody out there in KB land who would like to teach me how to change my oil and some of the other servicing stuff on my baby? Unlike my very macho husband *cough*, I like to get my hands dirty and don't like paying other people to do something I could do myself. I'll buy you some beer and help you drink it. Thanks.

bolt at the bottom? unscrew it into an icecream container then refill?

spark plug tool!

**gijoe1313** · 14th December 2006, 16:24

Well looky here, I've done a few changes of the ol'oil on my little ol'Hornet - when I come back down Welly way, you can do it while I say over your shoulder "You don't want to do that!" ... quite easy as long as you got the right tools and attitude! (you got the right attitude, whatta bout the tools?)

**xwhatsit** · 14th December 2006, 16:58

Changine oil is ridiculously easy, and fun, too! Undo the bolt at the bottom of the engine (mine was fuck-nutting tight, whoever owned the bike last was built like a traction engine, judging by the amount of stripped threads), and watch a big black shiny stream of oil pour onto your garage floor because you didn't put the milk bottle in the right place (it gets a fairly high trajectory). Change the oil filter blah blah don't know how to do that, my bike doesn't have one

. Then, remembering to put the sump bolt back in, pour some more oil in the top!

Waaaaay easier than baking. Both are fun though.