GN250 5000km service - tips

[stevewederell]

I'm hoping that the vast knowledge in KB will help once again...

I'm just about to tip the bike over 5000km and thought that I'd do some of the basic servicing myself. Now I'm not a mechanic by any means...hell I've only changed oil in my cage weeks ago.

What I thought I'd do is...

check/clean air filter, (does this really need to be wet with oil?),
Replace oil and filter, I have both but do I need a new "O" ring, or can I re-use old one?
Check/clean spark plug (I bought wrong size T handled thingy so have to get new one)
Clean and lube chain,
Check and adjust lever play and travel,
WILL NOT attempt valve clearance though, reckon that would end badly!
Check brake wear and fluid.

I think that should be enough for a newbie like me

I have downloaded the service manual (thanks for KB again) and that will help stacks. LOL - reckon I"ll get my lovely lady to record me doing this..may end up being and DVD in what NOT to do.


Cheers to you all
Steve

[mark247]

Yea just do what the manual says. I wouldnt try doing the clearances yourself, that's quite a step up changing the oil.

You cant really do much wrong doing the service yourself. Just make sure you put the right ammount of oil in and dont do the spark plug up too tight!

[stevewederell]

Cheers Mark,

Took stack longer than I thought, but managed to get air filter cleaned, chain all sorted (cleaned, lubed and measured), the oil and filter changed. Still have the rest to do but that should be no probs at all.

There was a slight prob with the lefty loosey, righty tighty when draining oil, and managed to repeatably find the hot exhaust pipe with my hand. Tourettes syndrome started to appear quickly!!

[mark247]

Cheers Mark,

Took stack longer than I thought, but managed to get air filter cleaned, chain all sorted (cleaned, lubed and measured), the oil and filter changed. Still have the rest to do but that should be no probs at all.

There was a slight prob with the lefty loosey, righty tighty when draining oil, and managed to repeatably find the hot exhaust pipe with my hand. Tourettes syndrome started to appear quickly!!

Yea exhausts are hot aye, and engine oil is as well =P I have learnt all this through experience. Best thing to do is just undo the bung and let it drop into all the oil ( catch it if you are quick ) and then let all the hot all drain out over quite a while, until its not dripping at all, then do the filter and refill. That's what i do anyway lol.

[motorbyclist]

check/clean air filter, (does this really need to be wet with oil?),

if paper, NO

if foam, yes it helps catch fine dust

manual should help

[Houseman]

I went gung ho into changin the oil on my GN the other day (just as well, it was like tar) but seeing I had a socket that fit only one of the two (or was it 3) bolts at the bottom of the sump I just undid that one.

What fell out was a small bolt, a spring, and a funy little smooth pin about 5mm in diameter. The oil all came out so i just ignored it, but when I put it all back I was a bit nervous in case I fu*cked it up. There was nothing to tell me the pin had engaged into anything so now I have visions of loose metal swirling around my big end.

Can anyone put my mind at rest or can I expect a massive (and expenive) lock up next time Im crusing along at 100kmh???

[Squiggles]

Nah, got me the first time i did it, you're ok, just stick it back in the way it came out, pin then spring then bolt, should have really undone the other one though.

I cant remember the exact reason, but thats seems to be the upper of two drains (might drain from the gearbox instead of the sump? i dunno, or be used to see up in there somehow), if you could get under it you'd see that the pin blocks the hole, and the spring is there to hold the pin in.

Pays to follow the manual though, its downloadable and there are links all throughout this forum for it, just hit search

[Houseman]

Thanks for this, it was a good lesson for me as I tend to be a bit "bob the builder" when it comes to the GN (can we fix it? - of course we can"). I got hold of the manual from this site and found out it was the neutral cam stopper I took out which I think helps locate neutral.

From your post and reading the manual it seems I did put it back correctly so I can sleep easy now.

Thanks very much for your help!