Maintenance night - HB?

[BigG]

Ok this is the story... SC was given a bike. Unregistered, unwarranted and not roadworthy... she asked about getting it fixed in a thread somewhere... It didn't seem like it needed much so I offered to bolt on the bits it needed and get it warranted etc and deliver it. I've been meaning to get up there for some time - so I thought kill two birds with one stone (waiting for the smart arse comments...)

As it turns out talking to other peeps it needs the cam chains, adjusters and all replaced so a bit of a major. Anyway as luck would have it I managed to source a bitzer with a good engine and get it here. My neighbour is more bike mechanical than me and has offered to help as well. So between the two of us and the two bikes we will get one on the road for not too much effort or expense. And the Stickychick will be hooning around on her Hoonda up there - terrorising you lot by the sounds of things.

For the record the two bikes are a VT250f (with a forked engine) and a VTZ250 with a VT250f engine (at about 25k) The manual I have had other sections mentioned but I couldn't get at them... I may have as much as there is... I dunno yet (haven't printed it) Having searched pretty extensively I will be suitably impressed if anyone finds a manual online.

Back on topic... I reckon it's a good idea for everyone to at least have some knowledge of maintenance, even if they don't do the maintenance themselves - they'll at least know what's been done when a mechanic explains it.

Youre doing a good job there Colapop, Stick will be rapped

[yungatart]

Youre doing a good job there Colapop, Stick will be rapped

Too right!
She is getting reallly excited...hoping it won't be too long!
Keep up the good work, Col, you are a legend!

[Colapop]

Nah - just doing what other KBers have done for me... pay it forward, aye?

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Nah - just doing what other KBers have done for me... pay it forward, aye?

Good man. Thanks for the info on da bike. We will help chicky get the basic stuff. Cheers

[Gixxer 4 ever]

The manual I have had other sections mentioned but I couldn't get at them... I may have as much as there is... I dunno yet (haven't printed it) Having searched pretty extensively I will be suitably impressed if anyone finds a manual online.
.

There is a 3 part manual for the VT250F here. Or google it. "VT 250f"

http://www.vt.tar.hu/

I down loaded the first part and it looks good. Due to the slow dial up I will leave it to you if you want/need it.

[Colapop]

I got as far as Simon Bromley's site. Cheers I'll download it and print it at work 2moro.

[Spyke]

stickchick ill attend

i have been thinking for a while that it would be awsome if we had a general maintenance night in the bay sometime.

i personally would be the one learning.
i would be happy to let you guys use my bucket racer, it does need an oil change. LAST MONTH!!!

doesn't sound to promising that there will be one, i'll keep my fingers crossed though.

it would be cool to meet some of the other kbers from the bay too.

[Stickchick]

Youre doing a good job there Colapop, Stick will be rapped

Rapped? I'm estatic thought it was gonna cost me a small fortune till the big guy came along with some awesome ideas. THANKS HEAPS COL!!!!!

[Gixxer 4 ever]

stickchick ill attend

i have been thinking for a while that it would be awsome if we had a general maintenance night in the bay sometime.

i personally would be the one learning.
i would be happy to let you guys use my bucket racer, it does need an oil change. LAST MONTH!!!

doesn't sound to promising that there will be one, i'll keep my fingers crossed though.

it would be cool to meet some of the other kbers from the bay too.

P/M your contact details to Stickchick and we can put you on the list of Emails. I assume you are not riding on the road?

Are you wanting to change the filter or just the oil?

[Spyke]

will pm stickchick my details tonight.

yeah im not riding on the road yet. hopefully in 6 months or so depending on money.

and im wanting to change the oil and filter, but i think me and dad can have some fun and get messy.

thanks
+andrew+

[Stickchick]

will pm stickchick my details tonight.

yeah im not riding on the road yet. hopefully in 6 months or so depending on money.

and im wanting to change the oil and filter, but i think me and dad can have some fun and get messy.

thanks
+andrew+

Got your details dude thanks very much and I'm sure that we can convince this lot to have a social night

[MSTRS:Me]

Got your details dude thanks very much and I'm sure that we can convince this lot to have a social night

Ow ow...stop twisting my arm already. I said we'd do it, didn't I?

[Gixxer 4 ever]

will pm stickchick my details tonight.

yeah im not riding on the road yet. hopefully in 6 months or so depending on money.

and im wanting to change the oil and filter, but i think me and dad can have some fun and get messy.

thanks
+andrew+

That is exactly the way to learn. If you don't know what oil and filter to get take the old filter in to a bike shop and asked about what oil you should use make sure they match the old filter. In an old ice cream container cos they make a mess. Take the frame number and or engine number to the shop with you.
Bear in mind the frame might not match the engine as bucket bikes are often a bitser bike.

Warm the bike up first. Not too hot just warm. Make sure you have a socket that will fit the drain bung. Or a ring spanner. Best not to use a crescent etc cos they will damage the oil bung. If it is a cartridge filter, that means you screw the old one off and screw the new one on, oil the out side of the rubber seal on the cartridge with a thin layer of oil before you do it up. Just use a clean finger to spread it around the seal. Then spin it up till it starts to go tight. Then a 1/4 to 1/2 a turn to seat it to the engine. Check it often for leaks for the first few weeks. Tighten if you have to. Check oil level after you have started for the first time. It will be low cos it will fill the filter. Top up to full mark


I scratch the date and mileage in to the black paint on the filter.
If it is a refill the same applies but you need to make sure everything is very clean before you start work. Grit and oil do not go together. Clean is the key followed by tools for the job. You will never regret buying tools.

When you put the oil bung back in do it up till it is firm. Do not over tighten but make sure it is firm. Pays to replace the washer from time to time on the bung but maybe next time. Again check for leaks often.

Ask the bike shop if there are any bleed screws on your make of bike. Not many need the oil bled, that is to get any air out of the line, but our AG 200's have a bleed screw on the head to let the air out.

Don't let them sell you top of the range oil for a bucket racer. Search the net for a manual and see if you can find the type of oil the manufacturer recommends. The brand is not so important as the spec's for the oil. I am farming and I run Castrol GTX protec in the work bikes. Many people say I shouldn't cos it has no additives for the clutch but after many years it has not let us down. The rest of the bikes fall to bits before the motor. I am not recommending you use it but I am showing you that you don't need the most expensive oil in the shop.

Good luck and you are on the road to doing it yourself.

If you cant get the old filter off and it is a cartridge you can poke a screw driver through it and then turn it but you have to make sure you don't hit the oil "in line" as some of them extend in to the filter about 1/4 of the over all length of the filter. Do this with care and as a last resort

[MSTRS:Me]

....Castrol GTX protec in the work bikes. Many people say I shouldn't cos it has no additives for the clutch.....

Um, I think you will find it is the additives (friction modifiers) that are found in some car oils that are the problem when it comes to wet clutches.

[Colapop]

Just a quick update on Stickychicky's bike...

Ive stripped both bikes back to frame, engine and running gear. The carbs have been taken off the bike to be fixed and are being cleaned and generally tidied by my bike mechanic neighbour.
The wiring loom has also been removed from both bikes so that the headlight dash and tail lights can be transplanted directly. The only part to be altered physically is a bracket welded to the steering neck. This will be done soon hopefully - neighbour has a welder. The chain sprockets and tyres from the donor bike look to be in better nick than the existing ones so they'll be transferred too. The forks although pretty tidy looking will probably be refurbished too given that the bike hawas sitting for some time prior to me getting my mitts on it. The fairings that will be fibreglass patched where necessary and maybe given a lick of paint and I'll be right as long as I retain the pink bits!! (Owner request ).

The idea is that SC won't need to do any maintenance on it other than give the chain a clean...

Planning on provisionally being able to RIDE it up there (a sure test of this wee bike) maybe the weekend following Queens birthday - TBC.