Ok, its finally time for a service.
The big question - Which oil in an 56 plate GS1200? i know this has sparked big debates on other forums but I am interested in knowing what every one else is using.
Who services their own bikes?
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Alphadog43
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:50 pm
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- Been thanked: 2 times
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Alphadog43
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:50 pm
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Who services their own bikes?
I finally took the plunge and serviced the GS today.
I went for fully synthetic Castrol Power Raciing 10W-50 in the end. It's probably over kill in a slow reving twin that's basically been around since the 40's but its what the local BMW dealer recomended. On the basis that oil is cheaper & easier to change than engines I decided to go with it. Total cost for oil and filter £58.87 :woohoo:
While I was at it I adjusted the valves which were ok except for two slightly "tight" exhaust valves, lubed every thing, checked all fluid levels, brake pads,play in bushes & bearings. The engine sounds sweet now
The only job left is balancing the injectors, I will be buying some gauges this week. I have probably not saved much this time due to buying a few extra tools (Torx M&F, tourqe wrench etc) but I now have them ready for future jobs.
I have got to say I really enjoyed doing the work my self and would like to thank every one here for their advice, comments and encouragment.
For any one thinking of having a go at servicing a GS, I found these video's really useful in addition to a Haynes manual.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mazbymoto#p/u/2/40sJjXU62xU
I went for fully synthetic Castrol Power Raciing 10W-50 in the end. It's probably over kill in a slow reving twin that's basically been around since the 40's but its what the local BMW dealer recomended. On the basis that oil is cheaper & easier to change than engines I decided to go with it. Total cost for oil and filter £58.87 :woohoo:
While I was at it I adjusted the valves which were ok except for two slightly "tight" exhaust valves, lubed every thing, checked all fluid levels, brake pads,play in bushes & bearings. The engine sounds sweet now
The only job left is balancing the injectors, I will be buying some gauges this week. I have probably not saved much this time due to buying a few extra tools (Torx M&F, tourqe wrench etc) but I now have them ready for future jobs.
I have got to say I really enjoyed doing the work my self and would like to thank every one here for their advice, comments and encouragment.
For any one thinking of having a go at servicing a GS, I found these video's really useful in addition to a Haynes manual.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mazbymoto#p/u/2/40sJjXU62xU
Re: Who services their own bikes?
There's no better feeling is there?
You should be rightly proud of yourself mate.
Have a greenie for your efforts.
You should be rightly proud of yourself mate.
Have a greenie for your efforts.
The end of the road is the start of the fun
A bad day on the bike is still better than a good day at the office
DRZ 400
XR 400 R
A bad day on the bike is still better than a good day at the office
DRZ 400
XR 400 R
Re: Who services their own bikes?
1. What the Haynes manual really means
Ever wondered what some of the technical terms within your Haynes manual actually mean? well here's a quick guide...
Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with mole grips (or an adjustable spanner) then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise. You do know which way is anticlockwise, don't you?
Haynes: Should remove easily.
Translation: Will be corroded into place ... clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.
Haynes: Remove small retaining clip.
Translation: Take off 15 years of stubborn crud, it's there somewhere.
Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles! ... Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell matey! ... Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start, now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.
Haynes: Locate ...
Translation: This photo of a hex nut is the only clue we're giving you.
Haynes: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...
Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (catering size).
Haynes: Ease ...
Translation: Apply superhuman strength to ...
Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly had my eye out"!
Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part and remaining glass shards.
Haynes: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then re-check the manual because what you are doing now cannot be considered "lightly".
Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it!
Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!
Haynes: One spanner rating (simple).
Translation: Your Mum could do this... so how did you manage to botch it up?
Haynes: Two spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, tiny, ikkle number... but you also thought that the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).
Haynes: Three spanner rating (intermediate).
Translation 1: Make sure you won't need your car for a couple of days and that your AA cover includes Home Start.
Translation 2: But Novas are easy to maintain right... right? So you think three Nova spanners has got to be like a 'regular car' two spanner job.
Haynes: Four spanner rating.
Translation: You are seriously considering this aren't you, you pleb!
Haynes: Five spanner rating (expert).
Translation 1: OK - but don't expect us to ride it afterwards!!!
Translation 2: Don't ever carry your loved ones in it again and don't mention it to your insurance company.
Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...
Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on, swear at, throw at the garage wall, then search for it in the dark corner of the garage whilst muttering "bugger" repeatedly under your breath.
Haynes: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"!
Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to cut yourself!
Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.
Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.
Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark plugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.
Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: But you swear in different places.
Haynes: Locate securing bolt.
Translation: Remember that worrying noise when you drove along the A38 last summer? That's where you'll find the securing bolt.
Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...
Haynes: Remove drum retaining pin.
Translation: Break every screwdriver in your box.
Haynes: Using a suitable drift or pin-punch...
Translation: The biggest nail in your tool box isn't a suitable drift!
Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: Ensure you have an RAC Card & Mobile Phone
Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation 1: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn't moderate heat.
Translation 2: Heat up until glowing red, if it still doesn't come undone use a hacksaw.
Translation 3: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother. Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book bar the thing you want to do.
Haynes:Remove oil filter using an oil filter chain wrench or length of bicycle chain.
Translation: Stick a screwdriver through it and beat handle repeatedly with a hammer.
Haynes: Replace old gasket with a new one.
Translation: I know I've got a tube of Krazy Glue around here somewhere.
Haynes: Grease well before refitting.
Translation:Spend an hour searching for your tub of grease before chancing upon a bottle of washing-up liquid. Wipe some congealed washing up liquid from the dispenser nozzle and use that since it's got a similar texture and will probably get you to Halfords to buy some Castrol grease.
Haynes: See illustration for details
Translation: None of the illustrations notes will match the pictured exploded, numbered parts. The unit illustrated is from a previous or variant model. The actual location of the unit is never given.
Haynes: Drain off all fluids before removing cap.
Translation: Visit bathroom, spit on ground, remove baseball cap in order to scratch head in perplexity.
Haynes: Top up fluids.
Translation: Drink 2 cans of beer and call out a mobile mechanic to undo the damage.
Ever wondered what some of the technical terms within your Haynes manual actually mean? well here's a quick guide...
Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with mole grips (or an adjustable spanner) then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise. You do know which way is anticlockwise, don't you?
Haynes: Should remove easily.
Translation: Will be corroded into place ... clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.
Haynes: Remove small retaining clip.
Translation: Take off 15 years of stubborn crud, it's there somewhere.
Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles! ... Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell matey! ... Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start, now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.
Haynes: Locate ...
Translation: This photo of a hex nut is the only clue we're giving you.
Haynes: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...
Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (catering size).
Haynes: Ease ...
Translation: Apply superhuman strength to ...
Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly had my eye out"!
Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part and remaining glass shards.
Haynes: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then re-check the manual because what you are doing now cannot be considered "lightly".
Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it!
Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!
Haynes: One spanner rating (simple).
Translation: Your Mum could do this... so how did you manage to botch it up?
Haynes: Two spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, tiny, ikkle number... but you also thought that the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).
Haynes: Three spanner rating (intermediate).
Translation 1: Make sure you won't need your car for a couple of days and that your AA cover includes Home Start.
Translation 2: But Novas are easy to maintain right... right? So you think three Nova spanners has got to be like a 'regular car' two spanner job.
Haynes: Four spanner rating.
Translation: You are seriously considering this aren't you, you pleb!
Haynes: Five spanner rating (expert).
Translation 1: OK - but don't expect us to ride it afterwards!!!
Translation 2: Don't ever carry your loved ones in it again and don't mention it to your insurance company.
Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...
Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on, swear at, throw at the garage wall, then search for it in the dark corner of the garage whilst muttering "bugger" repeatedly under your breath.
Haynes: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"!
Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to cut yourself!
Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.
Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.
Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark plugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.
Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: But you swear in different places.
Haynes: Locate securing bolt.
Translation: Remember that worrying noise when you drove along the A38 last summer? That's where you'll find the securing bolt.
Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...
Haynes: Remove drum retaining pin.
Translation: Break every screwdriver in your box.
Haynes: Using a suitable drift or pin-punch...
Translation: The biggest nail in your tool box isn't a suitable drift!
Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: Ensure you have an RAC Card & Mobile Phone
Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation 1: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn't moderate heat.
Translation 2: Heat up until glowing red, if it still doesn't come undone use a hacksaw.
Translation 3: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother. Clamp with mole grips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book bar the thing you want to do.
Haynes:Remove oil filter using an oil filter chain wrench or length of bicycle chain.
Translation: Stick a screwdriver through it and beat handle repeatedly with a hammer.
Haynes: Replace old gasket with a new one.
Translation: I know I've got a tube of Krazy Glue around here somewhere.
Haynes: Grease well before refitting.
Translation:Spend an hour searching for your tub of grease before chancing upon a bottle of washing-up liquid. Wipe some congealed washing up liquid from the dispenser nozzle and use that since it's got a similar texture and will probably get you to Halfords to buy some Castrol grease.
Haynes: See illustration for details
Translation: None of the illustrations notes will match the pictured exploded, numbered parts. The unit illustrated is from a previous or variant model. The actual location of the unit is never given.
Haynes: Drain off all fluids before removing cap.
Translation: Visit bathroom, spit on ground, remove baseball cap in order to scratch head in perplexity.
Haynes: Top up fluids.
Translation: Drink 2 cans of beer and call out a mobile mechanic to undo the damage.
Re: Who services their own bikes?
Pigpen :laugh: loved that
We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go Always a little further: it may be Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
Artificers Masonic Motorcycle Association
http://www.amma-uk.com
Re: Who services their own bikes?
Mate a coupple of things for future referance, you can buy oil cheap from Opie oil http://www.opieoils.co.uk (Opie Oils - the home of 'oilman' on many UK motoring forums - sells an unmatched range of quality motor oils, lubricants and workshop items for all motorists from brands such as Mobil, Castrol, Motul, Gulf, Fuchs, Redline, Silkolene, Millers and Amsoil.Alphadog43 wrote:Ok, its finally time for a service.
The big question - Which oil in an 56 plate GS1200? i know this has sparked big debates on other forums but I am interested in knowing what every one else is using.
Delivery throughout the UK and selected destinations in Europe for retail and trade purchases.
Club discount and loyalty schemes available for further savings! Our range includes money saving oil and filter service packs and specialist oils and fluids usually only available at "main dealers" at considerable savings) ABR should contact them :whistle: that's a thought B) btw I have used them never a problem.
Second think about getting a K & N Air Permanent Air Filter you then save buying a air filter just have to clean it as part of the service. hope that helps
We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go Always a little further: it may be Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
Artificers Masonic Motorcycle Association
http://www.amma-uk.com
-
Alphadog43
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:50 pm
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Who services their own bikes?
Thanks for the tip's Selous, the air filter is due to be changed on the next service so will certainly look at an upgrade when the time comes.
Pigpenn, this had me in stitches
"Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!"
I like the bit where the manuals refer to information at the front of the book which just isnt there!
Pigpenn, this had me in stitches
"Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!"
I like the bit where the manuals refer to information at the front of the book which just isnt there!
Re: Who services their own bikes?
+1the enthusiast wrote:I'm with Hornet
My 'Happy place" is my garage, fettling, adjusting, servicing , cleaning. in fact any excuse!
Radio on, Mug of tea, raining outside. The satisfaction you get from improving you bike/s doing a good job gives a feeling of , well can't put a description on it really, but if you do jobs on your bike you know what I mean . Yep in fact tomorrow, hmmm .
Cheers
I've no idea how to add a signature.
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desertraider
- Posts: 1076
- Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:51 pm
Re: Who services their own bikes?
I worked for many years in a motorcycle work shop getting my hands dirty so i do all my own service work .
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Alphadog43
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:50 pm
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Who services their own bikes?
The vacum gauges turned up today (£22 on Ebay 
).
The injectors are now balanced (hardly out at all in the first place if the truth is told), took about 5 minutes & I have never done it before.
For basic servicing the GS really is a home mechanics dream :cheer:
).The injectors are now balanced (hardly out at all in the first place if the truth is told), took about 5 minutes & I have never done it before.
For basic servicing the GS really is a home mechanics dream :cheer:
