Topic: Full Maintenance Schedule - Advice Please.

[Adam80]

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone could look over a maintenance schedule I put together to see if I'm missing something important?
This would be a full maintenance schedule, the bikes would not go to a professional mechanic unless something major is needed.
The schedule is basically on a 48 month rotation, not sure if that is sensible or not. I would go by time rather than miles/km as I do not use them that much.
It basically copies the service manual mostly but I have customised it to what makes more sense to me. I dont ride them a huge amount.
It is fairly general but could add specific things for each bike, for example one is a 2009 cb400 super four with EFI and water cooling the others are air cooled fours.

[Rayzerman]

When I first read the CB350F maintenance schedule, of interest was to change the oil at 500 miles, then every 3 months or 1500 miles.... filter at double that, and oil pump screen every 12 months or 6000 miles.  IF the screen was a big concern, why wasn't it to be cleaned at 500 miles?  Anyway, I've never seen a motorcycle oil pan that had any real concern with sludge and certainly not anything that would get into a filter screen.... I think I would do it once sometime after new or after an engine rebuild and after that fergedaboudit.

Opinions will vary on oil changes, but if you're not piling on miles, the only question is does the oil break down with time...... and with no miles, the filter isn't going to be dirty.....

[Adam80]

Yes very good point I think I’ll drop that one after the first check.

[bryanj]

The oil will absorb water with short runs and even condensation sat there doing nothing so 1500 MILES (i refuse to be metricated) OR every year and personaly, for the cost, fresh oil equals fresh filter

[Deltarider]

Adam, with all due respect, your schedule indicates a neurosis IMO. Expressing maintenace in months is quite meaningless. The schedule by Honda had No-brand workshops in mind. All workshops want to keep their customers satisfied. So when a bike shows up on their workfloor, it could well be it hasn't run many miles before, but... as dealers don't know how many miles you will travel after their service, they tend to stick to what Honda prescribed, with the profit of fast moving parts as a bonus. After all, their reputation is at stake. For us the schedule offers some guidance, but there's nothing against making your own judgement. My airfilter element has been in the bike for over 10 years and it is still fine, better than a new one as a matter of fact. As far as the bolts and nuts screen filter... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,195323.msg2291599.html#msg2291599 I replace the oilfilter element every second oilchange. I change the oil depending on how the bike has been used. In long 10.000km holidays I was confident with an oilchange at 5000km. Expressed in time, I have no problem with a 3 years interval for an oil change, as I don't do short rides. When tested, my oil never was acid. For hibernation I just top up, so the additives are there to shield. I have learned this from the former CEO of Castrol The Netherlands.
Most of the maintenance in this forum, has to do with itchy hands.

[Rayzerman]

The oil will absorb water with short runs and even condensation sat there doing nothing so 1500 MILES (i refuse to be metricated) OR every year and personaly, for the cost, fresh oil equals fresh filter

Agree with you.... now who goes for a 10 mile ride and comes back..... I say once you're out there go far enough to get it nice and hot, get some fresh fuel through the carbs, etc., etc.  I never do real short rides unless it's a shakedown for something I just did.  1500 miles in a year, I'd not change the oil personally, but you have to do what lets you sleep at night, lol.

[willbird]

Valve clearances should be done at some number of engine revolutions which typically is distilled down to miles because we have no other metric usually. If I got a new to me bike would check the valve lash and then maybe never check it again until I reached the service interval if I only rode that bike a hundred miles a year.

The valve lash does not decay over time, only with use.

[Adam80]

Excellent stuff thank you all. I will do the filter every second oil change and probably change the valve clearance and cam chain checks to every 4 years.

Thanks again.

[carnivorous chicken]

There are a few things on there that for me are more of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type. I don't regularly check compression on my bikes, unless I suspect something is up (and after doing tune up maintenance). Same for carbs -- if the bike's running fine and there aren't any leaks, no need to do anything.

[Deltarider]

There are a few things on there that for me are more of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type. I don't regularly check compression on my bikes, unless I suspect something is up (and after doing tune up maintenance). Same for carbs -- if the bike's running fine and there aren't any leaks, no need to do anything.

Excellent remark. In general: don't overnurse your bike! Here's a example. Some think you need to replace the oilfilter element at every oilchange. Not true. The Honda schedule is perfectly clear on this. That filter is actually oversized. The difference between a new engine and one that is totally worn, is a teaspoon of metal for cars, for our bikes not even half a spoon. Many use aftermarket oilfilter elements. More then often you will find the big O-ring curled up in the package. This can lead to quite a hassle fitting that O-ring in the groove and keeping it there when you mount the oilfilter case. Tip: if you have such a filter as a spare, keep that O-ring in for instance a thick book for some time, so the weight will straighten it, so you don't have to fight a curled and unwilling rubber on onstalling and run the risk of leaking.
Personally I've never been able to conduct a succesful compression test, The last one was some 20 years ago and I had 5 kg. on all four. As long as my bike starts rightaway, performs as it should and recently shows a healthy 20-21cm Hg underpressure @ syncing, I see no reason to worry. Honda pistons and rings are very, very good.
In general. People have no idea how many miles you can ride these bikes, without needing one. Mine has done over 140.000 km and still has the original pistons. BTW, the other day I read about a Goldwing (1975-6) which had done 650.000kms and when opened for a rebuild, the mechanic judged that all it needed was new rings. Pistons still good. I have knowledge of a CB500 owner, who had done 220.000 kms and thanks to his dayly rides, his engine had not been opened yet. Nine of ten issues I personally had, had to do with standing, not with riding.

[dave500]

i only swap out my oil filter every second oil change,theyre cheap enough but its waste full otherwise,unless your riding through the Sahara or some desert?same as air filter,they go ages before really needing replacement,these bikes aint swiss watches but pretty close to it in the day,they are pretty forgiving with neglect and thats why you can still see them around these days,theyll take abuse and neglect more than other makes.

[Deltarider]

Another excellent remark, this time by Dave. These bikes were designed to 1. insert the key, 2. easily start and 3. ride and that's how they conquered the market. When you read this forum you may get the impression many, many things go wrong. Things can go wrong, often if you do things not needed.

[HondaMan]

Another excellent remark, this time by Dave. These bikes were designed to 1. insert the key, 2. easily start and 3. ride and that's how they conquered the market. When you read this forum you may get the impression many, many things go wrong. Things can go wrong, often if you do things not needed.

True on both posts!
I've always had the least issues when riding the bike(s) the most, on all 6 of them I've owned over the years. Parking them 'correctly' for a long snooze requires more than turning off the gas and walking away, though.