How Easy is Servicing?

[BigVeeGrin]

I know some things are best left to the pros, however, for someone like me who:

- knows how things work
- is not experienced and by no means a 'natural' mechanic
- has not a lot of dosh
- has some tools

would you recommend getting hold of a Haynes manual, servicing and getting to know the old girl better? Or am I likely to hit all kinds of issues that will bugger her to bits!!!?

[Wicky]

Yup get the Haynes manual and download the Honda Service Manual from the workshop knowledebase section

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 31&t=18025

Make sure you've got all the tools and likely parts necessary for whatever job your working on. hex sockets, spanners, 3/8" & 1/2" normal sockets, 1/2" breaker bar, torque wrench, water pump pliers (handy for pushing back brake pads), rubber mallet, big hammer (as a last resort!), copper grease and HT Grease, WD40, lots of rags and save margarine tubs for nuts and bolts. Make sure you've got good light and shelter (esp in the winter), a level surface and stand/s (car scissor jack and wooden block under the sump to get the front end up) to keep the bike secure from toppling over, white spirit for degreasing and swarfega for cleaning your mits after.

Always easier if you get the chance to watch and learn from watching someone do the job by observational leaning, plus all the general hints and tips that can be imparted. - Tony in Kent has very kindly and generously held a few workshop sessions for fellow stormers which I'm sure has inspired many with confidence. Take your time and be methodical - take digital pics if necessary so you've got reference to where things go (esp when taking the tank off for all the hoses. - Classic error!). Search workshop section first and don't be afraid to ask for pointers. If you've cable TV, even though it's cars, watch Wheeler Dealers and Ed the mechanic to see how he approaches servicing and problems.

The more that you can do yourself the more that you can save - garages are charging £40-£50 an hour- so whatever you save, reinvest in more tools for more complex jobs - However, know your limits i.e I stripped my rear end to sort out seized bearings but to remove very seized bearings and install new ones I took the linkage and new bearings to local workshop and happy to to pay for half-an-hour's labour, still cheaper for me than potentially messing up and having to spend more. I've replaced most of my nuts and bolts with stainless allen/hex fixings (available from ebay or local fixtures and fittings merchants) - keep them clean and greased up which will save you stress and anguish when disassembling and putting back together with the best quality tools you can afford.

For parts get the part no from here (US spec VTR mostly the same but there are some subtle differences - also early and late versions) and you can order them online from http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/. Also Ron Ayres site allows you to check to see if a part no is the same as any other Honda model which can allow you to broaden your search for 2nd hand spares on ebay.

http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Mod ... /CRANKCASE

I was lucky as a kid as my Dad was an ex-RAF flight mechanic and owned a garage so it was natural to pick things up (the smell of cellulose thinner Ahhh!). Always had lego to play with and my first pushbike was a basket case which I needed to build before I could ride it.

Good luck and have fun - before you know you'll be doing your own CCTs.

[tony.mon]

Thanks, Wicky!
Now your Storm is a fairly easy engine to work on, and all the cycle parts are the same as any other bike, really.

Maintenance-wise, it's pretty easy, there's not much to catch you out.

Don't take a CCT out or undo it if the engine's not in the right place, and have a read-up of info in the Workshop section before you start, especially Sirch's piece on CCT replacement and setting the valve timing in the Stickies.
Trust that rather than the Haynes, which isn't at all clear, TBH.

Lastly if you plan a job, post it in here first and everyone will have a helpful opinion.....some useful!

[benny hedges]

before you commence, download and read the honda generic service guide, which contains a lot of common methods to cover work on any bike.
very good basic info here. http://www.carlsalter.com/download.asp? ... 9d67a99596

just one tip - leave the hammer in the toolbox. if you have to force something you're probably doing it wrong!

[BigVeeGrin]

cheers guys fantastic advice

I have built push bikes before so not a total novice but my bike mechanicking went awol donkeys ago (aged 17) when I sorted out the top end on a Superdream, a bloke said use liquid gasket so I merrily squirted away and on the return from Sussex to Devon the oil pump or something got clogged and the big end went

Dared not touch anything since!

[Wicky]

Lol Should have used the Honda special tool ... the hammer

Mechanicing is like surgery , you learn from your mistakes.

cheers guys fantastic advice

I have built push bikes before so not a total novice but my bike mechanicking went awol donkeys ago (aged 17) when I sorted out the top end on a Superdream, a bloke said use liquid gasket so I merrily squirted away and on the return from Sussex to Devon the oil pump or something got clogged and the big end went

Dared not touch anything since!