Did the 8000 mile service yesterday.

Out of warranty so thought I'd give it a go.

Usual oil, filter, check this and that.

This one calls for valve clearances to be checked.

Good old fashioned tappets so not too difficult right?

Wrong. Pain in the rear to get the rad out of the way to get the rocker cover off and back on, even with the manual.

Cuts, bruises, a lot of swearing and it's done.

Good job I wasn't paying dealer rates for my labour. It would have cost me £300

I really ought to do my own servicing now it is out of warranty.  All they did was an oil change with filter and replace brake pads front and rear.  For that I was charged £217 and that was with a discount!  I know I can do the oil and filter but am always a little worried about brakes as they are a little bit important.

Brakes are easy mate. I do my own.

Only thing i dont do is valve clearances, because theyre a pita to get to haha.

Brakes are easy mate. I do my own.

Only thing i dont do is valve clearances, because theyre a pita to get to haha.

I'll do them for you.

£300 all in :P

I'll do them for you.

£300 all in :P

Cheers fella.

Appreciated

Thats a bargain btw. Ever done them on a vfr Vtec? Haha.

Edited 15 November, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

Brakes are easy mate. I do my own.

Only thing i dont do is valve clearances, because theyre a pita to get to haha.

Anything is easy once you know how.  I have lots of skills that I think are easy but that is because I have learnt how to do them.  I can even do some plumbing jobs!

Anything is easy once you know how. I have lots of skills that I think are easy but that is because I have learnt how to do them. I can even do some plumbing jobs!

Aha. Nah. Youll soon figure out how it is. Its quite simple to change pads, thats all im sayin (:

Rebuilt the calipers on the SV. not sure how to bleed the brakes on the vfr though as theyre linked

if anyone is interested Power Maxed are selling their 5L Bike wash and wax for 1/2 price via Halfords direct as one of these Black Friday jobbies. they have other things on offer too inc 5L of TFR and Snow foam as well as their winter sealant. P&P was 2.99 for me.

Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by littleade

Sorry for lack of posting guys, been a bit crazy at work.

Well today I ordered a heated jacket as it's been getting a tad cold on 2 wheels recently, will get that wired in next weekend when it arrives.

Took the bike out for a 350 mile trip to see a mate in Dorset last Saturday - by eck it was cold. Snow for part of the trip eek. Sun was very low, mega spray from the road and visor icing up !!!!

Finally gave the bike a good clean and protect today, new shed was nice n warm for getting some acf50 on it. Looking good again.

It gets a week off next week as I'm off to France.

Must admit the commutes over the country lanes are fun in the dark - mud, leaves, diesel...yuk.

Well on Monday mine gets it's Annual clean with AYB.

 

http://allyearbiker.co.uk/

 

I had it done last January but wanted it done before the roads started to get gritted this year even though last years job should still be effective.  Then on Tuesday the shed is getting wired up.  Disgusting amount of money these sparkies want and I know I could do it myself but I couldn't have a certificate then for the work.  Still it will be done and if anything does go wrong then it won't be me paying for the loss of shed and bike.

 

Didn't take the bike out this week but am certainly going to be out on it in the coming weeks but not too sure I would want to commute on it daily.  Luckily I don't have to.

Just took a peek at the link - looks a good service for not a huge amount of money ?

Yeah it's by choice commuting, I've got several cars to choose from by the bike is just so much quicker and saves getting snarled up which happens regularly. Keeps the riding skills up to scratch too !

If it's proper icy or snow then it's the landrover !!

Got to get mine wired up soon, got some good armoured cable but just need to lay it and tap it into the main rcd board for now. In spring ill put all the sockets in and the local distribution panel and breakers.

£65 and it takes him about 3 - 4 hours each bike.  It was as good as new last time and well worth the dosh for me.

A bargain to keep it looking good.

Well worth it that mate

Less than £20 an hour excl products then. Abit too cheap really. He should put his prices up

Well looking at the weather it may well be cancelled for tomorrow.  He has all the gear including a gazebo but he is coming here as he is doing two bikes but the other RAT may not come across if it is pi$$ing down like it is forecast in which case it isn't worth his while coming to Louth.  If all else fails I will book it in at his gaff for another day.  Last year he did three bikes in the one day here which was a little bit too much.  He was here at 9 didn't stop all day and left after 4 having finished mine under the floodlights he brought with him.

 

I can thoroughly recommend it hence why I am having it done again this year.  I know you can buy ACF50 yourself but when they do it they 'mist' it on with a high pressure sprayer and it creeps into all the nooks and crannies. Putting it on with a rag makes it too thick and muck clings to it instead.

Well today has been the day.  Trevor arrived at 8.30 and is still here!  He has done a mate's bike and is still on with mine at the moment.  Looking pretty good and I know it is well protected for the coming months and whatever is thrown at it.  To clean it now no matter how filthy it gets will only be a hose down and rub dry, it is that easy.  For me the main thing is because the ACF50 is sprayed on by high pressure it creeps and seeps into all the nooks and crannies that you just cannot reach and that is the parts where the crap and salt go as well.

 

 

 

 

T'other side.

 

Fantastic.

I do quite like the look of that!

Well worth the money the way he does it but of course it is a franchise so not everyone will have the same standards.

Well worth the money the way he does it but of course it is a franchise so not everyone will have the same standards.

very tempted tbh. its not a great lot of money, is it. 

 

the reason i hate winter isnt because of the cold, or the lack of grip.. its the salt. 

 

i do spray ACF50, but it wont be to these guys standards will it. hmm...

That's looks great Chris - well worth the money by the look of it.

It's an impossible task keeping mine clean but try and give it a hose off once a week to get the crud off.

Acf 50 is all over mine at the moment, does a really good job.

I've been doing my bike this for a few years now with the ACF50 sprayed on using the compressor. Warming up the ACF50 before spraying improves application no end. Whilst I'm at it I normally pull all the loom connections apart and apply some contact grease. It's rare that I actually take the bike out during the winter but when I do it's much easier to clean afterwards.

For the price of the service it's a bargain and well worth doing.

I also used ACF50 on some alloy wheels on the last car that I'd stripped and polished up. Only ACF50 to protect them. Used the car daily and very little cleaning over the winter but when I gave the car a good clean once it was warmer I was impressed by no sign of corrosion on the wheels at all.

I've been doing my bike this for a few years now with the ACF50 sprayed on using the compressor. Warming up the ACF50 before spraying improves application no end. Whilst I'm at it I normally pull all the loom connections apart and apply some contact grease. It's rare that I actually take the bike out during the winter but when I do it's much easier to clean afterwards.

For the price of the service it's a bargain and well worth doing.

I also used ACF50 on some alloy wheels on the last car that I'd stripped and polished up. Only ACF50 to protect them. Used the car daily and very little cleaning over the winter but when I gave the car a good clean once it was warmer I was impressed by no sign of corrosion on the wheels at all.

Just bought this from the show today.

Have a compressor and sprayer and interested what sort of pressure you applied the ACF50 at. My bike is 8 yrs old but has less than 4K on the clock with almost all dry riding ( only had it myself 5 months) but want to protect as much as possible from salt corrosion on the few days when I venture out in winter.

Edited 5 December, 201510 yr by jerbear

Depends on your spray gun. You need to adjust the nozzle so it's spraying as a fine mist with enough pressure to stop it spitting. If you sit the canister of the spray gun in a bowl of hot water it will spray much more evenly. If your spray gun as a hopper instead just put the bottle in some hot water before you fill the hopper up. As the ACF50 cools you will find you need to open the nozzle up slightly to maintain the spray pattern.

Done very little with the bike, took it our a few weeks ago but too windy for me at the moment, I am missing it though, big time. Might drag it our for a clean on my week off.