SuzukiSavage.com - To Wrench or Not to Wrench

ByMySword

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To Wrench or Not to Wrench
07/31/14 at 18:44:11

Hello all,

So I'm facing a bit of a conundrum at the moment. Planning a ride with a Brother in September and I'm trying to get the bike in tip top shape.

Currently, she needs new tires and probably new brake pads/shoes installed (last ones installed were in October of last year), and a tune up. I've already purchased the tires (Shinko 712s), and pads/shoes, so I have all those parts.

Now I've already read a lot on how some modifications may be needed to put the rear Shinko 712 on since it is a slightly wider tire (140/90-15). I have saddlebag mounts on the side fender rails and I really don't want to have to take them off since they were kind of a hassle to put on the first place and I'll need the luggage space for the ride in September.

The issue here is a combination of lack of money and lack of experience. On the one hand, even though I don't have all the tools at my disposal, I would be willing to invest in acquiring them in order to learn to do these tasks myself. I'm assuming (and we all know what happens when people do that) that this would alleviate the cost concerns. However, my complete lack of experience working on the tires, brakes, and drive belt concern me. Especially with the larger rear tire concerns, I would hate to screw something up before a good ride. Then again, if I don't try, how will I ever learn?

So I am asking all you better experienced wrenchers' opinions on whether I should attempt this feat or not since it probably isn't a feat at your experience level anyway. What say you? To wrench or not to wrench? Wink

Respects,

Sword

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Seaweednh

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #1 - 07/31/14 at 19:07:08

This is a hard call to make not knowing much about the experience you do have. Second issue, brakes and tires, is this really where you want to learn? It could be very costly if you don't understand exactly what you are doing and why. This is just my honest opinion. I ask this only because there may be someone close by that can take a second look to make sure your doing it right. Where are you located?

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1st2know

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #2 - 07/31/14 at 19:43:09

Wrench it:
- Get comfortable with taking the seat and tank off. This allows you to see how the machine is put together.
- Start with simple things, like brakes, tires, spark plug, oil/air filter and oil change.
- Don't worry about breaking things yet. Once you become more familiar with how the machine is put together, and knowing how to navigate this site, you'll be in a good position to know how not to break things, and, how to fix them if you do. The most frustrating problem is snapping a bolt off. It can be fixed, with patience and finesse.
- Not wrenching this motorcycle will probably lead to more problems that wrenching it. If your turning the bolts on this thing, it's probably going to be done right...eventually

- You'll probably never have to take the engine out, or apart. You may have to take the carb out once.
- Most motorcycle wrenching is to inspect and adjust things. Have a camera ready so you can ask "Is this thing 'sposed to be bent like this?"
- You will get oil leaks. They can be fixed. And, unless it's gushing oil, that work can be scheduled for the off season.

So yes, wrench it. Take your time. You can accumulate the tools you need over time. The cost of the tools is usually cheaper than shop labor, and, you don't have to figure out how to get the bike to the shop and back.

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Silverhippi

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #3 - 07/31/14 at 20:36:25

Hey, I had to remove my saddle bag supports because the mounting hardware was rubbing the right side of my slightly larger than stock tire. I didn't mean to go larger than stock I just replaced the size that was on the rim. I'm planning to get 1/2 taller shocks, when funds allow, to solve the problem and then Viking Hard Bags.

http://www.vikingbags.com/viking-lamellar-leather-covered-shock-cutout-hard-s...

There's lots of stuff I want to tweak but the absolute next thing is the Verslagen Adjuster to remove the live hand grenade from inside my engine.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench Reply #4 - 07/31/14 at 20:51:24 pass on the tires do the brakes do the tune up; sparky, valves, filters, oil.
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S-P

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #5 - 07/31/14 at 22:00:13

verslagen1 wrote on 07/31/14 at 20:51:24:

pass on the tires
do the brakes
do the tune up; sparky, valves, filters, oil.

Concur. If you take the bike to a shop for the rear tire, just have them replace the bolts that go through the rear fender with cap heads as long as they are right there. I shouldn't be more than 15-30 minutes of labor on their part. My mechanic did it for free just because.

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WD

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #6 - 08/01/14 at 01:04:02

Forget the tires. Even with access to a couple tire machines, I hate changing Savage tires. Still recovering from a nearly to the bone deep gash/burn on my right index finger that I got the first part of July.

Need to open my 03 up this weekend and swap in the CCT out of my deceased 98. Another essential if less than fun task. I'll hit 5600 miles on it since mid-April on my way to a meeting later this morning... and it had 7157.5 on it when I bought it. Kinda pushing my luck, it is getting a bit noisy in there...

Forget the rear brake shoes, just reset the travel on your current ones. I'm the only person here to consistently wear out rear shoes, because the stock front brake on my 98 never worked correctly in the 12 years it was roadworthy.

Change your oil and filters, if you have better than 3/16" of tread on your tires top them up and enjoy your trip.

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ByMySword

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #7 - 08/01/14 at 06:37:11

Seaweednh wrote on 07/31/14 at 19:07:08:

This is a hard call to make not knowing much about the experience you do have. Second issue, brakes and tires, is this really where you want to learn? It could be very costly if you don't understand exactly what you are doing and why.

Maybe I should have been a little more specific about the experience that I have so far. I already change my own oil, oil filter, and air filter.
Last year, with the help of this site I learned to disassemble the bike as far as the seats, odometer, and tank. I took apart the carb, cleaned it, and replaced the float valves. I also replaced the stock petcock with the Raptor. The only other thing I've done since then is mount the saddlebag mounts on the side rear fender.

I totally understand what you're saying. I guess its just a pride thing of doing it myself, plus the money issue. And if I don't learn now, when do I learn?

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ByMySword

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #8 - 08/01/14 at 06:40:35

1st2know wrote on 07/31/14 at 19:43:09:

- Not wrenching this motorcycle will probably lead to more problems that wrenching it.

Could you expand on this please?

Quote:

Have a camera ready so you can ask "Is this thing 'sposed to be bent like this?"

Good idea. Thanks

Quote:

You will get oil leaks. They can be fixed. And, unless it's gushing oil, that work can be scheduled for the off season.

I do have the infamous oil leak from the engine head. Its not that bad, just annoying and from what I've read its not really worth it to get it fixed anyway.

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ByMySword

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #9 - 08/01/14 at 06:47:40

verslagen1 wrote on 07/31/14 at 20:51:24:

pass on the tires
do the brakes
do the tune up; sparky, valves, filters, oil.

Don't you have to take the tires off to do the brakes? Or at least disassemble the bike to the point where taking the tires off wouldn't be that much more difficult?

Quote:

If you take the bike to a shop for the rear tire, just have them replace the bolts that go through the rear fender with cap heads as long as they are right there. I shouldn't be more than 15-30 minutes of labor on their part. My mechanic did it for free just because.

So that should that allow me to keep my saddlebag mounts on? I feel I could do that myself. Do you know what size cap heads?

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ByMySword

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #10 - 08/01/14 at 06:50:58

WD wrote on 08/01/14 at 01:04:02:

Forget the tires. Even with access to a couple tire machines

I'm really showing how much of a newb I really am today. I hadn't even considered to look at tire machines. I figured most people just usually did it with hand tools

Quote:

Need to open my 03 up this weekend and swap in the CCT out of my deceased 98.

What is the CCT?

Quote:

Forget the rear brake shoes, just reset the travel on your current ones. I'm the only person here to consistently wear out rear shoes, because the stock front brake on my 98 never worked correctly in the 12 years it was roadworthy.

What does resetting the travel mean?

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verslagen1

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #11 - 08/01/14 at 07:20:56

ByMySword wrote on 08/01/14 at 06:47:40:

Don't you have to take the tires off to do the brakes? Or at least disassemble the bike to the point where taking the tires off wouldn't be that much more difficult?

Rear yes, front no, but I was talking tires, not wheels.
When you get the tires done, take the wheels off the bike and take it into the shop. while the wheels are off, do the brakes.

Quote:

If you take the bike to a shop for the rear tire, just have them replace the bolts that go through the rear fender with cap heads as long as they are right there. I shouldn't be more than 15-30 minutes of labor on their part. My mechanic did it for free just because.

Quote:

So that should that allow me to keep my saddlebag mounts on? I feel I could do that myself. Do you know what size cap heads?

Use Button allen heads, you'll have to measure how long, or remove and take 'm w/you.

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Seaweednh

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #12 - 08/01/14 at 07:21:03

ByMySword wrote on 08/01/14 at 06:37:11:

Seaweednh wrote on 07/31/14 at 19:07:08:

This is a hard call to make not knowing much about the experience you do have. Second issue, brakes and tires, is this really where you want to learn? It could be very costly if you don't understand exactly what you are doing and why.

Maybe I should have been a little more specific about the experience that I have so far. I already change my own oil, oil filter, and air filter.
Last year, with the help of this site I learned to disassemble the bike as far as the seats, odometer, and tank. I took apart the carb, cleaned it, and replaced the float valves. I also replaced the stock petcock with the Raptor. The only other thing I've done since then is mount the saddlebag mounts on the side rear fender.

I totally understand what you're saying. I guess its just a pride thing of doing it myself, plus the money issue. And if I don't learn now, when do I learn?

Fair enough, we all had to learn at some time. My concern is that you are on two wheels and asking whether you should tackle it or not means your not sure of yourself. My concern is your personal safety doing the tires and brakes, With that said, please buy a service manual for your bike. It does give step by step instructions on what you want to do. I've been turning wrenches for over 40 years, made more mistakes than I care to count, mainly in my younger years. Once again, my only concern is your personal safety, nothing else,

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HondaLavis

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #13 - 08/01/14 at 07:47:21

CCT = Camchain tensioner.

Front brakes require you only to remove the caliper. You might take an hour or two if it's your first time and you're drinking a lot of beer. That is definitely something you should wrench yourself.

On the right side of the drum just above the brake link arm are limit marks. When the brake pedal is pressed, the notch in the arm should be between those two limits. Rear drums are not self-adjusting like the ones in your car. If it is beyond the limit, you have to turn the adjuster on the rear brake cable. You simply rotate the nut to extend the cable until the adjustment is back within limits. Usually you can just do it with your fingers - no tools required! Cheesy

Only when you have run out of adjustment do you need to replace the rear brake shoes.

If you need to get your tires done, let a shop do them. Most shops will mount for $15-20 a tire. IMHO, that is worth the hassle.

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ByMySword

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Re: To Wrench or Not to Wrench
Reply #14 - 08/01/14 at 07:55:59

verslagen1 wrote on 08/01/14 at 07:20:56:

Rear yes, front no, but I was talking tires, not wheels.When you get the tires done, take the wheels off the bike and take it into the shop. while the wheels are off, do the brakes.

Quote:

Use Button allen heads, you'll have to measure how long, or remove and take 'm w/you.

Great, thanks

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