is this something i can do myself with the service manual that runs about $80 or do i need to take it to the dealer for what they say is $280?

 

Wow that's high! I have a friend that's a cycle mechanic that did mine for 120 bucks including an oil change! The important thing is to check your valve clearances and make sure everything is lubed and tight.

 

Hes not kidding about checkin the valves. See the problems with ds thread. I would have loved to pay $280.

 

<< is this something i can do myself with the service manual that runs about $80 or do i need to take it to the dealer for what they say is $280? >>



If you Have to ask then I would assume you're not very machanically knowledgable, (not a bad thing) therefore taking it to the dealer is a good idea. The valve adjustment is the most technical part of the 10 hour service so if you are curious about what it entails I suggest you check out the second page of the thread titled &quot;problems with the DS&quot;. Buttfungus put an attachment there that will show the procedure. The rest of the inspections are easy, normal service items which you should know how to do anyway. I believe the checklist is in the operators manual.
You can always take it to have the valves adjusted and do the rest yourself, it migh save you some money

 

I agree with JSsDS entirely.
FYI - I bought a service manual from the dealer, it cost me $50.00, he had to order it. Nice book, spiral bound, same price as any other brand I've had. Not as detailed as Honda books, but fine for the somewhat experienced individual.

 

thanks guys. just taking it in for the valves is what i will do. the other basic stuff i can handle wich i didnt even think of.

 

I did my first service before the local dealer did their first service and the valves needed NO! adjustment. It is however very important to check your valve clearance, but it is very easy to do. Take the plug on the bottom side out of the motor (it looks like a case bolt) look inside the hole and turn the motor over until you see a notch in the crank(at this point you could take a stud that is the same size as the bolt removed grind a point on it and install it to hold the crank at TDC) Then check clearance and buy appropriate shims if needed.

 

Ang,
Your explaination covered about 5% of the job. Look here for the complete procedure. Also, I wouldn't run out and buy shims until you know what is needed. When I did my valves, I was able to jockey the shims around from one place to another to get the clearances I needed and only had to buy one shim. Saved some money there. My.02

 

I'm not trying to write a service manual and it was that easy to do for me. Also read again I said to check clearance then get shims &quot;IF&quot; needed.
It is however my fault for over simplifying things I have been working on motorcycles for a long time and sometimes I assume everyone has the same background, for that I appologize. I will however do my best to help when I can.
Scott
P.S. even with all my years and exprience I always get the SHOP MANUAL for all bikes I work on, to me its as important as changing oil regularly.

 

Everyone on earth should own a shop manual for every bike they own - when paying several thousand bucks for a bike, what's another $50 to know you're taking care of it right. A lot of all questions on all forums would not be written if this were so.
Not trying to offend anybody here - trying to help. Some manuals lack a lot to be desired, some are written for experienced people, some are written so a kid could do it, but any of them are better than nothing.