I have a rancher AT and am coming up on my first 100 miles. I read somewhere in here that it was cheaper to do yourself, if so where do i need to go to get the supplies and what all do i have to do?

 

You can go back to your dealer and they will let you know what you need. I know if you have the extended warranty you need to use Honda filters/oil for the warranty to be valid. Also, keep the receipts so you can prove you have done the required maintenance.

 

Is this your first service? Have you done any prior maintenance on this machine at all??? I usually think of a maintenance schedule in terms of hours ridden, not miles. In the open desert, 100 miles is just 2 hrs. on a 450R (and time for an oil change!). Rock crawling the Rancher on a tight trail however, 100 miles could be 100 hrs.

On a new bike, I change the engine oil and filter, and diff. fluid at 1 hr., then again at 10 hrs. Sounds like you are already past that point??? On my utilities, I probably do a routine service every 20+ hrs., or so.

Anybody with basic mechanical skills, can do everything except a valve adjustment. Oil and filter (Honda GN4 oil during break-in). Do not put the filter in backward....it is clearly marked which side goes out. Change the diff. oil if you haven't already done that (I suggest Mobil 1 75W90 Synthetic). To early to need a spark plug.

No sure what oil to suggest after break-in. (I usually think of the break-in period as the first 20 hrs.....you are probably already past that.) Your owners manual specs GN4, a petrolium oil. (Note that it does not spec Honda's own Synth Blend, HP4.) I personally would prefer to run an Ester Synthetic (like Maxima Extra, Motul 5100, or at least Maxima's Ester Synthetic Blend), but not at all sure if any of these are compatible with the AT's transmission or centrifugal clutch??? Note that Honda's GN4 is now SJ and no longer SG, so I will NOT use it. It is widely accepted that SG is the best motorcycle oil (it contains the most zinc additive). If you need to use a petrolium oil rather than a sythetic (which is probably true), I would highly recommend Maxima ATV Premium 4T, which is SG.

http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm

 

oh yea it is my first maintence but everything has looked ok and if it is of any concern i did purchase the extended warranty so do i need to use just honda/ honda approved oils?