Hi i got about 120 on my new big bear 4x4 and was wondering about how many miles I should wait to bring it in for its first maint.?? any help would greatly be appreciated. thanks

 

You figure that you get 10 mi per hour, you should bring it in at 20 hours.....that makes it around 200 miles.

Is the dealer doing the first service free? I would really recommend getting the manual and learning how to do the valves, etc. yourself. It is really not a hard job to do and then you can do it when YOU feel the bike "might" need it. I would hate to spend money on a simple scheduled upkeep when you can do it yourself.

The first service is no more than changing the oil, checking the valves, and checking levels/loose nuts, etc. All of this is easily done on your own. If you dont have the tools, all you need is Meteric wrench/socket set, feeler guage (meteric), and maybe a oil filter wrench. I use a strap-style wrench for the oil filter and it works pretty good for the price. We maintain two bigbears and two grizzlys all at home unless there is something WRONG. Then to the dealer it goes for warranty work.

Hope that i could be of help.

Jonathan

 

I know what you mean by doing it yourself but I just don't know how and dont really have the self-confidence in doing it..I think I would screw something up on it.

 

Tell ya what....see if the dealer will let you watch them do it. If they will, then you will see how easy it is and be able to do it yourself the next time.

The only problem with watching them do it is......you will be pissed at the bill because of how easy it was!!! lol

There are a lot of friendly people on here that will walk you threw doing it yourself. There really isnt anything that you will screw up. The valves are the hardest thing to do and the hardest part of that is just getting to them.

Just to give you an idea of what it is like....the valve has a rocker with a lock-style nut on top of it. You loosen the nut and there is a screw that the nut is on. That screw is the adjustment for the valve. You set the adjustment by putting a feeler gauge under the screw of the right "gauge". You tighten/loosen the screw until the feeler gauge passes between with SOME friction. You tighten the nut (while holding the screw in place) and that is it! Then the hard part....put the plastic back on the bike.

I still recommend asking the dealer if you can watch so you have a better "feeling" about doing it yourself. I had a friend help me the first time too. But from now on, i do it myself.

Jonathan

 

Lol I was even thinking of watching my dealer if I can watch and I think I will because I want to keep my big bear's valves adjusted right but I just want to learn how to do it correctly and are the instructions you gave me brief or could I do what you said with your instructions you gave me?

 

When it comes time....and you have already seen how it is done once....let me know, and i will give ya step-by-step. The instructions that i gave (above) are really darn close. The only thing i didnt tell ya was to take the fenders and stuff off so that you can GET to the valves...lol

Your first oil change should be done at this time too. There will be a small amount of metal shavings in the oil, which is normal. The next oil change, shouldnt have any metal in it.

I really do mean it when i say....you can do it yourself and you will have a feeling of "self gradification" apon the complition.

Good luck
Jonathan

 

Thanks for your offer and I would like to take you up on it now I dont want to waste $130 and I already have picked up a feeler guage today also and have plenty of tools (my brothers) and would like some help if you still want to.. thanks alot [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

ill tell ya this....i asked the dealer what the valve clearance was,( i forget now, i think it was .002 intake and .003 exhaust), and did it. the owners munual has everything you will need except valve clearance, and major work. its very easy to remove all the plastic to gain access. get the book and it will tell you step by step. thats what they do!

 

Your valve clearance should be on a sticker that is on your airfilter box or at least under the seat.

It is as simple as taking the front rack off, removing the plastic, remove the tank (dont forget to shut the fuel off), and taking the valve covers off. Take your spark plug out (reduces compression) and use the pull-start to turn the piston over. You have a fairly large area that you can adjust your valves at. What you want to do is turn the motor over until you see the "oiler", which is a hole in the cam. When you see it, you are where the valves have "slack". You should be able to rock the rockers back and forth a little. You can keep turning the motor over to see what i mean. By "the book", there is a timing mark that you can go by but it requires more work. AT the point where you have slack in the rockers, you slide the feeler gauge in to proper spec. Make sure that it is a snug fit but not hard to push between. I told you the rest up top with the "lock-nut and screw".

I am serious when i say, GO GET THE MANUAL from the dealer. It should cost you around 45 bucks and has step-by-step instructions on doing it for YOUR bike. The way that i am telling you is somewhat a short-cut and you could do it wrong if not at the right spot on the cam. It is easy to do and you should have the book with you.

Jonathan

 

alright well I think I'll do that before touching anything lol also I noticed today that my oil level is below the low line and I just can't see how that is possible because yesterday it was about at the full line and today it looked very low by just looking at the oil in the crankcase with dip stick out and I checked where I parked my big bear in my garag over night and there was no oil there?? hmm I guess I should give it a nice oil change now. should I replace the oil filter now also?