Newbie Servicing

[Bchamen]

Hi All,

I recently got my NC30 and want to give it a good service this weekend as I am unsure when last it was serviced.

What should I get beforehand, what tools should I have handy, what should I look out for and what should I be doing (ie oil change, oil filter etc). I have downloaded the service manual so will have that as well.

Thanks for all your help beforehand.

[dgunthor]

oil + filter, air filter

check spark plugs (rears easy to get too, front less so - check front first)

coolant ok?
brake fluid ok?

check the brake pads for wear (can do this just by looking)

no special tools needed apark from 5mm allen key, thick flat screwdriver, socket set
be careful with the plastics

[Bchamen]

Thanks for the reply. Will do all of that. If I come stuck and can't come right I will be back. :)

[speedy231278]

Spark plugs are tiny, so unless you have very thin and very deep sockets, you'll need the appropriate spark plug spanner, which is not exactly cheap, and for some reason most places don't list the handle, so if you haven't got the original toolkit, you'll need to do some searching. David Silver list the spanner and handle set (07KMA-MR80200) as a five week wait and £31.82! The plug wrench on it's own (89216-MR8-000) is £16.20 and they list them as being in stock, with the handle unobtainable individually any more (at least from them). However, a 3/8" drive ratchet handle fits.

Front plugs are a pain in the knuckles as they are buried behind the front rad. The easiest access is to remove it completely, which isn't too much hassle if you are draining the coolant, but if not, you can dismount it and move it a little bit out of the way. Also, I would recommend that you unscrew the shorter of the two front plug leads from the coil pack before trying to unplug it and get it out of the way to remove the plug. Being so short, there's not much of it to take up the bending action, and assuming they're in the same place on the front as my NC35, you risk splitting the insulation as it has a very tight curve in the lead and effectively you end up bending it backwards trying to get your hand in unless you've removed the rad.

Dropping the oil filter out from around the front headers and radiator fan also requires a bit of persuasion, and again if you are dropping the coolant the easiest thing to do is take the rad off. If not, you can undo the bottom bolt on it and swing it away a little to gain some space.

You'll find that the first few times you work on your NC, you'll discover that the designer's remit of making everything as small and compact as possible isn't a very good help to whomever comes to service the bike. However, you'll quickly learn all the pitfalls and things to avoid, and it's very satisfying when the bike goes back together and runs better than it did before you started.

[Neosophist]

Factory service manual is in the downloads section, It has a list of all the service intervals, how to do it and the special tools required / order to do things in. If you haven't downloaded that then give it a read.

Obvious consumables to check and replace are Air filter / plugs / oil filter, plugs can be expensive compared to other bikes.

Valve clearances are important to check / set but can be a long job if youve never done it before best to get somebody who knows how to do it help you through it, there is a guide on here in the workshop section.

If after changing the airfilter / oil / plugs and valve clearances / balancing carbs it doesnt run well clean out the carbs. agin theres a guide for that.

it should run and idle really well / smooth

[Morespeedvicar]

If you've just got it I'd deffo check/change the coolant too, just incase its just water in there.
Cheers
Ian

[Bchamen]

Thanks for all the advice, will keep that in mind. I want to do as much as possible as I do not know when the last owner did it. Rather do it upfront and then I know whats been done. SO i want to check everything. Being in South Africa, it might be hard to source all the tools/parts but will hopefully come right with that.

Going to strip the bike down and give it a good clean, so will be able to check everything.Luckily there's no rush to get it done, other than me wanting to go ride again. Should be fun.

Thanks again. Really appreciate your help.

[CybaHag]

Where in S.A do u stay bud?

[Bchamen]

I stay in Boksburg boet. See you block in Fourways, should go for a ride some time.