30,000km self-service

Slowly working through the America's 30,000km service with all the simple (for me that is) things checked-off such as oil change and oil filter change. Everything checked as it's supposed to be checked including brake pad wear but not the spark plugs as yet. I've been delaying that while I decide on which plugs to use as replacements. For this service they only need to be checked but I thought I'd replace them regardless. So I've been looking at a couple of different types - Nology Silver and NGK Iridium; but as I said, I'm still undecided.

Another service item that had to wait was the exhaust CO test. I'd bought a CO meter via ebay and it arrived this morning. Quickly opened the packaging and it looked quite good, so I pulled out the recharging cable only to find it's for China sockets only - aargh. But anyway, got onto ebay again and purchased a suitable looking adapter, packed-up the meter and was taking it into the garage when it started beeping. A quick look showed that I had inadvertently switched the unit on so the built-in battery must have been pre-charged - excellent.

Went back into the house to collect the bike keys and promptly fired it up and waited. Waited for the bike to get fully warmed-up before I tested for CO emissions – as per the instructions. I must have left the meter on because after a couple of minutes it started making a horrible noise which I determined was the excessive CO warning or alarm. Leaving the engine running, I walked the bike out of the garage and reset the meter and again, waited. After another couple of minutes, I thought I’d actually test the exhausts for CO and placed the meter just behind the exhaust. Firstly on the right side which immediately sent the meter into a tizz – alarms and everything and lots of big numbers displayed – crap, I thought. Better check the other pipe – what! The left pipe read normal ie. no more CO than the fresh Autumnal air, so what’s the problem with the right pie? Tested it again and, lo and behold, it was also completely fine. I had just not waited long enough for the engine to get fully warmed-up, d’oh.

My new spark plugs arrived - Nology Silver. I've probably fallen for the advertising spiel but Peter Stevens wanted me to buy 4 NGK Iridium spark plugs, so I decided to try the Nology plugs instead.

I’d previously bought a 150W halogen workshop light, but this was really for under-vehicle use. I’m about to do over-vehicle maintenance so I really need different lighting. Off to Bunnings I go and find a double 500W Halogen work light complete with tripod all for $35; so naturally I buy it and race home. The box was obviously re-packed (probably a return) but I had made the effort to choose the ‘best’ box – or so I thought. Quickly started removing the contents and began to construct the light unit when I saw that the small boxes that should contain the halogen globes were opened and empty – bugger. It was so annoying but nothing to do except drive back to Bunnings to get the damn globes.

After some discussion with the young lady at the information counter, I was led to the electrical section whereupon I was given a replacement pair of 500W Halogen globes – thank you very much. Quickly returned home yet again and completed assembling the light-array, only to find that the globes were already in place – d’oh. Enough was enough, I decided to get on with the job at hand and sort other things out later – if at all.

So, lights (no camera but) action and off with the tank - fortunately something I've done before but it's still a bit tricky. Now to remove the spark plugs - just get the right socket - oops, don't seem to have a 19mm spark plug socket in my toolkit - bugger.

So off to Supercheap Auto (the closest to me) but no good, only had the same as me – 16mm and 21mm. Never mind, Repco is just up the road – again, only seemed to stock 16mm and 21mm spark plug sockets. I ask one of the assistants who initially tries to sell me a lovely looking 19mm socket for $14.99 – no thanks. I ask for something cheaper and he finally directs me to the $10 bin where I find a 3-socket set – 16mm, 19mm and 21mm. What to do? Just buy it I suppose? Yes indeed, and off I go back to the ‘workshop.’

The socket fits just fine but it’s an absolute bugger getting the plugs out – as per usual PS has over-tightened the plugs at the last (20k) service. Just before I remove the first spark plug (from the right-hand cylinder) I decide to check for anything that might fall into the cylinder – not a good thing to happen of course. Ah – quite a bit of crap had accumulated around the spark plug so a quick vacuum was in order. Satisfied that all debris had been successfully evacuated, I finally removed the spark plug. Quickly covering the hole with a purpose-built rag, I checked the plug (for my information only of course). Interesting, the gap was supposed to be 0.8-0.9mm but it was set at 1mm – bloody PS strikes again – I’m so glad I’d decided to do my own servicing from now on.

Replaced the plugs with the Nology Silver plugs (gapped to 0.8mm), replaced the tank and switched it on. Hmm, very odd noise coming from the fuel pump. Switch off and on – same again. Left it for a minute and tried again – aha – success – but I did it another time to make sure.

This time I actually started to motor and let the bike warm up – all good. All done, 30000km service done – tada!