Do you work on your own bike?
- Thread starter James
- Start date
One of my yz490's, I busted 3 gear in a race, took the whole bike apart including the case, been sitting around awhile and a move, putting it back together is going to be fun.
That's the part I need to understand better...the more I do my own stuff the more I learn HOWEVER, I'm afraid of making a mistake (wich is normal) however, I don't want my mistake to be a hinderance to anyone else. I know this is a brotherhood of great bonding BUT, that's just me, I hate puttign people out! I did do all my work on my 2t 125 many yarns ago...........................pretty simple, not a lot of crap to mess with. Then again, it seldom broke down so I didn'[t have a lot to do!
I used to do rings, pistons, primary chains and more on my old Maicos because they certainly needed all that. As I have gotten a bit older and wiser, 
I think today's bikes are far more tricky for my patience and desire. I change my oil and filters, clean the air filters, change the sprockets and keep them clean but if anything else comes along I take it to the one's who I trust. Have not had to do this in a long time however. 
I think today's bikes are far more tricky for my patience and desire. I change my oil and filters, clean the air filters, change the sprockets and keep them clean but if anything else comes along I take it to the one's who I trust. Have not had to do this in a long time however. 
I do all my own work from oil to splitting the cases. I dont have too much experience when it comes to fixing my bike. But I am getting there one step at a time, one diagram at a time.....and of course the great help and knowledge that comes from folks like you on these forums! I've rebuilt my top end 95 cr250 with a fresh piston, rings, and gaskets all from reading the manual.....Now splitting the cases for a stripped oil plug, Big Dan (SRAD97750) helped me on tremendously. Dan knows just about everything there is to know about a bike and didn't hesitate to lend me a hand! My truck is the same story...unless special tools are needed that I dont own, or are too expensive to buy. These forums make working on your own junk a whole lot easier! Save yourself a bunch of money by doing so, but most importantly knowing how your shit works....so when it breaks down on the trail (and it will....) you will have a better idea of how to fix it enough to limp home.
I used to do rings, pistons, primary chains and more on my old Maicos because they certainly needed all that. As I have gotten a bit older and wiser,
Same here except for my forks...never done forks before...especially inverted. I heard it required a special tool. I wouldn't know what to do without the special tool let alone with it.
...and now for the JB weld application! WELD AND RIDE 
Yep,absolutely!! I find it hard to trust anyone to fix what I want fixed at a reasonable rate without getting screwed.
I've taken my old worn out xr600's(parts bike now) engine apart a few times to replace a couple of gears in the tranny.A while back I could look at a nut,bolt,screw or seal and tell you exactly where it lived in that engine.BTW,did you know a tranny from a '85 XR600(factory street legal) will drop into an '88(maybe newer too?)XR600? Works great if you use all of the trann'ys parts and not just a couple.
I've taken my old worn out xr600's(parts bike now) engine apart a few times to replace a couple of gears in the tranny.A while back I could look at a nut,bolt,screw or seal and tell you exactly where it lived in that engine.BTW,did you know a tranny from a '85 XR600(factory street legal) will drop into an '88(maybe newer too?)XR600? Works great if you use all of the trann'ys parts and not just a couple.
My wifes 660 Raptor (I know...) She's uses all gears but only half the throttle (if that)...It sat for too long and now (I think) has carborator issues...it backfires every time you gas it. I tried mixing some cleaner in the gas AND squirting some directly into the carbs but to no avail. Dual carbs...looks like a real PITA...anyone have experience with these?
) She's uses all gears but only half the throttle (if that)...It sat for too long and now (I think) has carborator issues...it backfires every time you gas it. I tried mixing some cleaner in the gas AND squirting some directly into the carbs but to no avail. Dual carbs...looks like a real PITA...anyone have experience with these?Sounds like there are one or more blocked jets.I'm guessing the pilot or slow jet might have some crap in it.My XR350 had a similar prob,ended up removing the carbs & dis-assembling both(one at a time),spraying carb cleaner into every tiny orifice & passageway then blowing it out with a shot of air.After that it started on the second kick & idled great but died when I gave it full throttle...ended up being the float level on the secondary carb(too low & no gas in bowl).My wifes 660 Raptor (I know...