500 mile inspection/maintenance: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Engine]]

[[Category:New Riders]]

'''2008+ EX250J owners''': Because of the different valve adjuster design on your bikes, a valve adjustment is not part of the first service. Pretty much everything else is the same. Check your owners manual.

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Kawasaki lists a large number of service items which need to be completed at 800 km (approximately 500 miles). The items are listed in your owner's handbook.

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Visual inspections are mostly easy to do -- things like checking brake fluid levels, looking for leaks, checking the tightness of obvious bolts, and so on. It's worth doing these things yourself, even if the dealership says they'll do it. You're the one riding the bike, and it's your butt on the pavement if something is missed.

Go through the ~~owner's~~ manual and do as many of the items as you can. Anything you can't do yourself can be passed off to a mechanic or a more mechanically inclined friend, but make sure it all gets done.

Go through the owners manual and do as many of the items as you can. Anything you can't do yourself can be passed off to a mechanic or a more mechanically inclined friend, but make sure it all gets done.

===But, why?===

====But why?====

Each of the items in that list was carefully selected by Kawasaki engineers as being an important thing to check at 500 miles. They didn't choose those things because they like making work for their mechanics or for you.

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Finally, Inspect valve clearances.

The valves in the engine are the component which seals the combustion chamber, and allows your engine to make power. If they're not adjusted properly, you get one of several results: 1. the engine makes less power; 2. the engine makes less power and destroys the valves (a $500+ repair); 3. the engine makes a lot less power (or no power) and destroys big chunks of itself. The third outcome is admittedly unlikely, but it is within the realm of possibility, even at 500 miles on the odometer.

The valves in the engine are the component which seals the combustion chamber and allows your engine to make power. If they're not adjusted properly, you get one of several results: 1. the engine makes less power; 2. the engine makes less power and destroys the valves (a $500+ repair); 3. the engine makes a lot less power (or no power) and destroys big chunks of itself. The third outcome is admittedly unlikely, but it is within the realm of possibility, even at 500 miles on the odometer.

Nearly every owner who has done h/her own valves at 500 miles has reported that some, or all, of the valves were tight. If your dealer says you don't need to do a valve check at 500 miles, he's either blowing you off or is clueless. In either case you should find someone else to work on your bike, such as a good, independent mechanic.

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+[[Category:Engine]]
+[[Category:New Riders]]
+'''2008+ EX250J owners''': Because of the different valve adjuster design on your bikes, a valve adjustment is not part of the first service. Pretty much everything else is the same. Check your owners manual.
+------------------------------------------
 Kawasaki lists a large number of service items which need to be completed at 800 km (approximately 500 miles).  The items are listed in your owner's handbook.
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 Visual inspections are mostly easy to do -- things like checking brake fluid levels, looking for leaks, checking the tightness of obvious bolts, and so on.  It's worth doing these things yourself, even if the dealership says they'll do it.  You're the one riding the bike, and it's your butt on the pavement if something is missed.
-Go through the owner's manual and do as many of the items as you can.  Anything you can't do yourself can be passed off to a mechanic or a more mechanically inclined friend, but make sure it <i>all</i> gets done.
+Go through the owners manual and do as many of the items as you can.  Anything you can't do yourself can be passed off to a mechanic or a more mechanically inclined friend, but make sure it <i>all</i> gets done.
-===But, why?===
+====But why?====
 Each of the items in that list was carefully selected by Kawasaki engineers as being an important thing to check at 500 miles.  They didn't choose those things because they like making work for their mechanics or for you.
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 Finally, <i>Inspect valve clearances.</i>
-The valves in the engine are the component which seals the combustion chamber, and allows your engine to make power.  If they're not adjusted properly, you get one of several results: 1. the engine makes less power; 2. the engine makes less power and destroys the valves (a $500+ repair); 3. the engine makes a lot less power (or no power) and destroys big chunks of itself.  The third outcome is admittedly unlikely, but it is within the realm of possibility, even at 500 miles on the odometer.
+The valves in the engine are the component which seals the combustion chamber and allows your engine to make power.  If they're not adjusted properly, you get one of several results: 1. the engine makes less power; 2. the engine makes less power and destroys the valves (a $500+ repair); 3. the engine makes a lot less power (or no power) and destroys big chunks of itself.  The third outcome is admittedly unlikely, but it is within the realm of possibility, even at 500 miles on the odometer.
+Nearly every owner who has done h/her own valves at 500 miles has reported that some, or all, of the valves were tight. If your dealer says you don't need to do a valve check at 500 miles, he's either blowing you off or is clueless. In either case you should find someone else to work on your bike, such as a good, independent mechanic.