cam chain/tensioner/headgasket

[muffinman]

how much roughly should it cost for all of the above to be done by a bike mechanic?

including parts

im getting valve clearances and carbs balanced there for £100 if thats anything to go by?

[superman]

I would ask em if it would be cheaper if you strip the bike before you take it in cos that will cost you in time for them to take the plastics off.

[masterofinsanity]

dont know how much valve clearances cost but carb balancing should be not much more than £30.

[rene]

clearances normaly cost quite abit, so £60 sounds a bargin to me, Rember if any shims need changeing you'll be charged extra labor and parts ontop

You can buy a balancing tool for about £30 and once you've done it once you'll refuse to ever pay anyone to do it agian! really is a very easy job

[gubbs]

Camchains are £19 + VAT
Head Gaskets are £12.75 + VAT

Tensioners, who knows? Never replaced one, never needed too.

A mechanic will charge you ££££'s or whatever he thinks he can get away with.

I remember the last time I asked a mechanic to fix my starter motor for me he invoiced £400.

That was more than the bike was worth.

After that I learned how to do it for myself, am still learning but stuff like valve clearences, balancing carbs, changing cam chains and head gaskets etc. is something you only need to watch someone do once to replicate merrily forever.

Invest the cash in tools ..

[masterofinsanity]

I remember the last time I asked a mechanic to fix my starter motor for me he invoiced £400.
.

you didn't pay it did you??

[gubbs]

I remember the last time I asked a mechanic to fix my starter motor for me he invoiced £400.
.

you didn't pay it did you??

Yup ..

It was a GPZ500S that wouldn't start.
He had to split the cases. All these years later, I still don't quite understand why it is neccessary to split the cases to access the starter motor. Or why he didn't suggest buying a replacement from a breakers yard for him to fit ..

That was TwistGrip Nottingham and I have always felt like they go out of their way to grab the ££'s. I know its a business, but that sort of thing is just low.

Avoid there now myself, only use it for the odd hard to find OEM bit I need from time to time.

Last time I called them up to ask for a replacement brake lever for my ZZR1100 ..

The guy quoted £38 + VAT



I think the moral of the story is this: Learn how to service your own bike or you will be priced out of riding before long. Motorcycles as transport are already 3-4 times more expensive than cars. Not doing everything yourself is financial suicide ..

Everyone is out to take your cash. Thats capitalism - knowledge is power.

[superman]

I agree with the tools thing i tell ya. im gona start to gather myself some tools now, me step dad used to say look after your tools an they will look after you lol. only now i understand what he means when you aint got the tool for the job

do you know the best places to get general tools from?

[masterofinsanity]

ebay of course can't go wrong with halfords tools or machinemart?local boot sales, you can pick up some cheap but old and solid tools there, also b&Q do some excellent socket sets.

[gubbs]

A budget of £250 would get you almost every tool you need to work on any motorcycle.

That would also include a toolbox and a quality 1/4" Norbar torque wrench.

I bought Machinemart's Chrome Vanadium socket/ratchet sets, the loose ones on the plastic racks not the pre-boxed sets. They are only about £15 a set loose, which is a lot cheaper than the boxes. A set of spanners, again CV, lifetime warranty etc is about £15 too. Get some.

You want:

1/4"
1/2"
3/8"

Sockets.

Then you will need to buy some extension bars from eBay, £2-3.
I would also grab a magnetic pickup tool as well while you are there.

I also always use the allen head socket sets (same 3 sizes as above) instead of keys. Much easier - a lot of people use electronic impact drivers for 8m and 13m allen heads instead. I'm too tight for that.

A quality Norbar torque wrench is going to set you back £75.
Don't buy cheap crap, its false economy.

A big ass Clarke one from Machinemart is worth getting just to do wheel nuts, frame bolts and stubborn stuff, but don't ever try and use it on anything else.

Depending on the job, you will also want a toad load of other stuff. I found the best way to build up my kit was just to wait until I didn't have the right tool for the specific task, stop, go and buy it, proceed.

Not very efficient, but certainly to the point.

Oh you will also want a £10 Micrometer and a £10 Multimeter from Maplins. I bought Machinemart's expensive feeler gagues, but I prefer precision to the £5.99 Halfords ones which are functional but offer little range beyond the basics.

[superman]

Ah cheers lads ill fly down some time soon i think an grab some ill start with a shiny tool box i think.I really wana strip my bike an clean it up properly. plus its handy to know these things. id love to do my own services thoe im good with plastics but not the engine.

[gubbs]

Ah cheers lads ill fly down some time soon i think an grab some ill start with a shiny tool box i think.I really wana strip my bike an clean it up properly. plus its handy to know these things. id love to do my own services thoe im good with plastics but not the engine.

Well you are only 50 miles from me, when I get mine sorted out this next week or so you should come over and I'll show you how ..

[superman]

cheers pal, might take you up on that offer

[wonderpupp]

I did it by buying one tool a week, and now have a really good set and barely noticed the amount I spent. If I spent £250 in one go, I'd be like "OK, so it's that or a shiny new lid..." And being a girrrl, I'd rather have the helmet.

So to speak..

I was quoted 8 hours labour to change head gasket on my 400

It took me that long to get the engine out of the bike, including the journey to buy a trolley jack... in 1-2 hour stints between woking and pizza delivering. (It's not a real job is it?)

[superman]

Well ill need afew tools as essentials then ill end up doin it like that i think one tool a week, only cos ill end up comin away from halfords with a special sonic plasma thing that costs 500 quid an is made from a cerial box with egg boxes stuck on the sides

as for the lid iv only had mine a short time so im still lovin the novelty sun glasses that come down at my command