Triumphrat

06-26-2007, 12:47 PM

Hi guys - just signed up on this forum so looking forward to sharing info/stories with the Trumps.

I was looking for advice - I want to start learning a little more about my bike and basic repair/maintenance. Which is the best manual for this kind of stuff and where is the best place to order a manual for my bike (2005 Daytona 650)

Bike now has 14,000 miles on it - what services would you recommend I do and then again what areas should I just leave to the pros?

I thank you in advance for you help!!!

J.

rustbucket · 06-26-2007, 03:06 PM

Welcome!

The best manual to get is the Triumph factory one. They pop up from time to time, but the relative scarcity of the Dayto 650 might work against you there...

As so how much work you should do yourself, that's a question only you can answer. Even if you've never turned a wrench before, you can learn to oil the chain, keep the tire pressures right, chain tension right, and do a checkover to make sure nothing's wrong with the bike. You can also do basic maintenance like changing the oil.

If you got the manual with your bike, there's a section for dealers to stamp it when they did major services. I beleive the interval on the 650 is 6000 miles for services (someone correct me if I'm wrong), in which case the 12k service should recently have been performed. If you don't have any proof that it's been done, it's better to bring the bike in to a dealer to find out.

There are tons of howto's on motorcycle maintenance, and I highly reccomend a book called 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,' which you can get from amazon.

And of course, the most important thing is to have fun! If working on it is making you enjoy the bike less, let a mechanic deal with it so you can concentrate on riding. If you love tinkering, you'll be happy doing that, too.

06-26-2007, 03:47 PM

Thank you for your help! I am up to date on the easier items such as chaim cleaning and lubing / adjusting, tire pressure etc.

An oil change I have never done but I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do it. I also want to give a shot at changing the plugs and cleaning the air filter BUT I was told not to try a valve adjustment. Would you agree?

Thanks again!

themaster · 06-26-2007, 04:57 PM

Sorting out the mechanicals requires three things:

1. The balls
2. An ability and will to follow the instructions
3. The necessary tools

The first part is the hardest and if you're nervous about messing up, it's probably best to start with something simple that you're less like to mess up and won't create massive problems if you do.

Oil change is the easiest thing to get you started, because it's cheap, it's easy and easily sorted if you overfill (drain more out) or underfill (put more in) it, or have leaks (tighten stuff).

The procedure is simple and is pretty much the same for everything. Remove the dipstick, stick a container under the drain plug and remove said plug. Have a beer. Then remove the oil filter with a filter removal tool - oil will spill out so have rags handy. I don't know your bike, so you may or may not need to remove a fairing panel to get at the filter. Put some clean oil around the bit of the new filter to seal it, screw on new filter by hand. Replace the drain plug, put oil in to the max mark. Start the engine, then top up the oil again to the max mark. Run the engine to operating temperature and check for leaks BEFORE you ride off. Done.

Plugs and air filter are also relatively simple, but more involved as you need to remove the tank, disconnect fuel lines, and put things back in the right place.

Brake pads (at least the front ones) are a doddle too. I'm assuming the rears are the same, but haven't needed to replace them yet.

That's as far as I've got with maintenance myself.

Valves are more involved. I'm plucking up the courage to check them myself (more needs to be disassembled and I need to be more familiar with exactly how and where I check them). I'll bottle adjusting them this time, as the procedure sounds a bit scary.

My view of it is that, if you follow the instructions and have the tools, you should be OK. The rest is confidence, which you build up from doing smaller things.

06-26-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

On 2007-06-26 14:57, themaster wrote:
Sorting out the mechanicals requires three things:

1. The balls
2. An ability and will to follow the instructions
3. The necessary tools

The first part is the hardest and if you're nervous about messing up, it's probably best to start with something simple that you're less like to mess up and won't create massive problems if you do.

Oil change is the easiest thing to get you started, because it's cheap, it's easy and easily sorted if you overfill (drain more out) or underfill (put more in) it, or have leaks (tighten stuff).

The procedure is simple and is pretty much the same for everything. Remove the dipstick, stick a container under the drain plug and remove said plug. Have a beer. Then remove the oil filter with a filter removal tool - oil will spill out so have rags handy. I don't know your bike, so you may or may not need to remove a fairing panel to get at the filter. Put some clean oil around the bit of the new filter to seal it, screw on new filter by hand. Replace the drain plug, put oil in to the max mark. Start the engine, then top up the oil again to the max mark. Run the engine to operating temperature and check for leaks BEFORE you ride off. Done.

Plugs and air filter are also relatively simple, but more involved as you need to remove the tank, disconnect fuel lines, and put things back in the right place.

Brake pads (at least the front ones) are a doddle too. I'm assuming the rears are the same, but haven't needed to replace them yet.

That's as far as I've got with maintenance myself.

Valves are more involved. I'm plucking up the courage to check them myself (more needs to be disassembled and I need to be more familiar with exactly how and where I check them). I'll bottle adjusting them this time, as the procedure sounds a bit scary.

My view of it is that, if you follow the instructions and have the tools, you should be OK. The rest is confidence, which you build up from doing smaller things.

Brilliant - thanks for your thoughts! - Any thoughts on where to buy a "used" Daytona 650 service manual? Or is it a case of too rare just buy new?

Thanks again and good luck when you take on the valve adjustment - I think I'll just be leaving it to the pros.

Will · 06-26-2007, 05:53 PM

Ebay is probably your best bet to find a used manual, or maybe from somebody around here. But, it will probably be a while. If you really want one, it is probably best to bite the bullet and buy one from a dealer. You will save more than you spent the first time you work on your bike anyway.

themaster · 06-26-2007, 06:17 PM

Sorry for the double post. Also helps to have a vague understanding of what you're working on. "howstuffworks.com" has a great article on the workings of engines: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm

rustbucket · 06-27-2007, 01:10 AM

I love (mostly) doing my own work, and now have a bit of a phobia about other people working on my bike. When mine's in the shop, I tend to bribe my way in with coffee and bagels so I can keep an eye on things (this is not normal behavior and most shops don't consider it tolerable - my shop likes my because i happened to be nearby when they almost dropped a Rocket III that was coming back from a full custom airbrush job and helped avert an expensive disaster). :razz:

Definitely do your own oil change. When you get on to more complicated things, two things are invaluable: a good torque wrench and experience. One can be gotten with the proper application of money, the other only with bloody hands and cursing. Work on your own vehicles for a while, and you'll pick that up too.

edit: I love howstuffworks.com. One of my favorite articles is on the difference between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. I had been told, but never really got it until I saw the animations. Ah, the wonder of modern technology.

[ This message was edited by: rustbucket on 2007-06-26 23:12 ]

06-27-2007, 01:28 AM

Thanks again - I have actually just bought a paper service manual from ebay for $30. It's not the factory one but the seller had great reviews from other bike owners including Triumphs. Plus they offered a 105% refund if I am not happy so I thought why not even if I do lose the 30 bucks it's worth a shot at that price.

So this Friday I pick up all my plugs, oil and air filter cleaner and will be giving a bash! Will update you Sunday. (hopefully after a successful ride!)