 K.I.S.S me: A screw too short can cause unhappiness (and a hole in the wallet). Most Xmax riders have heard tales, a common problem with the top side of the engine. A short M6 cap screw that holds the camshaft retainer plate. Some unlucky riders have had this screw dislodged as early as 12000+kms on the odometer. The retainer plate also holds the rocker arm shafts in place. When the screw comes loose, the rocker arm shafts can spin 360° hitting the decompression assembly located on the camshaft itself. When this happens, you will notice these symptoms, to name a few: ❌ Ticking noises (loose screw bouncing around) ❌ Bike being harder to start (damaged decomp assy) ❌ Engine stalling (screw gets stuck between timing chain and cylinder head) Replacing the camshaft (because the decomp assy is not sold separately) will set you back at least $300. Not to mention metal shavings being thrown around the engine causing damage to other parts as well. Solution: We offer replacing the screw with a longer part, torqued down to spec. The cylinder head has enough thread that allows for a longer screw to be used. This will cost you $100+ inclusive of labour and gaskets necessary as a preventive measure to a more hefty bill before other parts get damaged. Also we recommend replacing this screw if you have not done so, during your nearest valve clearance. Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it won't. Prevention is better than cure TLDR: In most cases, long screw good for holding things in place, short screw not so.
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Every ride should be safe, and a safe ride starts with proper checking. Do you remember the time when you were taking your license and you learnt certain pre-ride checks? Sadly not many of us honestly perform these checks anymore. A safe bike will ensure proper operation of your motorcycle and lower the chances of your bike breaking down in transit. There are plenty of checklists available on the Net nowadays but the most commonly used and the one we would recommend is the T-CLOCS (Short for Tires and Wheels, Controls, Lights and Electrical, Oil and Fluids, Chassis and Sidestand) put together by MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) in the US. The T-CLOCS checklist can be obtained in PDF format from the link below: https://www.msf-usa.org/do…/T-CLOCS_Inspection_Checklist.pdf  Apart from the important safety aspects of riding, there are many other different kinds of maintenance to be performed on a motorcycle. Modern bikes come with an Owner's Manual and your owner's manual will list out the recommended periodic maintenance and adjustments that you should perform for your bike. Early periodic maintenance may hurt the pocket a bit but it will offer a peace of mind when you expect the bike to run at it's best. Some of these procedures are model-specific as different bikes are designed differently. Materials used for construction may also vary from model to model, which contributes to the variance when performing certain periodic maintenance. A common example of this would be valve clearance for engines. Some manufacturers will recommend an interval of 20,000kms while some may stretch to 40,000 or even 60,000kms. If you didn't receive a manual with your bike, fret not! A simple google search will get you your owner's manual. Here's an example of a periodic maintenance table taken off the MT09 owner's manual.  Not sure of your service intervals and what periodic maintenance to perform for your bike? Come pay us a visit or drop us a text on whatsapp @ 93276125 for general enquiries or pricing. P.S We have cool stickers to give away (comes in gold, silver, red, blue and iridescent).  Does your bike billow smoke? Does your engine make strange sounds when starting, stopping, while it's accelerating or even when it's idle? Have people ever suggested that you need to get your bike’s engine overhauled? But what actually is an engine overhaul?! 🤷♂️ When a bike’s engine begins to sound ‘funny’ when idling, accelerating or as it turns off, you may want to get your bike looked at by a mechanic and he may suggest an engine overhaul. Sometimes the smallest symptom like smoke coming from the exhaust pipe or if your bike runs too hot, it could spell serious engine damage. It is hard to say without a check-up from a workshop, but you may need to take your engine apart, clean it up and replace any damaged engine parts or seals, and then put it back together like new. And, that is exactly what an engine overhaul is! Top overhaul / Partial rebuild There are a few ways or terms used to describe an engine overhaul. For example, some workshops term it a ‘top overhaul’ or partial rebuild. This happens when mechanics don’t have to take the whole engine out to rebuild and repair it or they don’t overhaul the whole engine, but just components of it such as replacing the pistons rings, cylinder liners or all pistons (if needed). A top overhaul will get your engine back in shape, and its performance will be as good as new! Major / Full engine overhaul More extensive rebuilding is considered a major or full engine overhaul, and this requires the whole engine to be removed from the chassis so it can be thoroughly taken apart. Every nut, bolt and removable part is cleaned and replaced with new, original factory engine parts. So, a complete engine overhaul is more expensive than a top overhaul/partial rebuild, for obvious reasons – the engine must be removed from the chassis, however, you vehicle’s engine will function like new or even better. This is why many people rebuild their vehicle’s engines every few years, especially for enthusiasts who care very much how well their ride sound, function and look. An engine rebuild can make your vehicle more dependable and run its best. Bear's Garage takes pride in rebuilding engines because we know how inconvenient it can get without a proper functioning vehicle for transport. All engines are rebuilt with original factory parts, unless otherwise stated or if it’s an engine upgrade. We offer quality engine overhaul packages at affordable pricing with minimum downtime, so you get to spend more time with your bike rather than with us. For booking or enquiries, Whatsapp or call us directly @ 93276125. For now, enjoy the pictures below of a recently rebuilt engine off a Spark 135, and our cats ✌️ |
AboutHakim has extensive experience in the auto repair industry, working in car and motorcycle workshops before opening up his very own, Bear's Garage. Contrary to his nickname, he's actually very friendly! ArchivesCategories |
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