It's 36,000 kays since I had the drive oil changed. I asked the guy who fitted the tyres to do it, and he charged $40. The oil only cost him about $1 and the rest is labour, but I don't begrudge him that, even though it works out around $120 per hour. He's got rent, a wife and kids, superannuation, mortgage, business rego etc etc.
What did bug me was when I opened the inspection plug, about 100 cc of oil poured out, which hit the concrete because I wasn't expecting it. Apart from the mess, it illustrates the problem with having other people tamper with your bike! After YoungSTer's blown engine seals due to a serious oil over-fill, I don't need oil anywhere the bike's creator says it shouldn't be. The rear drive has a breather, so shouldn't over-pressure, but that's not the point.
Anyway, I bought the necessaries from SupaCheap- $12.50 for enough 80 hypoid gear oil for at least five oil changes = another 180,000 kays. Also invested $4.99 in an Ozzie-made bendy oil filler because even if you took the muffler off, you'd still have to work out how to pour horizontally (or lay the bike on its left side and use a normal funnel).
Pull the drain plug and watch the evil-looking black stuff ooze out (best done after a warm-up ride).
Clean out the drain plug and check the magnetic centre for iron filings. Did my mechanic do that? If he did, he didn't mention it, and I would have in his position- "all clear of filings, Biggles, givus ya money".
Pour out the oil catcher and check the bottom.
Erk. Apart from the larger particles (circled) it's lined with minute particles, all of which form a grinding paste in your transmission, since there's no filter to catch them. Another reason for changing oil at least as often as Honda specifies.
I measured 155 cc of fresh oil as specified and found after pouring it in, it didn't come up to the filler level, which is the check point. So I added about 50 cc to reach it. I have no idea how the spanner-guy managed to get the extra 100 cc in. Maybe he did tilt the bike over 45
o because he didn't have a bendy funnel.
What to do with the old oil! In the bad old days we poured it along the fence line to kill the grass. Hard if you live on the fourth floor and have a concrete yard (neither of which I suffer). I keep my 5 litre oil containers and fill them with the old oil. When I have my car serviced, I take the containers and ask the helpful guys there to dump the bike oil into their bulk drums. It will then be recycled as shopping bags etc.
Time to put the pannier back on, and I remembered something Dale McLean showed me when I made a meal of putting them on at his workshop. The reason they can be obstreperous is the clever front mount needs to be lined up properly:
If you watch this drop in, the rest is easy.
Hopefully these tips encourage others to do the simple jobs.
1. You save a few dollars.
2. You learn a bit more about your bike.
3. You know the job was done properly.
4. You're more conscious of maintenance schedules and you'll keep better records.
