The Midas people, for example, tout their something like 20 - point inspection - battery, all fluids, tires, brakes, etc. - with an oil change. They don't. I know. My sister-in-law went to them for brakes (Ripped her off for over $160 for a simple straightforward, single axle, job, no wheel cylinders, etc.). Said fluid levels were fine. A week later the tranny quit pushing. Low fluid. I filled it, no more trouble. The quality Midas people. As for the other stuff you mention, I do that also when I do the oil and also the transmission oil, including the five or so quarts in the torque converter that don't get changed with a simple removal of the pan and installation of a new filter. There is a local shop that does excellent rebuilds of transmissions that drills the torque converter and welds it back shut, so when I do a torque converter, I bring it to them for the welding. I used to drill and tap at the weld, and use an allen plug until I talked with them. It is still feasible if one uses loctite, but why risk it, when they only charge me $10 to weld the hole. No one does what they claim they do most of the time unless you are watching. Read the invariably bad reviews about mechanics. I have also worked with some so I know. I got my butt chewed out for following the factory recommendations to adjust the valves on Rabbits and doing the job properly. Of all the ones I did the 500 mile check on, at least seven of ten needed at least one, and up to four, valves adjusted. I purchased a 535 BMW from a poor sap for only $600, because the shop he brought it to did not change the timing belt only a year before (back when they used a belt instead of a chain), and charged him for not only a new belt, but a head job. New valves, etc, like Honda, because it's an interference head. $1500 for a job they didn't do. There was NO WAY that rotten belt I took outhad been replaced, not to mention that all the gaskets that should have been replaced were all OLD. I work on my own; there are one or two shops I recommend to persons I won't work for and will use if I don't care to tackle the job myself. If you figure three quarts of oil @$7.50 and about $5.00 for a quality filter are not cheaper, or five quarts for a car for the best, can't beat a $20.00 oil change, then go for it. But they're using cheap oil and a cheap filter. And,the oil is usually in a bulk tank. And,they pay some dude off the street to change oil that doesn't even know where most of the filters are, let alone use a new crush washer when replacing the drain plug if the old one is flat... I do my own. Stanley
________________________________ From: Dale <[email protected]> To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, April 10, 2010 12:21:24 PM Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Oil Filter and Fuel Reserve I don't know that the actual oil change is cheaper...especially not when the case of oil is as much as some places charge, but definitely the cost avoidance (if you know what you're doing) is huge. On my cars, an oil change is also air filter, grease fittings, suspension, general condition, hoses, belts and inspection of anything I have ever found to look at in the manual (battery, fuses, brakes, clutch etc...)...find a $20 oil change that will do that and then give you honest feedback about what really needs to be changed... On Apr 10, 9:00 pm, stanley/ Randolph <[email protected]> wrote: > Myself, man. Even the tires. I have done tires on large bikes with hand > tools and had no problems getting them off or on but I have had regular tire > spoons to use and a large screw driver to start the spoons off. > When I get too old to do it myself I will have my son do it. When I get too > old to ride it will be because I am dead. > Then my sons can take over the bikes, unless their mom wants them first. She > loves to ride also. > > Stanley > > ________________________________ > From: Icarus <[email protected]> > To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected]> > Sent: Sat, April 10, 2010 11:16:26 AM > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Oil Filter and Fuel Reserve > > The only thing "other hands" will ever touch on my bike might be the > tires. And that's only if I can't get the old ones off the rims > myself. And I won't let them take the wheels off my bike or put them > back on either. > > I have a 1990 truck with 318K (I've had it for the last 130K) my Dad > bought new (I was 4 and I remember riding with him when he test drove > it). I have a lot of love for that old thing and I have learned not to > trust the auto service industry. > For the last 6 or 7 years I have been trying to "convert" my > parents... not much luck so far... (but my brother has caught on... > yay!) > > On Apr 9, 10:39 am, Nighthawk Nathan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Okay, so this is 2 concerns it one post. > > > 1. Does an 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650 have a replaceable oil filter? I > > think the answer is no, but any additional info about how or if the > > oil is filtered would be great. I read that the 700 Nighthawks have > > replaceable oil filters and am wondering about the 650's. > > > 2. I was reading a prior post about fuel reserves and a question came > > to mind. > > > After a fill up if I kept turned my bike to RESERVE instead of ON > > would I be able to burn all the gas in the tank 3.5 gallons or just > > the .5 of that 3.5 that is in the RESERVE tank? > > > I have an idea of the right answer, but am sure someone else knows for > > sure. > > > Thank you, > > > Nighthawk Nathan > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group > athttp://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
