Is it really that long since I updated the blog?

It's getting into summer here, so rather than write about motorcycling, I've been doing it.

The bike is going well, but sometime soon I'm going to have to fit new fork seals - I'll have pictures and words for this here, afterwards.

Two weeks ago, I went on a motorcycle safety course. It was informative, and a lot of fun. I'd like to thank the organisation who ran it, Ride Right Otago, for their efforts.

If you get a chance to do a similar course, take it. It may save your life.

A good weekend for riding

The small city I live in is surrounded by hills, with many good winding roads through them. On Sunday, I rode south, past the village where I spent most of my youth, and then over Saddle Hill to Fairfield, and back to Dunedin.

On Monday (I work Tuesday to Saturday) I went north, up the harbour to Port Chalmers, and then inland on a back road towards Waitati, then along the old north highway (long ago bypassed by a motorway) to town. A very enjoyable ride.

The workshop. I have lined the end of the garage with cheap wallboard, and painted it white. As you can see, there is still a lot of organising to do.





The new toy - a mini lathe. Now I have to teach myself to use it.

Now that winter's out of the way

There will be more motorcycle riding. I've spent the last few weekends setting up a workshop in my garage, and installing a new toy. Pictures to come.....

Maintain your own Spada

There are two main requirements for maintaining your own bike:

1 Information. I have linked in a previous post to a site which has the Spada service manual for download. This is not like a Haynes or Clymer manual, but it has diagrams of the subsystems of the bike, disassembly/assembly sequences, and notes of special tools, sealants and lubricants required. The Honda Common Service Manual is also useful. It is available as a free download, but I can't remember where mine came from. There doesn't appear to be an independently published manual available.

A Google search will provide some information - I found a Japanese site with overhaul pictures and story.
http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://ameblo.jp/spada53/theme-10004394464.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=10&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvt250%2Bspada%26start%3D330%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN


2 Tools. Metric sockets, ring and open ended spanners are required. A good torque wrench is very useful. The spada has many bolts with hex recesses, so hex keyed sockets will be needed; good screwdrivers, and an impact driver.

Spada workshop manual

Here: http://vt.tar.hu/manual_en.htm

Engine oil and filter change

You can see here the oil drain plug, and the filter carrier. Remove the drain plug (17mm) to drain the old oil into your tray.

Then remove the 12mm bolt securing the filter carrier. More oil will drain.

Pull the filter off the bolt. Underneath the filter are a washer, and a spring. Remove the large o ring in the filter carrier, and replace with a new one. Honda part number 91315-MA6-003.

You should also replace the o ring on the bolt - but I didn't. Perhaps next time.

Fit a new filter. The Honda part number is 1524-413-000. I used a Hiflo filter., number 111.

Replace the drain plug, and the filter carrier. Torque them down.

Torque the drain plug to 27 foot-pounds, and the filter carrier to 13 foot-pounds.

Refill the sump with 2 litres of oil (less if the filter isn't changed). I used a non-synthetic 20W50 oil.