To those finniky souls who do your own servicing, do you get the shop to do the major ones and just do the in-between oil services and regular maintenance and if so, when the shop does a service and you always use a specific oil eg Mobil1, do you give them the oil to be replaced and they just charge for the labour?

I spose you need to find a workshop who will work with you and not just expect you to cop whatever they say as gospel as if you don't know anything.

Thanks unlucky.
Regarding the tensioning issue, if you pop in cam chain in the search box, there have been a couple of previous posts in the forum which might be helpful. Also on you tube, there are a few vids on the subject.

should be listed in that little owners handbook you get with the bike. Not a lot i think.

I do all my own servicing and have done since after the first service.  BUy the manuals if you don't know how to do stuff they are excellent value, Parts manual and Service manual.  Get them from M&M in the USA.  I have over 70 k on my 09 and it still goes strong.

As a maintenance fitter I do it all myself mate (bar the warrenty period).
Been servicing my own bikes for over 30 years now and I wouldn't have it any other way.
And I can tell you the stealers don't follow the book.
There out to maximise profits, not make love to your bike.

Yep same here, I'm a fitter too and do everything except for 1st service, get a manual and go for it!!

took my bike to the largest bike shop in town for it's 1st service, admitedly they weren't a HD dealer, we don't have one for roughly 250 or whatever k's,  but anyway ...

I had to supply them with my manual, they didn't do half the items listed for the service and they scratched my tank....

never again ...

Mate...I'm a N.A.M.A. Not a mechanics arsehole, & have always got the bike serviced, initially at teh stealers (which they f**** up big time...had to send P/U truck to collect & return to shop)...then locally by ex harley mechanic, who did a good job. I finally actually LOOKED at the service schedule in the book, and thought, "I can do this". So, I have just done the 32,000 service & saved myself about $250.00, and that included buying some tools that I didn't have. Give it a go...you will stop doubting once you have done it. (Like others, I found that the air cleaner appaered to have never been changed /cleaned....and I couldn't undo the clutch cover torx screws, as someone had rounded them out)..no wonder I thought the clutch felt dodgy after the last service...they couldn't get the clutch cover off so only adjusted the lever gap...not the internal adjustment. Will do all myself from now on. Good luck.

Seems like a hell of a lot of blokes who care about their rides DIY.
I've ordered my Oil Scavenger from the States so I can do a complete oil change, off to pick up a few tools and bits and pieces from the dealer, just have to find where to get some Mobil1 VTwin, get meself a Service manual, already got a bike lift for my birthday and I reckon I'm set.
Not sure about doing a brake fluid change but I think I'll give it a go.
Thanks for all the advice.

I do my own even through the warranty period, I'm a service fitter so can stamp the book for warranty no dramas, if I wasn't I would find a back yarder that would stamp for me and still do them myself, as some of the other have mentioned no one will love my bike as much as I do.

I do kinda trust my stealer, their advice has always been spot on and they are a good bunch but when the first run in service was done I checked a few things an wasn't happy, nothing that I could really complain about according to the manual but still not real good ... no grease in the stearing head, fitted a chrome oil filter on a black engine after removing a black one - didn't look real good and I know they had black ones in stock because they sold me one the same day(yes I am fussy but I have a right to be with a $33k bike), and they never checked any of the other fluids, I know it was only the 1600 run in service but you would think they would still give it a good check over.

I will trust them with major works and warranty as I have seen them doing some pretty good stuff .... just not the regular servicing ... and it is always cheaper to do my own.

So where does everyone buy everything needed to self service your bike? Plugs, leads, (oil, fuel and air) filters? Online or at the stealers? My stealer is an hour away

Plugs, service kits (seal kits) filters etc from the US in bulk. M&M.

I buy my oil filters from my local stealer usually a couple at a time, I have found they are usually within a buck or 2 of the cheapie crap on flea bay, you should be able to order them in from almost any auto shop K&N do good harley filters, use K&N's website to get the part numbers you need and then order from somewhere you trust, Oils I buy locally with the exception of Redline I usually buy online or order in through AutoBarn, all other stuff like leads, seals and other parts when needed I will buy online and more than likely from M&M or JCMotors.

PigironBob's bulk order would be the go if ya can do it that way.

Thanx for the info guys. God this forum is ace!!

all 3 synth oil's locally, oil filter from dealer, usually get 2 or 3 when in the big smoke, always keep some exhaust (flange) gaskets on hand as well, recharge kit for air filter is available locally.... thats about it

Whats M & M website?

M&M is a website for HD Parts from the US. When you want a part check the part number get a cost in Aust, check out M&M for the price difference. Shipping is a killer but the cost will be a lot cheaper than anywhere you can get it in Au.

Hey Balofski, noise in the primary is probably the chain slapping against the upper primary bolt holes on the inside. Needs adjusting. What year bike.?

Hey luckymick, if you find somewhere on the Sunny Coast that supplies the Mobil V twin oil, drop us a line please as I haven't found anyone yet.
Cheers,