When Did You Last Service Your Hand Levers?

[Bounce]

https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/levers/levers.html

It's easy to do and maybe that's why it's also easy to overlook.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I do mine probably once a year. I thought I was pretty good about it. I guess I need to do it more. FWIW, I'm not a big fan of lithium grease. It washes away, and when I was younger, I was told the stuff is generally crap. So, I use moly grease on my levers, and haven't had a problem yet.

 

[bluesdog]

+1 on the moly lube. I use it exclusively rather than lithium

Oh, and I service/lube everything when storing the feej at the end of each riding season, and once more somewhere in the middle. I typically put 10,000Km each year, so I think that's about right

 

[Afast03nNJ]

Did mine last fall, they were really dry.

 

[RossKean]

At least once per season. More, if the clutch pull starts to feel a bit notchy.

 

[Bounce]

+1 on the moly lube.

+2. I personally use it often. On the hand levers I use Mobile 1 full synth grease. Why? Because I have a tub on hand that needs using up. I use Honda Moly 60 Paste exclusively on the drive and driven splines of the final drive because it's much more highly stressed than the hand lever pivots.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Twice a year, before and then after the winter PNWet / sandy season. Like Bounce, I use red Mobil 1 grease on the levers...

YMMV

--G

 

[Bustanut joker]

Same here George.

 

[Bungie]

Do your shifter pivot and rear brake pedal pivot at the same time. The loobing shifter pivot can make a HUGE difference in shift quality (DAMHIK).

 

[Bounce]

Alternate lube suggestions have been incorporated. Thanks. In an attempt to focus on the service intervals I rigidly stuck to their LS recommendation, too.

 

[wfooshee]

What is this "season" you guys speak of, and why does it end????

 

[majicmaker]

My side stand pivot is always the first to get gummed up and sloooow. When that happens I lube them all. That's about 3 times a year.

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

My bike is almost 9yrs old & its never been done & it works just fine & shifts/brakes smoothly and nothing sticks at all. Ya'll must ride through mud/snow/ice all the time.

That being said I think I'll grease all these pivot points this week.

I think the Yamaha "suggested" maintenance schedule has a safety factor of x10 built into it. lol

 

[ionbeam]

My bike is almost 9yrs old & its never been done & it works just fine & shifts/brakes smoothly and nothing sticks at all...That being said I think I'll grease all these pivot points this week....

The brass bushing in the clutch lever system will gall and wear without your realizing it until one day it starts to hang up. Usually one of two things lets me know my brake pedal is sticking - my cruise control won't set or someone that was following me says, "Say, did you know your brake light is stuck on?"

At almost every FJR event I have attended there will be several bikes with sticking brake pedals that the rider didn't know about and headlights far enough out of adjustment that it looks like one headlight is either dim or out.

While I don't ride in salt, snow or ice I do ride on dirt, mud and in rain. All of my pivot points need regular maintenance.

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

My bike is almost 9yrs old & its never been done & it works just fine & shifts/brakes smoothly and nothing sticks at all...That being said I think I'll grease all these pivot points this week....

At almost every FJR event I have attended there will be several bikes with sticking brake pedals that the rider didn't know about and headlights far enough out of adjustment that it looks like one headlight is either dim or out.

I hear ya! I'm gonna grease mine tonight. Maybe it will shift even smoother than before. Preventative maintenance is NEVER a bad thing!

 

[redtail]

https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/levers/levers.html
It's easy to do and maybe that's why it's also easy to overlook.

Did mine last night. Fairly clean... but really dry.

Thank You sir. Great post!

 

[bgross]

What is this "season" you guys speak of, and why does it end????

I was trying SO hard not to say that.

Back to the OP's question: I perform the PMS when I flush the fluids. Since Lucille just moved to the coast last January, she's due next month - right at the start of riding season!

 

[Fred W]

Servicing your hand lever...

Is that some kind of a euphemism for an act of self gratification?

 

[mcatrophy]

Servicing your hand lever...Is that some kind of a euphemism for an act of self gratification?

Oh, dear. Here we go ...