Ladies and Gentlemen,

My Tenere is coming up to the 2 year service interval and I'm going to do it myself. Looking at the maintenance schedule 2 items listed have thrown up some questions. The first relates to the rear suspension linkages, which according to the handbook want lubricating with lithium soap based grease. Is Castrol LM or Shell Retinax A grease suitable for this? And do you have to dismantle the suspension to lubricate it properly, the repair manual doesn't offer any guidance really. The second point concerns the brake master cylinders. The manual says to replace the internal components. I've never heard of doing this ever, let alone every two years - what do you think, if you've had a dealer do the 2 year service for you have they replaced these?

Any guidance greatly appreciated.

I've replied to the other post re grease, but here's quite a good video on how to do it. I know it's a Honda, but it's all the same principal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44D11uF_5w0

Happy spannering!

Thanks Pleiades, that's a useful youtube link.

As for the internal seals on the brakes, I think that's a bit much. I never changed my fluid as the brakes are fine at the moment. However, I've only put it off a while as I'll probably change to braided lines at some point. I think four years(?) is recommended life span on the rubber hoses, my bikes nearly three years young.

I read that about the brake cylinder in the service book just after buying mine new. Apart from the 600 mile service I won't be entertaining dealers ever. As for the need to replace the brake internals, why would they need it was my view, I certainly wont be doing it unless I have a master cylinder issue which would mean I would do it straight away in any case.

I can't work out why they have picked on this as a service replacement item, unless its a revenu generation for the dealer network. I wonder how many service kits to do this are bought by the dealers? Why don't they have us rip the engine apart and change all the oil seals whilst its having the brake seals replaced (tongue in cheek).

Al.

Just a thought, but when do you want to find out your brakes are not fine ?

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, it absorbs water/moisture, then as the brake fluid heats up it (water) turns to a gas and becomes compressable - then you have no brakes... It depends how well you ride as to how dangerous this is.



It's a safety item, I'd rather spend a few quid replacing something that 'might' go wrong, than waiting till it does (which is usually under load/stress, therefore just at the time you need it most?). I guess Yamaha are just protecting themselves from the lawyers, the MTBF is probably something like 4 or 5 years average use.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

When I say the brakes are fine, I've checked and maintained them as one should and they work as well as they did from day one. I realise brake fluid is hydroscopic, but two years is a little too soon for me and things often go wrong when you mess about with things unenecessarily; moisture/dirt contamination, turn a seal inside out when bleeding, strip a thread etc.

That's very true, if it ain't broke etc - fully agree with that ethos. I suppose that's why it takes 3 or 4 years to qualify.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

It's just the three/four year change, with hoses has always worked for me, except obviously the BSA which has a cable operated sls drum up front! I'm not hard on brakes either I guess because I was brought up on bikes with sh1t brakes (and handling too for that matter)!