4Strokes.com Technical: Non-Model Specific Tips

4Strokes.com - Dirt Bikes, ATVs & Dual Sport Motorcycles

Non-Model Specific Subcategories: Technical Info | Tips | Links

Air-box Sealing - Seal off the small openings and seams at the rear fender, sub-frame and air-box junctions with Silicone to prevent mud and water from entering. By 4Strokes.com

Brake/Clutch Perch Mod - Never snap a lever again! Remove perch and wrap handlebar with 2 to 3 wraps of Teflon tape (white pipe thread tape). Then remount perch and tighten but not too tight. You should be able to adjust the lever angle with just your hand. This is very useful if you're prone to dumping your bike since the lever and perch just spin around the bar instead of snapping off.

Cable Oiler - Lewis recommends getting a hold of a doctors syringe (used for injections). Fill with very light oil (sewing machine type). Disconnect lever and cable. Squeeze the syringe to oil the cable, continue until the lever feels free. By Lewis Griffiths

Carburetor Screws - Replace the screws for the float bowl with button-head allen cap screws. It's easier to get a allen wrench under the carb and less likely to round out the head of the screw. By a guest

Fix Fatigue Lines in Plastic - You can use a heat gun to fix the fatigue lines you get in plastic when it has been folded or bent over. Just run a heat gun over the fatigue lines and they will disappear. By Dirt Rider Magazine

Fork Oil Level - Forks are sensitive to oil level height. A 2mm change in either direction can be felt. Increase the level to make the forks more resistant to bottoming and decrease the level to cushion the ride more. By 4Strokes.com

How to Add Fork Oil - Take the weight off the forks, remove fork caps, add oil as needed, and reinstall caps. Don't forget to bleed the air out of the forks when the bike is back on the ground. If further adjustment is necessary, use heavier or lighter oil. By 4Strokes.com

Frame Protection - When installing frame guards place a piece of Rhino Guard or Fox Clear Force Field (thick clear plastic decal) to the area underneath the guard to prevent scraping. You can also use Rhino Guard for other areas that require protection. By MotoLappa

Grease Swingarm, Linkage Pivots & Headset - Grease the swing-arm, linkage pivot points, and the headset bearings on a regular basis. Use any good high- temp wheel bearing grease and make it a routine service. By 4Strokes.com

Grip Glue Alternative - Mike uses golf club grip tape and solvent and says it works great! The grip tape gets slimy when wet with solvent and after it dries you have to cut the grip off to replace it. By Mike Walley

Grip Removal - Insert a small diameter long blade screwdriver between the grip and bar. Then insert the tube from a can of WD40 in along with the of the screwdriver. A squirt of WD40 and a little twist of the screwdriver and the grip will easily twist off the bar. By William Faulk

Grip Replacement - When replacing grips, I use an opened coat hanger between the grip and bar to loosen the old glue. A hook on the inserted wire end draws the grip off when pulled. Hair spray allows the new grips to slide right on while keeping them in place when it dries. By James Meehan

Headset Bearing Free-Play - To check headset bearing free-play, apply the front brake and rock the bike back and forth with your finger against the frame and the edge of the top headset seal or bearing race. If the headset is loose you will feel it with your finger. By 4Strokes.com

Leaky Fork Seals - If your fork seals haven't been leaking for a while you might want to try and sliding a playing card or the like up under the seal. Sometimes it may dislodge a particle that is keeping the seal from sealing. By 4Strokes.com

Mileage Tracker - I use tie-wraps on the bars between the clamps, keeping with a size and color scheme, I alternate red and black, narrow and wide. By Kricho

Rear Wheel Adjusters - Always run the rear wheel adjuster as far forward as possible. In this position the chassis gives better traction, is more precise in corners and lifts the front wheel more easily when necessary. By 4Strokes.com

Speedometer/Odometer/Computer - You can install a simple mountain bike computer on your dirt bike with little effort and have an accurate speedometer for less than $40. It also keeps track of total mileage and time. By Glenn Ulrich

Spokes - Keep an eye on your spokes, especially the rear. Buy a spoke or spoke torque wrench. If you constantly have problems braking spokes, look into swapping them out for aftermarket or larger bike spokes. By 4Strokes.com

Non-Model Specific Subcategories: Technical Info | Tips | Links

Got Tech Tips? Send us your four-stroke related technical tips and we'll publish them to 4Strokes.com!