[kentuckycat]

Who has taken their Z to the dealer for the first service? I was wondering exactly what was involved and the approximate cost. My dealer said it was close to $150 when I picked up the quad. Yikes! 8O

 

[thrshr]

tell you what the dealer is going to do. change the oil and filter. pull on the chain to see if it's poperly adjusted (if your lucky), and bend you over for 150 bucks w/o a kiss. you'd be better off doing it yourslef. if you don't have the skills, we'll guide you through it.

 

[bbertram]

Unless your standing over your dealership's shoulder they will not do much more than change the oil and filter. It seems like every dealership does this, doesn't what brand or anything. Could be your truck, tractor, lawn mower, its the way things are nowadays. To bad.

We'll walk you through it if you need help, also your manual tells you how to do it. Its really easy. Oh and the filter is very cheap, don't be paying any more than $10 for it. I got mine for $7.95 (canadian) that would be around $5 (american) for each filter. Oil is a touchy matter. I like to use non synthetic 4 stroke oil. Synthetics make the clutch slip, thats what I hear anyways. Automotive oils also make the clutch slip and do not have the additaves for the clutch. I bought Honda 4 stroke oil, it works great and it was cheap too. I bet if you let your dealership change your oil they would use normal automotive oil. Some people think thats OK but I just don't want to chance it for a few lousey dollars.

 

[Zuki]

All depends on your dealership. Mine is a good friend of mine's buddy. They charged me $110, changed the fluids and filter, cleaned my air filter AND airbox completely, adjusted the chain, checked the valves, checked and cleaned the spark plug, AND filled my tank (not that gas is such a big deal, but it's a nice added touch)

 

[z400ACDC]

Save your $. Our local shop head mech. is a good friend of mine. He told me that the DRZ and Z 400 engines never need the valves adjusted. All they do is change oil clean air filter.

 

[kentuckycat]

Well, just as I thought...I was just wondering if they did anything spectacular like adjusting the valves or something like that. Guess not... I have heard that the DRZ's hardly ever needed valve adjustments. I'm very capable of and have no problem doing all this maintenance myself. I've already bought oil (Valvoline 10W-40 Motorcycle) and a filter, I've already cleaned and oiled my air filter twice, and I've already cleaned and lubed the chain twice. I guess it would just be a waste of money. (I'd rather use the 100+ bucks on some more goodies!) Thanks everyone for all the responses!

 

[Balzak]

I only paid $60.00 for my first service at my dealer and they did like you said only they tightened my chain, changed the oil and filter, lubed everything, cleaned and oiled the filter, and generally looked it over to see if anything was wrong. $150 sounds steep to me. I figured that if I didn't take it in for its first service then I might not have much of a leg to stand on if something were to go wrong in the future and I need to have something fixed on the extended warranty.

 

[kentuckycat]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe I'll talk to them and try to get the price lowered. If I tell them I've done everything myself, maybe they'll just give it the once-over and charge me less...

 

[Zero Z400]

I don't know where u guys r getting a new filter from but i doubt they will change it, they may not even clean and oil it, i think someone should do a experiment, like take a pic a before it goes in then check it out when they r done. They'll look at the chain, maybe adjust, change oil and put a new filter oil filter in. If there r people here who havn't taken it in for its 20hour service u better do it soon, they'll void ur warranty if u don't. The only way is to have a certified mechanic sign a paper.


Later

 

[Balzak]

I am pretty sure that they put a new one on for me because that was included in the first service. I found a really good suzuki dealer and they seem to care about the service that they do. I believe you can see the marks on the screws where they took the cover off to change it. You might want to check with your local dealer to see if that is included.

 

[marty]

The warranty must be a bit different here in Australia, when i picked up my Z400 the dealer said that i could do the services without voiding it he even wrote it on the paperwork because i was not to sure about it.He did advise me to bring it back in about six months and they would do a free check up and adjustment of the tappets. I have done the first service on it, it was no trouble, the biggest drama was refilling it with oil, but i just got a clear hose and a funnel and fed it through the air vent in the front fender and into the oil tank no spillage works great.He also told me to use a normal 4stroke oil for the first 2-3 services then to change to a synthetic oil as that is what they are doing with the DRZ400 race bikes that they sponsor they reckon that it is better for the motor and tranny.

 

[VooDuu Child]

I took both of ours in, I wanted no issues when it came to warrantees. They adjusted and oiled the chain, checked nuts and bolts, adjusted e brake which needed adjusting (they figured it out on their own) checked my valves, and would've changed the oil, but I'd already done that. I know for a fact that they checked valves too cause there were just tell tale signs of it. Our clutches were whacked out of adjustment too, but that's an easy fix. It was just nice to know I wouldn't have issues with warrantee, although if I'd known that it wouldn't have voided my warrantee, well, I might have done it myself. I paid $125 american per bike.

 

[StumpZ]

Huh?

I find it hard to believe that your warranty would be voided if you did the service yourself. Just document everything and keep your receipts. There is a service schedule in the manual. Plus, to my knowledge there is no mention in the warranty that says anything about the dealer performing the first service. I'll tell you one thing, there is no way I'm paying $125.00 for a chain lube and a nut tightening! No offense, just my thoughts.

 

[newZman]

$65 here, oil and filter change. Checked and adjusted the chain, checked the brakes, all nuts and bolts - just a general once over. Oh yeah, checked the axle - no bends.

 

[thrshr]

15 bucks here. filter and 3qts of oil. of course, i didn't use all 3 qts.

 

[Slipknot]

I was told that it would void my warranty if I do it myself also. I'm not sure of the price, but I'm going to a local shop that is privately owned. They do better work, at a lower price.

 

[WRX]

Do you have to have the valves checked after 20 hours, or should I be ok without checking them?? I just don't want to damage it.

 

[Zdogg]

I just took mine in for the 1st service and it was a good thing that I already got suckered intothe service plan because I almost hit the floor when I heard how much it would have been without it. It was a $26 charge for all the parts. They replaced the plug, changed the oil and filter, cleaned the air filter, clean and lube the chain, check valves and checked for loose bolts. With all that the labor cost was $294. I couldn't belive that. I feel sorry for any body that goes there that didn't have the service plan.

 

[z400ACDC]

The valves did not need to be adjusted,and the rest can be done by anyone at home. The Z motors does not need the valves adjusted that often. My friend that is the head wrench at the local dealership said he has never had to adjust the valves on a stock DRZ motor. PLEASE guys, SAVE YOUR MONEY|

 

[thrshr]

z400acdc is right. with the cam's set up, it is very unlikely for it to go out of adjustment. as far as replacing the plugs, spark plugs lasts alot longer than 10 hours. this is not a 2 smoke motor.