March 2015

All Models
Springtime Riding Revival
With spring just around the corner, your shop will
hopefully be getting busy with customers who
want to get their machine ready for the spring/
summer riding season. While the customer may
have their own list of requested services, make
sure that you consult the Service Manual Maintenance Schedule when writing up the R.O. and
share the recommended service intervals with the
customer. You may find that some items in the
schedule may be well past due for maintenance or
replacement, such as engine coolant and brake
fluid. Here are some other springtime reclamation
points to consider.
• If the vehicle has been stored for more than two
months, drain and completely refill the fuel tank.
• If the vehicle has been stored for more than four
months, change the engine oil.
• If it has been more than two years or 12,000
miles since the last replacement, replace the
brake/clutch fluid and engine coolant.
• Check the tires for cracks or splits on the sidewalls. Normal "weather checking" shouldn't be a
concern, but if you see large cracks or splits, the
tires should be replaced.
• Check metal parts for possible oxidation and
remove it with Pro Honda Metal Polish.
• Check the final drive oil level and add Pro Honda
Shaft Drive Oil if needed.
• Check the coolant level and add Pro Honda
Coolant if needed.
• Check the battery’s condition and coat the terminals with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.
• Clean both sides of the brake discs with Pro
Honda Brake Cleaner or equivalent.

Off-Road
TRX, MUV, and SXS Models

Trapped Debris Can
Become a Fire Hazard
Vehicle Owner’s Manuals outline pre-ride inspections that should be carried out prior to each use,
including an instruction to remove trapped debris
from the vehicle. Customers often neglect to
remove potentially flammable debris from the
under-body area. Grass, leaves, muskeg, and other
debris can accumulate atop the skid plates, frame
rails, A-arm guards, and even inside exhaust shielding. The accumulation of this type of debris can
negatively affect vehicle performance and cause
a crash and/or create a fire hazard where someone can be seriously hurt or killed. Please remind
your service customers to follow this instruction
(as well as all others) before each ride.
As an added service to your customers, it is suggested you clean out any built up debris each
time you work on their machine. Make a note on
the R/O of this service for customer reference.
Sales staff must review the Pre-drive Inspection
checklist within the Is Your Vehicle Ready to
Drive section of the Owner’s Manual with all
new-unit customers, as required by the ATV and
SxS Salesperson Delivery Checklists.

Service Library
A well maintained Service Library is an indispensable resource for ensuring maximum Service
Department productivity.

The Wrench Binder and Year Tabs
To help to keep your printed editions of The
Wrench neatly organized, AHM offers a handsome binder and tabbed year dividers.

TABBED
DIVIDERS

sure adjustments, however the instructions are
devoid of information about how to use the twostage feature of the pump.
The air fork pump operates in two modes, high volume - low pressure and low volume - high pressure.

High volume - low pressure (0 - 80 psi)
When filling any fork chamber from zero, unlock
the collar as shown and fully extend the pump.
This will give the pump maximum volume output
to quickly fill the chamber, however it will be very
difficult to bring the chamber up to the specified
pressure.
EXTENDED PUMP:

COLLAR
Unlock.

Be sure to get the new 2015–2024 tabbed dividers for your binder. Each item is available separately from Helm Inc.
Description

Order Number

The Wrench Binder

S0576

Tabbed Dividers, 2005–2014

S2502

Tabbed Dividers, 2015–2024

S2503

Low volume - high pressure (80 - 300 psi)
When adding air to chambers that are above 80
psi already, collapse and lock the pump into the
short configuration; it will be much easier to
achieve the specified pressures in this mode.
SHORT CONFIGURATION:

These and other publications may be ordered
using Helm’s online bookstore at:

ADAPTER

www.helminc.com

The Tool Chest
2015 & Later CRF250R

Using the Air Fork Pump
In December 2014, AHM auto-shipped the Air
Fork Pump for the 2015 CRF250R to dealers.
Included with the pump were some instructions
on how to connect the pump and make air pres-

Use the Included Adapter
When adjusting the balance chamber air pressure
(the fitting on the lower fork leg) be sure to use the
included adapter as shown in the above photos.

THE WRENCH
©2015 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved. Published by: AHM Motorcycle Service Communications, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501.
All suggestions become the property of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Sending a suggestion gives American Honda permission to publish it without further
consideration. *The information in this article is for authorized Honda PWC or MUV dealers only (applicable only if a PWC or MUV article is included in the issue).
Editor: Robert Heilbron

E-mail The Wrench at [email protected]

MSN 15341 (1502)