A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

Peak · Member

Maintenance on a big trip

TerryK · Super Guru

Scheduled oil changes are 10.000kms, I use a good quality oil & do oil & filter every 5000kms, bike has 17600kms & no issues.

So with light use / overland to should be able to do 10,000kms if you use a good quality oil, also take a spare air cleaner to swap over, plus some chain lube & a spare con link, spark plug as well just in case

Cheers Terry

TTRfan · Super Guru

Terry's advice is (as always!) good smile

Learning from the experience of other TTR overlanders, about the worst thing that can happen (to the TTR anyways) would be for a worn sprag to damage your starter and starter gears and, worse, possibly crack your generator cover - ask TTR Steve coz he has had to help with such catastrophes in the recent past

If you have any doubts, fit a new sprag before you go - a quick job and helps you get to know your TTR a little more intimately wink

Brian

dlee22 · Senior Member

We were doing oil changes really regularly, probably 3000km, that probably was overkill and we've started doing it every 5000km. Our logic was purely that Lois Pryce got to cape town doing that, and it served her well/its easy and cheap to change 1.1l of oil/ and 1.1ls really isnt much oil capicity so chamging it regularly could help in the long run. I could be going over the top mind.

I can vouch for the sprag clutch change!

Also by the way make sure you've got a few spare cables or at least a repair kit, im sure you've got that covered though

Have fun!

Kaos · Senior Member

Good advice on the cables. My only mechanical failure for the TTR was a clutch cable. Make sure everything else is serviced,bearings etc, HD tubes and you should be good. Valve clearances shouldn't move unless you ingest dust. Carry a spare aircleaner a few spare nuts n bolts wire duct tape and enjoy.

TTRfan · Super Guru

Regarding cables, a repair kit such as this takes up very little room and there is space to put in some spare nuts and bolts and a bit of "repair" wire. I also wrap several layers of duct tape around my tin to save carrying a whole (heavy) roll.

Some vinyl gloves to keep your hands clean is good as is a small tube or pot of Swarfega. The Swarfega doubles up as hand cleaner and tyre lube biggrin

Oh, and make sure that you start out with a good battery wink

Brian

PS If running HD tubes keep them at sufficient pressure that the tubes are tight in the tyre else they can move back and forth in the tyre and rip the valve out cry

Peak · Member

Some sound advice there! I have to admit I didn’t know about the sprag clutch issue. I wish I’d replaced that while the bike had its rebuild. Anyway I’ve just ordered the final bits to take back out to Bulgaria with me. In the past I’ve cable tied a spare clutch cable to the existing one, that way if it snaps it’s just a minutes job to get back moving. All the bearings were renewed during the rebuild as was the battery. I’m thinking an oil change around 5K KM’s should be fine.

ttr steve · Super Guru

Yep Sprag is a must, unless you know for sure it has been done recently, otherwise you could be looking at a £700 rebuild bill and not much fun if you are half way around an overland trip.

Love the photo by the way, where is the tower?

Cubber · Super Guru

The tower is Buzludzha in Bulgaria.

Martyn

Peak · Member

Is this a good representation of a knackard sprag?

youtu.be/8O_2m_lUx30

Yes the tower is Buzludzha in Bulgaria! A few years ago it was possible to gain entry but the roof is Collapsing and there’s now a policeman guarding the building. It’s a real shame there isn’t the money to look after it.

Cubber · Super Guru

As the majority of people posted in reply to that clip - that noise is usual. smile

Hear a worn out sprag and you know well what a goosed one sounds like - they sound gut wrenchingly bad. bleh

Mine never went bang and sounded like that example so don't worry unduly.

Martyn

Peak · Member

Thanks Martyn, that’s reassuring to know!