Honda CRF450R 2011 Owner's Manual page 42

Suspension Linkage Lubrication
Disassemble, clean, inspect and lubricate all suspension linkage
pivot bearings with grease after each 7.5 hours of running time
in order to maintain proper suspension performance and
minimize component wear.
Swingarm Pivot Lubrication
Clean, inspect and lubricate the swingarm and suspension
linkage pivots with grease. Be sure all of the dust seals are in
good condition.
Swingarm
Do not attempt to weld or otherwise repair a damaged
swingarm. Welding will weaken the swingarm.
Footpegs
Worn footpeg teeth can be repaired by filing the grooves
between the teeth with a triangular shaped file.
Be aware that filing them too sharp will reduce boot sole
lifespan. Sharpen only the points of the teeth. Filing the
grooves deeper will weaken the footpegs. Be sure the
pegs are free to pivot freely and that the pivot pin
retaining cotter pins are in good condition.
Brake Fluid Replacement
Refer to Brake Pad Wear in your Owner's Manual, page 98.
Brake Caliper Inspection: Be sure both the front and rear
calipers are able to move freely on the caliper pin and caliper
bracket pins. Check pad thickness periodically and replace the
pads when minimum thickness is reached. If the brakes fade
when they are hot, inspect the pads for glazing or damage, and
replace if necessary.
Brake Fluid Replacement: Refer to an official Honda Shop
Manual for brake fluid replacement instructions. Replace the
fluid in the brake system every 2 years. Replace the fluid more
frequently if you subject your brakes to severe use.
Heavy braking heats the brake fluid and it may deteriorate
sooner than expected. Any type of riding, that requires frequent
use of the brakes, such as in tight woods, can shorten the
service life of brake fluid.
Bleed Hole
After every race, check the bleed hole below the water pump
cover for leakage. Clean away any clogged dirt or sand, if
necessary. Check for signs of seal leakage. If water leaks
through the bleed hole, replace the mechanical seal. If oil leaks
through the bleed hole, replace the oil seal. Make sure that
there is no continuous coolant leakage from the bleed hole
while operating the engine.
A small amount of coolant weeping from the bleed hole is
normal. If oil leaks through the bleed hole, the oil seal is
damaged. See an official Honda Shop Manual or consult your
Honda dealer for replacing the mechanical seal or oil seal.
Both seals should be replaced at the same time.
General Competition Maintenance
Steering Head Bearings
Periodically clean, inspect and regrease the steering head
bearings — especially if wet, muddy or extremely dusty
courses are encountered often.
Use urea based multi-purpose grease designed for high
temperature, high pressure performance (example:
EXCELITE EP2 manufactured by KYODO YUSHI, Japan or
Shell Stamina EP2 or equivalent)
Fork Oil/Performance
Disassemble, clean and inspect the fork and replace the oil
regularly. Contamination due to the tiny metal particles
produced from the normal action of the fork, as well as normal
oil breakdown, will deteriorate the performance of the
suspension. Refer to an official Honda Shop Manual.
Use only KHL15-11 (KYB) which contains special additives
to assure maximum performance of your CRF's front
suspension.
Frame
Because your CRF is a high-performance machine, the frame
should not be overlooked as part of your overall competition
maintenance program. Periodically inspect the frame closely
for possible cracking or other damage. It makes good racing
sense.
Spokes
Check spoke tension frequently between the first few rides.
As the spokes, spoke nuts and rim contact points seat-in, the
spokes may need to be retightened. Once past this initial
seating-in period, the spokes should hold their tension. Still,
be sure your race maintenance program includes checking
spoke tension and overall wheel condition on a regular basis
(page 99).
Nuts, Bolts, Etc
Application of a thread locking agent to essential fasteners
offers added assurance and security. Remove the nuts, clean
the threads of both the nuts and bolts, apply Honda Thread
Lock or an equivalent and tighten to the specified torque.
33
Servicing Your Honda