Honda CRF450R 2009 Owner's Manual & Competition Handbook page 35

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.
GREASE
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.
GREASE
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 90.
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
Service Manual (page 156) for brake fluid replacement
instructions. Replace the brake 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. A small amount
of "coolant weeping" from the bleed hole is normal. If water
leaks through the bleed hole, the mechanical seal is
damaged. If oil leaks through the bleed hole, the oil seal is
damaged. See an official Honda Service 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 Service Manual
(page 156). 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 91).
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 Pro Honda
Hondalock or an equivalent and tighten to the specified
torque.
GREASE
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Servicing Your Honda