My dealer is about 40 miles from where I live and I cant find the time to get my rocket in for its first service. I've got about 800 miles on it, so I have to get it done pretty quick. I've read the manual and have the checklist and feel pretty comfortable about doing everything myself. As long as I document everything well, will the warranty still hold up if there are any future problems?

I'd ask the dealer to be sure.

The problem you may have is having the right "parts" to do the job. First off is the oil, and it isn't cheap (around $59.96 where we are at), then you have the washers (3 total, two of one size and one of another) an o-ring (for the one washer) and the filter. If you have those you have got a good start. But the oil is important, when you picked up your Rocket it should have been filled with semi-synthetic oil (5 qts.). You have to drain all your oil out but there are three different drain plugs to undo to properly drain the beast. Then you have to ensure you have the Mobil 4T (again 5 qts) which is a fully synthetic oil, if you use something different you had better make sure that the "service department" at the dealer tells you that it is a suitable substitute ...there are less expensive alternatives for the oil but make sure you have the right stuff. . I'm not sure what kind of checklist you are using to do the 600 mile service, but the dealer has one provided by Triumph that is pretty thorough.

Now I imagine if you have a receipt that shows all the parts, fluids necessary to do the 600 mile service, then your service department will hopefully stamp your book.. They may not like that you did it yourself (after all they are going to make some money on the labor to do the service but it is also how they stay in business to be there for you if you have a problem...note: not all dealers have subscribed to this behaviour) , but again the receipt for those parts is the key. If you bought them from your dealer then you shouldn't have any problems.

Dennis

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Previous rides:
1966 Honda 305 Superhawk(used)
1968 Honda 305 Superhawk(used)
1981 Yamaha Heritage 400
1983 Yamaha Seca 650
1985 Yamaha Seca 900
1986 Yamaha Virago 1100
1984 Yamaha Venture Royale 1200(used)
2001 Kawasaki Vulacan Classic Nomad 1500
2003 Honda Gold Wing
2006 Honda Gold Wing/Nav
2007 Triumph Rocket III Classic

I normally change the oil because 500mi just comes too damn fast to schedule a real appointment.. Service manager said as long as I change the oils, the first service can be (within reason) well over 500mi mark..

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"There are no stupid questions, but there seem to be a lot of inquisitive idiots!" unknown
08 Rocket R3 Touring
06 Daytona 675 - NESBA #714
01 GL1800a Goldwing (Wife's)
MSF RiderCoach - SCRC Chapter 83 - AMA District 2 PolarBear Grand Tour

I've downloaded the Rocket Service Checklist...its pretty straight forward. I've got everything together and ready to go...read the manual and feel comfortable with it all. I can find a couple of hours in the evening to go through everything. Can finish up anything I dont get done the first night the next night. The big thing is getting the old oil out and the new synthetic in. Dont want all those metal shaving running through the engine any more than they have to. The only other "big" thing I've got to do that will take a little time is to tighten the throttle cables. I've pretty particular about a "pre-flight" check of everything, and almost everything else on the service list, I do pretty regularly any way.. at least once a week.
One thing, the bear claw has to come off to tighten the throttle cables, right? I havent even looked at that very close...is it very difficult to do?

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Working to Ride. Riding to Work

Has your service manage told you the first service has to be done by them?

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Working to Ride. Riding to Work

I just thought I would interject that my dealer did insist on doing the first scheduled maintenance interval to validate warranty. I do not know if it is dealer or mandated from Triumph.

Same here.. After doing first services on dozens of Rockets, my dealer said they've never found anything out of adjustment. He handed me an oil filter to take with me and said truthfully, you can check everything over as stated for the first service as easy as we can. The most important thing is changing the break-in oil at the 500 mile mark, or as close as you can afterward."

I bought my Rocket in Dallas, and immediately rode to Shreveport, rode around for the weekend, and rode from there to San Antonio. I too had about 800 miles on my Rocket at the first oil change. I have close to 35,000 miles on it now, and my Rocket has not seen a dealer since. I SHOULD get the valve shim clearances checked one of these days, but it's running really really good.

I don't think you have to do any service with the dealer. Just write down the work you do yourself, time/miles. You don' need to change the oil seals/washers with every oil change. Any warranty work has to be done by a Triumph dealer. imo Triumph stands behind their bikes!
rockenrobert
gotta see the world, it will only take a minute

No, but I always take it in for the first service..

__________________
"There are no stupid questions, but there seem to be a lot of inquisitive idiots!" unknown
08 Rocket R3 Touring
06 Daytona 675 - NESBA #714
01 GL1800a Goldwing (Wife's)
MSF RiderCoach - SCRC Chapter 83 - AMA District 2 PolarBear Grand Tour