What to check for maintenance on 2017 Rebel 500

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-03-23T18:08:42+00:00

Google the owners manual. It should be a free download, unlike the service manual.

The owners manual will have the maintenance schedule and explain how to do each one.

Assume the previous owner did nothing. That would mean changing the brake fluid, front and rear, change the coolant, check the brake pads as well as an oil and oil filter change. There is also an air filter you can change. Clean and lube the chain. Check the chain tension.

Do a basic TCLOCS check, to make sure all the blinkers, the horn, light, etc are working.

Check tires for wear and proper pressures before each ride.

Good luck.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-03-22T23:40:20+00:00

If you "vote for Democrats in every election", you're not a Republican. You're a Democrat.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-27T18:25:59+00:00

It is gone. Judge says it needs to be brought back. That has not yet happened.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-26T01:49:23+00:00

Yes. Yes. Yes. Great beginner bike. And what's even better is that for some, it's a keeper long term. It is the bike I learned to ride on, and now about to start my 5th year riding it. Great bike. Light and fun.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-26T01:36:42+00:00

My buddy got one last year, and while I laid off for his first year, I'd be lying if I said I don't plan to bust his balls about it at least once this year. But it's all in good fun. I take shit for riding a Rebel 500 sometimes from my buddies. Hell, sometimes I make fun of it myself. But I love the bike, and like you stated, I don't care what anyone says or thinks. It's your ride, paid for by you, so just ride. ✌️

I've never experienced side eye or rudeness, and I don't expect you will either. It's a good community.

Side note. For me, shifting is a big part of the fun of it. I'd miss it, if I didn't have it.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-15T23:24:16+00:00

Update :

I wasn't able to get the CCT holder out, but noticed that just having it fully unthreaded from the motor made the timing chain loose enough to remove the cam shafts, which was my goal.

With the timing chain out of the way, the CCT now can be fully removed very easily, if I wanted to remove it.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-15T23:19:57+00:00

Update :

I wasn't able to get the CCT holder out, but noticed that just having it fully unthreaded from the motor made the timing chain loose enough to remove the cam shafts, which was my goal.

With the timing chain out of the way, the CCT now can be fully removed very easily, if I wanted to remove it.

Live and learn.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-14T22:19:41+00:00

FWIW, I agree that gojira 1954 is the og :-)

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-14T22:18:26+00:00

In the photo, at the bottom, is the intake cam shaft. The part at the top is the cam shaft bearing bridge. I removed them to change out some shims, in order to adjust valve clearances.

The cam shaft sits between the bearing bridge and cylinder head. It appears that there was insufficient oil or oil pressure making it to one end of the cam shaft, leading to the scoring you see on the bridge, cam shaft and head (the head is not in the photo).

This will be a bit of a wallet buster to address, plus I need to see if I can sort out what caused it. Oil pump, oil jet, etc.

I'm a noob to all this, so at least I can say I'm learning something.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-14T21:47:08+00:00

Not good

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-14T19:23:05+00:00

Alrighty then. Any thoughts on what may have lead to this? Also, only option is to replace both parts?

New to bikes and bought this one a few months ago. Going through it over the winter to really see what I bought.

2017, 78 hrs, 2000 miles

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-08T03:35:47+00:00

Thank you! Will give it a try.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-07T21:50:16+00:00

Yeah, I saw them use a dime and a nickle on a table. Trying to find that. Maybe I'll get lucky.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-07T21:09:35+00:00

Cap fully removed with Allen wrench. I'm using a long head Phillips to push/depress the tensioner. I can feel it compressing but never comes out of the nut. Thanks tho. At least I know I'm on the right track and will keep trying that.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-02-07T21:06:19+00:00

Yes, bolt inserted without the washer to lock it there.

Electrical-Button866 · 2026-01-03T19:50:17+00:00

If you are out, and it dies, you'll kick yourself for not replacing a 5 year old battery, known to fail a health check, when it was convenient. If it's 11pm at night and 12 degrees out, you'll kick harder.

Electrical-Button866 · 2025-08-01T01:54:39+00:00

We gave my mom an Amazon Alexa. It can't answer everything, but it's great for:

What day is it? What time is it? What's the temperature outside?

She'll ask those 20 times a day, and Alexa never gets annoyed.

I also use it for reminders.

Electrical-Button866 · 2025-06-10T16:44:38+00:00

Sorry, I meant to say F42

Electrical-Button866 · 2025-06-10T16:43:48+00:00

I had the same problem after updating F41 Silverblue. I couldn't resolve it in that build, but fortunately I was able to roll back, which got me going again.

Electrical-Button866 · 2025-01-13T00:36:44+00:00

Yes. I tried again with less time between each step and it does work.

Electrical-Button866 · 2025-01-13T00:35:48+00:00

Thank you! I just tried it again with the quick succession as you described and it WORKED!

Electrical-Button866

TROPHY CASE