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yes I know this might belong ion the tech section but it is about the falco, only the falco, and probably would be boring to any but the falco....

now that I have saved the mods xmas card money, I will begin :)

Next week end I am venturing down to oxfordshire for the aprilia meet, and have decided to do a quick mini service before I go

First off - quickest reliable ? web based source for an oil filter

Same question - spark plugs - any particular make people recommend? and why if it makes a difference!

Finally, anything I should know in advance about doing the oil change and plugs..... ie specialist tools beyond my birmingham screwdriver....

(I have done this type of things a lot in the past, just never on a falco....)

Mmmmm

Can't see why this is Falco only - surely Mille to '03 and Tuono to '05 would use the same?

..... but I may just let this one sneak through as you're more likely to get a reply from the Falconeers (given the great lack of those other models on the forum).
Might move it when you've got your replies, though.

I,ve done both items using just the the Falco tool kit, take about 1/2 hr each.
worth checking the plug caps whilst your there, had a prob with one of mine.
not difficult at all, used www.apriliayorkshire.co.uk for my filters. quick service.

Blows raspberries at the mods....

Yaaay!! Ya boo MODS...


Cant help tbh, apart from check your oil level carefully when replenning after draining.

sorry andy, but you are actually wrong....

my falco lump is based on the mille from 99.... in actual fact I think it is a mille lump!
(Next time we meet up have a close look at my top end plumbing so to speak - if that is not from a mille then i am a dutchman and call me hans...)

Aladinsaneuk wrote:sorry andy, but you are actually wrong....

my falco lump is based on the mille from 99.... in actual fact I think it is a mille lump!
(Next time we meet up have a close look at my top end plumbing so to speak - if that is not from a mille then i am a dutchman and call me hans...)

Have I entered a parallel world of different logic? (if Gio were posting this maybe I'd just think it was business as usual .....)

.... so if you've got a mille lump in there, why on earth does that make this thread Falco-specific!

The ony tip I would recommend is to get access to a good air line and blast the plug holes out BEFORE removing the plugs, especially the front cylinder, the plug recesses were / are full of crap which will fall straight into the top of your cylinder as soon as the plug is removed.

Also be careful with the magnetic plug as most are so tight the allen head rounds out very easily, there is a suprising amount of oil held in here so it does need to be removed. I use Hiflo HF152 filters and there are many for sale on ebay etc..

F9

D-Rider wrote:
Have I entered a parallel world of different logic? (if Gio were posting this maybe I'd just think it was business as usual .....)

.... so if you've got a mille lump in there, why on earth does that make this thread Falco-specific!

I bit my tongue.

mutters

the falco engine is a soft tuned mille lump, with very few other differences - BUT as the falco bodywork is different then there would be nothing for the mille owners to add.... that make sense?

According to the age of my falco it is one of the original ones, but it is different to what the official schematic shows - this came to light only when I fitted my power commander - the bits that the power commander website showed as being correct foe the early falcos bore absolutely no resemblence to what I actually have.... pausing only to clean my pipe refill it, quaff an ale and pick my nose for a bit, I went a searching - and found that the documentation for the 1999 mille actually matched what I have on the bike - so, there is a thought going through my mind that just maybe aprilia were short of some bits for a run of falco's and just, in standard italian fashion, used what ever else is to hand....

In all seriousness it was possibly a change an earlier owner has made - or just a glitch - who knows?? One thing is for sure though, I would love to know exactly what the engine / tuning differences between the mille and falco actually are....

What colour is your bike, Alad?


In fact yours is a Blue n Black one isnt it? Hmm wont be Trev's old one then.. what was the last name on the logbook?

Oh well.. that'll start the argument about the fastest coloured ones again.

To be honest I cant see how they can sell a Falco with a Mille engine in it.

Technically it would be a factory Hybrid and therefore your Insurance'd be invalid due to the fact it ISNT detuned.

There again, it is possible they used Mille parts but kept you limited on the old power front..

Hmm..

Interesting...

Had it on a Dyno yet?

Pete, to answer your original questions.......

I recently bought a filter from ebay. Seems fine but took a few days to arrive. May not be quick enough for you.
Oil change is easy. Don't forget there are 2 drain plugs AND the filter housing so that's 3 places oil will pour out of
Go easy on torque when refitting oil tank bolt.
Have heard that some folk find the other oil bolt very tight (It's hex key) so may need special care ( Impact driver and cutting paste?) - mine was fine tho'
Getting the right oil level afterwards is pure hit and miss IMHO.

Plugs - Agree with Falco 9 about air line. I just used standard plugs and they are fine for me. Front ones are a bit of a apain to get to.... need to remove airbox !! Go easy on the HT caps when removing them.

ENJOY

Thanks paul

and thanks kwacker... I just went to the fire box and pulled out the paperwork and the V5 says falco on it - good enough for me - and there for presumably for the insurance chaps. According to the paper work, that was how it was first registered. The engine number and fram number are not the same, though no idea if they should match or have a link at all?

mind you, it would be very nice to find out if some of those early ones were hybrids... and of course, if they were all black, it would be the definitive answer as to the fastest colour

Dyno run is coming soon..... will be interesting :)

Am I missing something here, I always thought the Falco and early Mille engines were physically identical anyway, later Milles were different.
The main difference was the compression, but valves, cams, pistons, bores etc. were the same. Main differences were plumbing after that, or perhaps I got it wrong.
As for engine and frame numbers, mines also a black 2001 and the V5 gives a frame number and just says engine number NOT KNOWN, (perhaps it was just too fast for the bloke with the stamp).

I don't honestly know Howard - I thought the same as you, but was never certain - all I have read just says a "soft tuned" mille, but no actual specifics

Interesting about the engine / frame numbers - definitly does seem that the black ones are too fast for normality

(I can just hear assorted brains kicking in to shape, and am preparing myself for the onslaught of rude comments like "The aprilia engineers were so ashamed of the lack of speed they would not put the right stamps on it etc")