Valve Check on 2013 FJR with 24k miles

Mark Anthony · Oct 15, 2024

Does anyone have an opinion of the necessity to do this valve check at 25k miles as in the manual for a 2013 FJR model A. Love the bike just wonder if this is necessary. Seems like the engine is a dream. Thank you for your stories and comments.

RossKean · Oct 15, 2024

I would, although I wouldn't panic about getting it done right on the mark. Most do not require adjustment at the first designated mileage. Many (most) don't at the second interval or longer. Nice to know where you stand and a check isn't that difficult to DIY. A little more complicated if changes are needed...
You might want to read through some of the following.
https://www.fjrforum.com/threads/valve-checks-vs-adjustment-required-poll.111697/

Ignacio · Oct 15, 2024

Mark Anthony said:
Does anyone have an opinion of the necessity to do this valve check at 25k miles as in the manual for a 2013 FJR model A. Love the bike just wonder if this is necessary. Seems like the engine is a dream. Thank you for your stories and comments.

The engineers at Yamaha believe it's important. Are you willing to accept the risk and not do it?

It's been my experience that engines run like dreams...until they don't. The risk is once in a while a minority of FJR exhaust valves are slightly tight, you catch it at the first check interval, adjust, and then never have to adjust again. The issue is there's no way of telling whether you've got one of the magical FJRs that never need a valve adjustment or the minority that do. And if one is tight, it stays tight, and eventually you burn a valve...and then it's no longer a dream.

I'd personally have the first check done like I did on my '05. It was in spec, I checked again at 75K and in spec, and now with 160K and haven't checked since.

kdclaiborne · Oct 16, 2024

Ignacio said:
The engineers at Yamaha believe it's important. Are you willing to accept the risk and not do it?

It's been my experience that engines run like dreams...until they don't. The risk is once in a while a minority of FJR exhaust valves are slightly tight, you catch it at the first check interval, adjust, and then never have to adjust again. The issue is there's no way of telling whether you've got one of the magical FJRs that never need a valve adjustment or the minority that do. And if one is tight, it stays tight, and eventually you burn a valve...and then it's no longer a dream.

I'd personally have the first check done like I did on my '05. It was in spec, I checked again at 75K and in spec, and now with 160K and haven't checked since.

Good logic

KarlBeavers · Oct 16, 2024

Do the first check, it will be a lot of peace of mind on that engine that I would assume you’d like to keep around for a little while.

if it looks good, leave it. put it back together with a new valve cover gasket, coolant O rings, and timing cover gasket. if they’re tight, set them all to ~70% of the max acceptable clearance, and check it 50k later. this bike is bulletproof. *with proper maintenance* skipping a valve adjustment on any engine, particularly a motorcycle is a sure-fire way to shorten its life expectancy.

I did a valve check in august at 108k miles on my ‘14 still in spec, i however adjusted the intakes to the maximum I could, and will likely have no need to ever do a valve adjustment again in the next 3 years

RossKean · Oct 16, 2024

KarlBeavers said:
Do the first check, it will be a lot of peace of mind on that engine that I would assume you’d like to keep around for a little while.

if it looks good, leave it. put it back together with a new valve cover gasket, coolant O rings, and timing cover gasket. if they’re tight, set them all to ~70% of the max acceptable clearance, and check it 50k later. this bike is bulletproof. *with proper maintenance* skipping a valve adjustment on any engine, particularly a motorcycle is a sure-fire way to shorten its life expectancy.

I did a valve check in august at 108k miles on my ‘14 still in spec, i however adjusted the intakes to the maximum I could, and will likely have no need to ever do a valve adjustment again in the next 3 years

I agree, for the most part...
I have never had to replace the valve cover gasket - reused one as many as five times without any leaks. Clean, degrease the valve cover gasket channel and gasket, a SMALL amount of sensor-safe RTV in the channel and stick the gasket to the cover. Let it cure and install as normal. The timing cover doesn't really have to come off unless you are adjusting valves and you have about a 50% chance of being able to reuse it. I bought one for my first valve check 12 years and more than 350,000 km ago and it is still in the package (two different Gen II).
I always change the coolant when I do a valve check since it has to be drained anyway. Agree 100% on the coolant O-rings - they WILL leak if you reuse them. I usually change the sparkplugs as well at the same time if they look worn.
Post valve check is the only time I do a throttle body synchronization. It is rarely off by very much.

There is an excellent thread on the use of an Excel spreadsheet to record and calculate your valve clearance check. Especially useful if you need to make adjustments. The original link to the spreadsheet is broken but someone uploaded to their Dropbox and provided a link in Post #38 in the thread (still valid as of today). There are separate tabs that can be used for metric or imperial measure.

https://www.fjrforum.com/threads/an-excel-valve-clearance-spreadsheet.136915/