05 in for "tick" diagnostics

[Ric in Sac]

I had Roseville Yamaha listen to my "ticker" this Saturday. Yep, it is making strange loud ticking noises but a little "different" than the sounds heard on the 3 previous tickers in the past. The dealer called the regional rep for tick repair approval today. It was denied without further diagnostics. So, I dropped my FJR off at the dealer this afternoon so they can take the stethoscope to it tomorrow and perform other diagnostics. The impression I have is that the Yamaha rep seems shocked an 05 would actually tick. A repair to an 03 or an 04 is almost automatic - but not an 05.

Maybe it is because the 05's are only 1.5 years old and are just now acquiring the mileage to develop the tick?

Anyway, after the dealer completes the diagnostics an appointment for the regional rep to look at it will probably need to be made. Hmmmm . . . it feels like I have been bumped off the fast track onto a dead-end railroad spur to nowhere.

It looks like my Triumph T-bird is my primary bike again. I just have to get it back from my daughter which is no easy task!

MM2 - Any word about yours?

 

[twowheelnut]

MM2, too?! Holy maximum suckage, doods! Keep the pressure on Ric - squeaky wheel and all. Good luck!

 

[velvet fog]

My 05 ticked at about 7k miles, less than a year old :angry2: sunnyside fixed it in September 05 and I got it back in October.

Sounds like the rep is full of sh!t.

 

[FJRMGM]

how many miles on the '05?

Mine started ticking at around 12k miles and by the time I showed it to the dealer at 15.5k it was bad. By the time they repaired it at 18.6k it was much worse.

At 26.8k it is still running well and quiet.. Good luck with yours - oh, an BTW, my dealer had never heard of the tick either.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Wow it now sounds as if the 05's are about to be the new time bomb. Too bad. My 03 is fixed and I am willing to bet the parts are not going to fix it permanently. Thats why the 06 have different parts. Maybe they won't tick but they whistle.

 

[Ric in Sac]

The dealer reports that he checked it with a stethoscope and it appears to be leaky exhaust gaskets. Anyway, the gaskets will be replaced tomorrow and we will see if the bike becomes quiet again. Stay tuned.

 

[FJRMGM]

a leakey exhaust gasket does NOT sound like the metallic clack of a true ticker.

Good luck.

 

[Warchild]

The dealer reports that he checked it with a stethoscope and it appears to be leaky exhaust gaskets. Anyway, the gaskets will be replaced tomorrow and we will see if the bike becomes quiet again. Stay tuned.

Now, you know this isn't going to do anything.... :angry:

Many an "experienced" technician initially believe the Tick is an exhaust leak... watch them backpeddle after they replace your gaskets and determine it had zero affect on yout ticking cylinder head....

 

[donaldb]

The dealer reports that he checked it with a stethoscope and it appears to be leaky exhaust gaskets. Anyway, the gaskets will be replaced tomorrow and we will see if the bike becomes quiet again. Stay tuned.

Now, you know this isn't going to do anything.... :angry:

Many an "experienced" technician initially believe the Tick is an exhaust leak... watch them backpeddle after they replace your gaskets and determine it had zero affect on yout ticking cylinder head....

I'd love to be a fly on that wall!

 

[ionbeam]

it appears to be leaky exhaust gaskets. Anyway, the gaskets will be replaced tomorrow

Exhaust gaskets where the headers connect to the cylinder head? Doesn't the latest dealer diags for ticking ask for them to remove da headers and look for oil? Is there a possibility they could look for oil while there? I mean without having to charge first for removing the headers to replace the gaskets then charging again to remove the headers to look for oil? :glare: :blink: Just a thought.

 

[Ric in Sac]

WC - You are right on - as usual. The latest report today is that it is NOT the exhaust gaskets. The dealer asked to keep it another day because they now suspect the catalytic converter. It must be bearing noise in the rotary exhaust. :lol:

The dealer is concerned that he is unable to find an exhaust with cat to replace it.

I am supposed to call him tomorrow a.m. for further details. My impression is he is going to button the FJR back up tomorrow pending arrival of a new exhaust with cat. Then I have to take it back when it arrives for installation.

Would they be able to hear the "tick" if they took off the exhaust and ran it open briefly?

Why am I worried that I might be riding a Triumph to WFO? If I do can I park it in front?

Seriously: Does anyone know if the cat can simply be removed from the exhaust system (for diagnostic purposes of course)?

 

[skyway]

WC - You are right on - as usual. The latest report today is that it is NOT the exhaust gaskets. The dealer asked to keep it another day because they now suspect the catalytic converter. It must be bearing noise in the rotary exhaust. :lol:
The dealer is concerned that he is unable to find an exhaust with cat to replace it.

I am supposed to call him tomorrow a.m. for further details. My impression is he is going to button the FJR back up tomorrow pending arrival of a new exhaust with cat. Then I have to take it back when it arrives for installation.

Would they be able to hear the "tick" if they took off the exhaust and ran it open briefly?

Why am I worried that I might be riding a Triumph to WFO? If I do can I park it in front?

Seriously: Does anyone know if the cat can simply be removed from the exhaust system (for diagnostic purposes of course)?

Rick,

The cat cannot easliy be removed from the header, it is welded inside. Look on the bright side, let them keep throwing new parts at it, at their expense of course.

 

[Ric in Sac]

OKAY - Here is the latest. The dealer does not want to put on a new $700.00 exhaust system on a "hunch". In other words, he is not confident this is the problem after all. Now he wants to check the valve lash. Translation: He is completely lost.

Just to fill in a few gaps. He has listened with a stethoscope and does not hear any ticking from the cylinder head. This is why he believes the problem to be something else. Also my "ticking" is not the sharp crisp ticking he has heard on the three previous FJR's he has repaired.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

I am going to visit first thing tomorrow morning and give them Ionbeam's excellent suggestion. Thanks Bud!

:help:

 

[HIGHLANDER]

OKAY - Here is the latest. The dealer does not want to put on a new $700.00 exhaust system on a "hunch". In other words, he is not confident this is the problem after all. Now he wants to check the valve lash. Translation: He is completely lost.
Just to fill in a few gaps. He has listened with a stethoscope and does not hear any ticking from the cylinder head. This is why he believes the problem to be something else. Also my "ticking" is not the sharp crisp ticking he has heard on the three previous FJR's he has repaired.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

I am going to visit first thing tomorrow morning and give them Ionbeam's excellent suggestion. Thanks Bud!

:help:

If they have fixed three already, you'd think they'd be up to date on pulling the pipes and checking the valves as Ionbeam stated. That check is Yammies standard approach now when tickers are diagnosed.

So does it tick at idle, or at the 3000+ rpm that most all are famous for?

Does the ticking come from the left side ( valve guides ) or right side ( cam tensioner )?

Bummer Rick

 

[Ric in Sac]

I visited the dealer this am. Zac, their excellent service manager is a step ahead of me. At 0830 I stopped by to talk about it and hand him Ionbeam's suggestion. Zac got up at 0500 to work on my bike. I think he has been losing sleep trying to sort it out. He decided to dig further for evidence to rule in or to rule out valve guide problems. He needs ammunition to convince the Yamaha rep. for further repair authorization. Anyway, just as I walked into the service bay he was inspecting the valve guides with a mirror. He noted that the #3 cylinder guide showed evidence of problems. He was considering putting the bike back together to see if the "tick" occurred in sync with the No. 3 fuel injector. More discussions with the Yamaha rep. are planned for Monday. I owe Zac a case of primo beer.

I find it interesting because, if my memory serves me correctly, most tickers were having problems with cylinders 1 and 2.

For those that have asked, I have 24,000 miles on my FJR.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

My # 4 cylinder was the worst for carbon build up. More than twice as much as the nest heavy buildup in #3. 1&2 had the least amount.

 

[madmike2]

Why am I worried that I might be riding a Triumph to WFO? If I do can I park it in front?

Ticky Ricky (Is that your new "handle"?), since yew is registered fer WFO, yew gets tuh park yer bike inside wif thuh reel Super Sport Tourers.

Sorry to hear the saga that refuses to die. If nothing else, have them do the valve adjustment, make any notations they can on the workorder and ride it. From the sounds of it, I'd trust Zac, but Yamaha may not be willing to budge at this point.

 

[FJRMGM]

there is a valve guide clearance tool my dealer ordered to verify it actually was the guide. This was after they measured all the valve clearances and they were within specs.

Good luck.

 

[Ric in Sac]

No new information from the dealer today. Hopefully I will hear something tomorrow. If not, I will call for an update.