27K Valve adjustment needed...

[twowheelnut]

Just incase you wanted some more cool scoop on GZ's bike, the mechanic stated that his engine looked "better than perfect" and "phenomenal".

Easy, EASY, there! Don't wanna eff up the bikes kharma, do you?

 

[bigdolma]

took the Feejer to YOC last Friday for the 28k valve job. Made an appointment so that they could have all the necessary parts handy for a quick fix.

ETA was last Tuesday, got a call today from them saying:

"the number 3 valves were a little off. So they adjusted it. They also replaced my front OEM shocks to the Wilbers, they claimed it was a little harder than initially thought."

After re-assembling the bike and testing, but they noticed a small fluid leak from a hose's o-ring. It was diagnosed to a cracked o-ring on the radiator hose of which they do not have in stock." So, o-ring needs to be re-ordered for their inventory, bike has to be there till next Tuesday.

Good guys at YOC, very friendly....just have to have patience and I did ask them to take their time to begin with. They did appreciate me taking most of the farkles off before taking it there.

More to come.

Armand

 

[Toecutter]

They did appreciate me taking most of the farkles off before taking it there.

What all did you remove before taking it in?

 

[bigdolma]

needed retorque the steering, so removed the GPS mounts, moved the wires out\ of the way for Sattelite radio, GPS, MP3...etc,.

Made sure I gave them the torque specs for the TOGs, if they need to remove them.

They did appreciate it. They did say some bikes show up with everything on them, including the actually gizmos..does not make sense to do so I thought.

Armand

 

[Toecutter]

They did say some bikes show up with everything on them, including the actually gizmos..does not make sense to do so I thought.

Fer sure. I'd just assume they'd charge accordingly for extra work, and I'd try to keep my bill low.

 

[Warchild]

"the number 3 valves were a little off. So they adjusted it.
After re-assembling the bike and testing, but they noticed a small fluid leak from a hose's o-ring. It was diagnosed to a cracked o-ring on the radiator hose of which they do not have in stock." So, o-ring needs to be re-ordered for their inventory, bike has to be there till next Tuesday.

Hmmmm.... which was it, a "little off", or was it out of spec? If it was out of spec or borderline out of spec, that's one thing, but.......

Re: the o-ring. The description sounds nice, but I believe it's not entirely accurate. Ideally, these o-rings should be replaced since you already have them out of the bike for this job. They are part of the consumables that should have been ordered as part of this procedure... in other words, "in stock".

No, what I really suspect happened is that they tried to use the original o-rings (which is fine as long as they are in good shape, which they should have been at only 27K miles), but when they re-installed the coolant pipes, they "rolled" one of the o-rings and got it all cut-up when they torqued the fasteners to spec. Cutting up a coolant pipe o-ring is actually quite a common occurrance during the FJR valve check exercise... it happens, even to good technicians. But if it was "cracked" beforehand as they claim, you would have been leaking shit all over the place, which you weren't, so.....

Still, it's no biggie.... other than it's a few more days down time. I'm sure they'll get you hooked up shortly.

Me, I'm happy cause I finished this valve clearance job myself just yesterday.... although it wasn't on my FJR, it was on the battle-hardened Blackbird:

I am a little overdue checking the Blackbird's valve train.... um, like, 73,000 miles overdue! :bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes: :bigeyes:

And, of course, wouldn't you know it, with this stupid crappy Honda junk engineering, I did indeed have one of the 16 valves that wasn't DEAD-NUTS perfect, right in the middle of the specification range, this after 73,000 high-speed miles. Yep, true story, dudes: the inboard exhaust valve of #3 cylinder was a whopping 0.007mm tighter than all the others, which were still at their factory settings.

Crappy POS Honda, I oughta sell it, don'tcha think? I mean, at this rate, I might actually have to adjust that one valve at the 100,000 mile mark... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[bigdolma]

But if it was "cracked" beforehand as they claim, you would have been leaking shit all over the place, which you weren't, so.....

They said that these rings if they are bad, they will change it. Mine were apparently ok until the re-torquing. But they only found out after the test.

I will get more details on the valve, once I have the ticket report in my hand next Tuesday. They were very thankful with the bike being in the shop a few more days, no big deal.

WC, bike ran fine for 28k miles, I am sure I would have went another 28k and still smooth. Did it for Y.E.S reasons in case it bites me in the behind and YAMA MAMA punishes for not doing my homework.

One thing they asked me, even though did the blow job @ 24k miles, they asked if it is ok to refill the same fluid. As long as it is a super clean bucket, and no one pee'd in it, I am good I said.

 

[turbodave_98]

Music to my ears the excellent comments about YOC. I have been dealing with Jay, Scott (co-owners)and Bill(Master mechanic) since early 1980s. They have given all my bikes lots of TLC. I never worry that the work has not been done as I have requested. The bikes they have maintained for me include 80 XS1100, 91 Radian 600, 96 Royal Star, 99 Venture, 05 KLR 650, ST 1100 and 05 FJR.

 

[bigdolma]

lol Turbo, he did mention about some crazy FJR rider with everything but the Space Shuttle boosters on his bike. I said you...I sure know him.

armand

 

[FJRmogul]

Armand,

I,m getting close to my check-up and this info is great. So what's the bottom line on the cost of this from YOC? Are we talking around $500 or is it gonna be more?

 

[bigdolma]

Hi Mogul, I will give more details once I pick up the bike on Tuesday or Wednesday. But on the estimate, they said about $500 or so for the valves and $125 for replacing the front shocks.

More to come...

armand

 

[Toecutter]

But on the estimate, they said about $500 or so for the valves and $125 for replacing the front shocks.

Are the front shocks on the maint. schedule, or was there some other issue, like you having them install some Wilburs for you? Sorry if I missed something.

 

[bigdolma]

Are the front shocks on the maint. schedule, or was there some other issue, like you having them install some Wilburs for you? Sorry if I missed something.

Hi Toecutter, the front springs were not part of the maintenance, had the Wilburs and needed the dealer to put them in for me. I even brought them the correct Viscosity oil as mentioned in the manual for the Wilburs.

wife asked me today if there was something worrying me. I said yes dear, can't sleep thinking the Feejer is in a cold, dark, room away from family.

She said take an electric blanket and go there..and in fact, take 2 blankets you'll need one too! unk:

 

[bigdolma]

well guys, called the dealer again today and so far, no bike. Aparently because of George Bush day monday, the parts will show tomorrow and bike will be ready Friday.

Will give more details on what parts have been replaced. The majority of the delay is not having parts in stock for the jobs.

more to come

armand

 

[kaitsdad]

Are the front shocks on the maint. schedule, or was there some other issue, like you having them install some Wilburs for you? Sorry if I missed something.

Hi Toecutter, the front springs were not part of the maintenance, had the Wilburs and needed the dealer to put them in for me. I even brought them the correct Viscosity oil as mentioned in the manual for the Wilburs.

wife asked me today if there was something worrying me. I said yes dear, can't sleep thinking the Feejer is in a cold, dark, room away from family.

She said take an electric blanket and go there..and in fact, take 2 blankets you'll need one too! unk:

Armand,

Do you want to borrow my couch? Our cat is friendly -



Sorry, Bro - it's tough it's taking so long.

 

[Toecutter]

wife asked me today if there was something worrying me. I said yes dear, can't sleep thinking the Feejer is in a cold, dark, room away from family.

I share your pain. Went to visit mine today at the bike hospital. It was between procedures, sitting out there without lower plastic, lookin' all broke down, with dried up raindrop marks all over it.

Do you want to borrow my couch? Our cat is friendly

How friendly? Is it also, well, never mind.

 

[bigdolma]

oh man oh man, Wednesday 22nd...13 days after dropping off FJR for the 27k valve adj, at YOC and yet no Feejer. No call from dealer today. Looked around on Ebay for any for sale... just in case they are pulling a fast one! :erm:

looking for 2 weeks now...

 

[SkooterG]

oh man oh man, Wednesday 22nd...13 days after dropping off FJR for the 27k valve adj, at YOC and yet no Feejer. No call from dealer today. Looked around on Ebay for any for sale... just in case they are pulling a fast one!  :erm:
looking for 2 weeks now...

Hope you don't have the misfortune I did.

Valve Job Gone Bad

Mine was in the shop for almost 4 weeks due to a backordered valve cover gasket. :angry:

 

[leebunyard]

I'm approaching the 26,000 mile point on my '04 FJR and plan to have my mc mechanic do the valve check for me, altho I'm virtually certain that it will still be within spec. I've been following the various FJR forums for nearly three years now and I can't recall a single case of any FJR owner reporting that their bike required any adjustment at the 26K valve check point.

I mention this because I recently ran into a guy at a Home Depot store in Placerville who had an '03 FJR with a little over 40,000 miles on it. I was telling him about my '04 FJR, how much I like it and that it was approaching the first valve check point. He said that, since he had never heard of a single FJR requiring any valve adjustment at the 26K point, he had skipped having it checked. He said he would "probably" do so at the 52,000 mile point (even though both of us agreed that we had only heard of a couple of FJR owners whose bikes required valve adjustment even at this interval). I asked him what would happen if he had a "ticking" problem or other internal engine problem develop (he has the extended Yamaha warranty) and the dealer found out that the valve adjustment check had not been done. He said he would just tell them he had done the valve adjustment check himself, that there was a Federal law that prohibits a vehicle manufacturer from voiding a warranty due to work not being performed by a dealer, even if the work is done by the owner. He said there is no way for the dealer to disprove that the work hadn't been done.

Anyone know if there is any validity to what this guy was saying?? I still plan to have my mechanic do the valve adjustment check, so that I have it documented, and I have other minor work I want my mechanic to do on the FJR anyway, but just curious what others think of this guy's comments.

Lee in the Mountains of Northern California B)

 

[Warchild]

Technically, he is more-or-less correct. The caveat is that if one does his own scheduled maintenance, you are supposed to keep receipts of all consumables used during the maintenance evolution.

So in the case of the valve clearance check, a manufacturer may wait to see the receipts for the antifeeze, coolant pipe o-rings, valve cover gaskets, ect as a means to prove the work was done.

If you are lucky and extremely careful when removing them, you can often re-use the o-rings, gasket, etc. So one might make an argument that there are no receipts for these items since they were re-used....

Concur that it is extremely unusual to have to actually adjust a valve at the 26.5K check.