Engine knock

kulwen · Oct 18, 2008

I rode my bike all last week and had no problems with the FJR. Last Friday it was a cold and snowy day, and I loved the rides. I made a couple 40+ mile rides during the day. Saturday and Sunday I made a few 5 miles rides each day. Monday I head out to work and when I tried to start the bike I got a single click when hitting the starter button. This sucks, but since my battery is over 3 years old and has 37K on it I figured the low teen temperatures was too much for it. So, I drove the truck to work and ordered a new Westco battery.

Tuesday I decided to try to start the bike after work since it was higher temps and it started up. I let it run for 5 minutes and turned it off.

Friday (today), my battery was not here yet, but I decided to drive it to teach a BRC anyway. I went to start the bike up and it cranks, almost starts and dies. I try again and get the same results. I decide to mount it and straighten it up off the side stand, same results. Okay, let’s try this again while rolling on the throttle, I get it started, but it is running rough, it is loud and I can fell it in the hand grips. I am now worried.

I turn it off and dismount. Think about it for a minute then start it again, same results. I bend down to listen to it notice my coolant is lower then a week ago. It is not empty, but an inch below the low line. I also notice what appears to be dried coolant on the engine cover. The coolant must have somehow over flowed while in motion since in moves from front to back. There is no fluids of any kind on the ground under or by the bike. I top it off (maybe a cup added) and take the truck to go teach.

I am home now and start it off and give it a good listen. There is a knock, as I roll the throttle it knocks more. The knock will increase as I rev the engine.

Thoughts?

I do have the YES and may need to pull the PCIII and get it taken in.

johnny80s · Oct 18, 2008

I think I would definitely take it in. Good luck.

El Toro · Oct 18, 2008

John T said:
I do have the YES and may need to pull the PCIII and get it taken in.

It will be easier to figure out what's wrong if you leave the bike in the condition in which you've found it broken. SkooterG has beaten me up while insisting that the PCIII is a good idea and that Yamaha can't weasel out of their warranty obligation just because you have one. I disagree.... but I defer to the man with the 160,000+ miles in the FJR bus driver's seat.

I wish you the best as you get it sorted out. But modifying it back to stock and then asking them to figure out what's wrong and what caused the problem so that it can be fixed makes it pretty hard on the technician.

madmike2 · Oct 18, 2008

If you start the FJR and it doesn't cycle through the "clod start" cycle, the computer holds the information that the engine is not warmed up and it is "over rich". I needs to be started as if it is "flooded".

1.) Charge the battery.

2.) Throttle: WFO

3.) Turn on the ignition and push the start button.

I will eventually sputter, bark, snort and run rough as he!!, but it WILL start.

It has been discussed time and again and many of us have suffered through it.

kulwen · Oct 18, 2008

madmike2 said:
If you start the FJR and it doesn't cycle through the "clod start" cycle, the computer holds the information that the engine is not warmed up and it is "over rich". I needs to be started as if it is "flooded".
1.) Charge the battery.

2.) Throttle: WFO

3.) Turn on the ignition and push the start button.

I will eventually sputter, bark, snort and run rough as he!!, but it WILL start.

It has been discussed time and again and many of us have suffered through it.