ENGINE Repair Decision

[ionbeam]

...Which brings me around to the question of whether a valve check at 26k miles would have revealed a carbon buildup type of problem.

Maybe if the mechanic was able to recognize that an increasing exhaust valve clearance (on an FJR1300) was likely due to carbon. But how many shop techs know that? How many would have just reshimmed it and not advised de-carbonizing? How many guys that do their own valve checks would know what to do in that circumstance?

So, would you suggest that roughly 1k miles before taking your FJR in for a valve check that we should run Ring-Free or equivalent through 3-4 tanks first?

 

[Fred W]

...Which brings me around to the question of whether a valve check at 26k miles would have revealed a carbon buildup type of problem.

Maybe if the mechanic was able to recognize that an increasing exhaust valve clearance (on an FJR1300) was likely due to carbon. But how many shop techs know that? How many would have just reshimmed it and not advised de-carbonizing? How many guys that do their own valve checks would know what to do in that circumstance?

So, would you suggest that roughly 1k miles before taking your FJR in for a valve check that we should run Ring-Free or equivalent through 3-4 tanks first?

I think you just did...

 

[exskibum]

...Which brings me around to the question of whether a valve check at 26k miles would have revealed a carbon buildup type of problem.

Maybe if the mechanic was able to recognize that an increasing exhaust valve clearance (on an FJR1300) was likely due to carbon. But how many shop techs know that? How many would have just reshimmed it and not advised de-carbonizing? How many guys that do their own valve checks would know what to do in that circumstance?

So, would you suggest that roughly 1k miles before taking your FJR in for a valve check that we should run Ring-Free or equivalent through 3-4 tanks first?

I think you just did...

At ~49,000 miles, I'm a few thousand away from my first valve clearance inspection (that is -- after the ticker fix that was performed instead at the first scheduled valve clearance inspection interval). Guess I'll first stop by to schedule that check with Zac and get some ring free to do as you gentlemen suggest.

 

[Bounce]

Just to be clear, I don't think any comments are picking on Mike. I think everyone feels his pain. Instead, I think everyone doing the commenting is talking through ways for everyone (ourselves included) to learn from this and avoid the personal experience (or a repeat of it).

 

[FJRBluesman]

Mike - If you have not already done so prior, please have them put in a new CCT (~$80), just to humor me and make sure it won't let loose some day on you.

 

[exskibum]

Mike - If you have not already done so prior, please have them put in a new CCT (~$80), just to humor me and make sure it won't let loose some day on you.

Pretty sure Zac will be all over that potential problem, Simon, but good that you're reminding Mike. When they fixed my ticker, I asked Zac to check the CCT while they were in there, and he made sure that I was running a new CCT and cam chain (under the last few days of my YES warranty) before it was buttoned up.

 

[Khunajawdge]

It IS "soooo...kewel" that everybody on this Forum has the "free(?)" ability to speculate, No? :huh:

Best to you Mike, no matter what you decide. :clapping:

 

[SkooterG]

Bummer. Just came across this.

I'll keep my mouth shut for the most part. Most advice has been excellent, and you have decided on your path.

I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV. Nor am I a Yamaha engineer. I get my valves checked on a regular basis. I have just recently started extending my interval to 30-32k miles based on the 8 or 9 checks I have had performed on my FJR already. That's my choice.

I have seen and heard of many skipping or greatly extending various maintenance FJR maintenance intervals (me included) on this forum. I think a lot of these folks are nuts. I would not want to buy a used bike from a lot of peeps on this forum based on what they have posted.

Not to say any of this means squat in Mike's case.

I will say I think there is an issue with the FJR's #1 cylinder. In Gen Is, that is usually where the problem came if it was a ticker. In my own old 226,000 mile FJR, the last valve check that was done showed a leakdown test loss in the #1 cylinder. Based on the air coming out of the exhaust valves, my knowledgeable tech suspected a wallowed seat for one or both of the exhaust valves in the #1 cylinder. Most likely to to worn valve guides. Or in other words, a ticker that took 200,000 miles to manifest. (It didn't tick - it was quiet) Still, I had no oil consumption or loss of mpg. Power? Maybe a slight loss of power but with 220,000 miles on the clock I would expect a bit of a drop off anyways. BTW, compression in all four cylinders was within spec.

So, my total SWAG is that the FJR, perhaps only Gen Is, has a 'gets too hot' issue with the #1 cylinder.

Best of luck Mike. Though it may be a bit spendy, I am sure she will be better than new when you get her back. If they are not going to do it already, I MOST DEFINITELY would have them install the newer, updated Gen II valve guide seals in your head.

 

[Fred W]

So, my total SWAG is that the FJR, perhaps only Gen Is, has a 'gets too hot' issue with the #1 cylinder.

Quite possibly true that the #1 runs hotter for some reason. But it only seems to be a problem with the stock valve guides.

You got over 200k miles on the stock guides. I don't think they owed you anything.

Still waiting (impatiently?) for the Dx / Rx.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Still waiting (impatiently?) for the Dx / Rx.

You and me both, brother. I'm kind of leaning on the "no news is good news" theory right now. If they found disastrous damage when they opened it up, I'm thinking they'd have called by the weekend. I expect a call either way, though, and I'll pass it along when I get it. Meanwhile, I'm just sitting here, chewing on my knuckles. At least it's supposed to rain all the rest of the week. Prolly wouldn't do much riding anyway.