I apologize for another "ticking" thread

[ruhltodd]

Hey everyone,

Brand new FJR owner here. I picked up an '04 FJR from a local dealer near me. I currently ride a Harley Street Glide and thought it would be fun to actually go fast and corner again

Anyways, what brings me here is I noticed during a ride yesterday that I'm hearing a noticable "ticking" sound around 2800-3200 RPMs. My initial thought was that something might be loose and causing the ticking noise (again being a Harley rider, you get accustomed to "ticks" being the norm). But when I did some research, I found that this might be caused by an exhaust valve guide... or something worse?

I uploaded a video which shows the ticking noise. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same tick, and if so, what ended up being the problem?



Ticking-

34 - 45 sec

1:17-1:50

2:00+

I apologize for the long video.

Anyways, I have a 30 day warranty with the dealer and I'm thinking I should bring this to their attention. I just wanted to see what you guys thought first. I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this.

Thanks!

-Todd

 

[Ignacio]

I don't hear valve ticking. I hear a cam chain tensioner...and/or something else that sounds like its misfiring and/or exhaust leak. You didn't specify miles.

 

[HotRodZilla]

That REALLY sounds like a loose cam chain. I wouldn't do that too many more tomes. The first time your chain jumps, you'll be looking for a new motor. Take it in ASAP, let them start it, order the new CCT, and then replace it...All under your 30 day warranty.

 

[Intech]

Concur. They have it covered. Would have been interesting to have the camera and mic pickup moved around to the lower right side of the bike to be sure, though.

 

[RossKean]

+1 on the cam chain tensioner. Easy and cheap replacement and the alternative is a grenaded motor. Get it fixed and keep on enjoying the ride. Note: Sounds like the CCT - very distinct sound especially noticeable on the right side of the engine. If that's where it is coming from, there is little doubt. How many miles on it?

 

[ruhltodd]

Wow guys, thanks for your help. Looks like I'll be loading the bike up on the trailer and heading up there tomorrow!

The bike has 61,000 on it now.

 

[Ignacio]

The bike has 61,000 on it now.

Prime mileage for a worn out CCT. Get a new one (they're about a hundred bucks for the dealer and 30 minutes of work) and the bike will quiet right down. Please follow-up on this one for us though.

 

[ruhltodd]

Absolutely.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

As the other guys said sounds like a worn out CCT.But the engine works very rough at the idle.It is not normal!Adjust the idle at the 1100 rpm warm,plus do a TBS throttle body synchronization.Surely something goes wrong at the idle..

 

[ANZAC]

Your bike sounds like mine at idle. These bikes dont idle well and throttle response is rough until 2000 revs.

Let us know what happens and good luck

 

[RadioHowie]

Wow, haven't heard that noise since 2009, just a few minutes before my motor imploded!

Take it back to the dealer with this caveat...tell them if THEY start it up to run and the chain skips a tooth or three and air-mails a valve or twelve, THEY foot the bill for a new cylinder head.

$80 job now or $1500 job later.

 

[ruhltodd]

It's under a 30 day warranty, they'll foot the bill regardless. They were actually pretty cool about it. I loaded it up on the trailer and went up there today. When I got there they started it up and sure enough after a couple of minutes they said it sounded like the cam chain. They apologized to me and said it shouldn't have left the floor sounding like that.

I mentioned the idling thing too, because it almost sounds like its knocking. They're going to look into that as well.

Hopefully I'll have the bike back next week.

 

[ruhltodd]

I found some threads on the rough idling problem. Sounds like there's a connector underneath the tank that can get corroded and cause some misfiring?

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=129209

 

[RadioHowie]

FJRs, when cold, are not the best-idling motorcycles on the planet, at least not until the temp gauge comes up to two bars showing (on a Gen I, 4 bars on Gen II) even with the fast-idle system working correctly.

The knocking noise invariably disappears after a warm-up.

Good luck on the fix, and hopefully the dealer addresses the actual problem -- the cam chain tensioner, NOT the cam chain!

 

[Ignacio]

When I got there they started it up and sure enough after a couple of minutes they said it sounded like the cam chain.

Press them on this point. I doubt its as drastic as the chain. Say it with us, "Cam Chain TENSIONER!" 20 minutes with a ratchet end wrench, screw driver, and this piece on the OUTSIDE of the engine is easy to replace.

 

[RadioHowie]

This part is about $30 cheaper, and hasn't needed adjusting one single time in ~ 50,000 miles.

 

[Ignacio]

This part is about $30 cheaper, and hasn't needed adjusting one single time in ~ 50,000 miles.

Good luck getting a Yamaha dealer to purchase and install one of these under a warranty return...even if cheaper.

 

[RadioHowie]

Worth a shot, since, being an '04, you know it's a dealership warranty, not a Yamaha warranty. MamaYama couldn't give a poop what anyone does to a 10 year old motorcycle.

However, I 1000% agree with you that the OP needs to insist the dealer addresses the CORRECT issue...AND, since it's got 61k miles on it, if it were me, I'd spring for a new camchain (@$18) while the job was being done.

 

[Twigg]

However, I 1000% agree with you that the OP needs to insist the dealer addresses the CORRECT issue...AND, since it's got 61k miles on it, if it were me, I'd spring for a new camchain (@$18) while the job was being done.

Fair enough to do that IF you have the valve covers off, but to replace my tensioner that wasn't necessary. When I check the clearances in a few thousand miles time, then I will replace the chain as a precaution, because it will have done 90 000 miles, and it makes sense.