I just bought an 03 that ticks, what now?

[Bungie]

Steve, for sure it will get louder if it is indeed premature valve guide wear.
Slapnpop on this forum had this so bad that his would blow oil.... or at least puffs of oily smoke.

I think we talked about this a little bit at EOM. In fact, if I recall, I even started the bike so you could here it. You said yup, a ticker. Seeing as how you've heard it first hand on your bike, I took what you said to heart and have been preparing myself for the inevitable.

It really is hard to tell off Warchilds sound clips, close, but not the same.

I'll have to keep my fingers crossed and my head buried in the sand until theirs reason to do otherwise.

 

[luvtoride]

Steve, for sure it will get louder if it is indeed premature valve guide wear.
Slapnpop on this forum had this so bad that his would blow oil.... or at least puffs of oily smoke.

I think we talked about this a little bit at EOM. In fact, if I recall, I even started the bike so you could here it. You said yup, a ticker. Seeing as how you've heard it first hand on your bike, I took what you said to heart and have been preparing myself for the inevitable.

It really is hard to tell off Warchilds sound clips, close, but not the same.

I'll have to keep my fingers crossed and my head buried in the sand until theirs reason to do otherwise.

I did listen to it??? Jeez, I don't remember. Must have been drinking that fine American swill that I'm known for putting away.

Actually, I remember hearing bikes ride across the parking lot & thinking "yup, there goes a ticker!"

 

[Bungie]

Actually, I remember hearing bikes ride across the parking lot & thinking "yup, there goes a ticker!"

Well if I get the chance I'll record the noise and post it up here for everybodies expert diagnosis.

Speaking of EOM, I still have to get around to booking my room. Buddy from work wants to come down with me (has a 1200 Bandit), but he's going through some stuff at home and isn't sure he can make it now :/ I'll just book a double and be done with it. If he bails, I'll just be able to build a bitchin' fort in my room!

 

[Nsane1]

My Yamaha dealer says its not a ticker and just needs valve adjustment and tune up. Thanks for the help. Hopefully he isn't just giving me the run around. I live near Miami if one of you guys live close to me maybe we could get together and you could listen and tell me what you think.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

As much as I don't want to take issue with your dealer's diagnosis, I feel I must let you know that very few FJRs (modern engines, in general) need valve adjustments. Especially the DOHC, shim-under-bucket type, like the FJR. And, whenever there is a small change in valve clearance (rare), the clearance is usually less (closer -- tighter) -- not necessarily a noise issue?

I'd encourage you to search this Forum for valve adjustment/clearance topics in order to be better prepared for dealer service pronouncements.

Noise eradication thru tune-up: new spark plugs and a throttle body synch may have little effect on any 'engine mechanical noise' issue?

A "second opinion" may be advisable?

Having said all that; it's not a bad idea to know that the valve clearances are 'in spec'. I just wouldn't expect them to be either "out" much; or that doing anything with the small replacement shims would affect any 'noise' issues.

Good luck.

 

[exskibum]

Going along with charismaticmegafauna here -- your dealer's service guy says that the problem is that it needs a valve adjustment at 15K miles?!? Calling double ******** on that. Service interval for CHECKING valves is 24K and very few have even one valve out of spec at that time. Absolutely seek out another shop if this one spoons out that kind of horseshit!

But first, read Warchild's ticker saga with his first FJR ("Timex"). I believe its several volumes can be found in the "Bin of Facts" for Gen I bikes on this site. (His Timex saga happened before Yamaha recognized the issue and his documentation of Timex's problems and the service issues he faced was instrumental in getting MamaYamaha and their dealerships to recognize and address the problem for all who experience it.)

 

[user 213]

My Yamaha dealer says its not a ticker and just needs valve adjustment and tune up. Thanks for the help. Hopefully he isn't just giving me the run around. I live near Miami if one of you guys live close to me maybe we could get together and you could listen and tell me what you think.

Your dealer is smoking crack. The valve adjustment interval is 26k miles. You didn't need, and don't need a valve adjustment, and you unfortunately just blew $400 on one for nothing. Call him back and ask for the tech to document the valve measurements before and after the so called adjustment, which is really a re-shimming since this is a shim under bucket motor.

Oh, and never take your bike to that dealer again. He's just stealing your money.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

My Yamaha dealer says its not a ticker and just needs valve adjustment and tune up. Thanks for the help. Hopefully he isn't just giving me the run around.

If you do have a "Ticker" -- you'll need a Dealer to work with if you intend for MamaYama to pay for it.

MamaYama may insist on an inspection/adjustment before authorizing any, expensive, repair?

There's often a "process" that ticker owners must go thru in order to get MamaYama to pay (see 'exskibum' post) -- you don't want to be 'burning any bridges' early-on.....

 

[luvtoride]

My Yamaha dealer says its not a ticker and just needs valve adjustment and tune up.

This is what my dealer told me. Actually, they didn't say anything about a tune-up... just the valve adjustment. So, they did one that was on my dime. (I was overdue for one, anyway).

I was set to go on a trip that weekend immediately following. I couldn't get to the dealer to retrieve my bike b4 close of business... so a friend went up to the dealer on my behalf & paid to get it out of hock & wheeled it outside.

I spoke with the service guy b4 this actually happened. He swore up and down that the ticking was gone. I was completely skeptical because of what I knew from this site. But he said so.. so I let it go.

Went to pick it up that night, started it up & it ticked as badly as it did when I had dropped it off.

I went riding that weekend & the bike was back in the shop the following week.

Being a woman, it took quite a bit of coaxing the dealer before they actually realized that I knew what I was talking about & was not mechanically illiterate.

Once they were on board, it went very smoothly getting Yamaha to step up & take care of the problem.

I'm hoping that a valve adjustment fixes your problem... & it very well might. Just don't be too disappointed if it does not. There have been quite a few folks that had to go through this same process. Your mileage is low. Do realize that most of these bikes don't require an adjustment even when being checked with much, much higher mileage?

 

[luvtoride]

If you do have a "Ticker" -- you'll need a Dealer to work with if you intend for MamaYama to pay for it.MamaYama may insist on an inspection/adjustment before authorizing any, expensive, repair?

Pretty sure that the inspection includes dropping the headers to look for unburnt oil.

 

[Nsane1]

I Thank you all very much as I saved a few hundred bucks today. After reading the replies I called the service dept. and asked them why they told me I needed a valve adjustment at 15K when its not due until 24K. Thankfully they hadn't started the job yet and they blamed each other for the mistake. Being new to motorcycles I just went along with what they said until you guys told me different. Once again Thanks for the help.

 

[luvtoride]

Nsane... pretty sure that folks told you about the valve check intervals to signify that a valve adjustment is probably not what the issue is with your bike. I wish you much luck finding out if you've got the dreaded premature valve guide wear if you persue it further.

It is only speculation, but I've heard it talked about that Yamaha will probably stop the goodwill at some point & not fix out of warranty tickers any longer... but that is only speculation... but makes sense to me.

If you indeed do have a problem, it might be good to not wait too long to have it diagnosed if you want Yamaha to pay for it.

 

[thomasz]

hey, i wanna to get new motorcycle, which is best, help me.

 

[Geezer]

hey, i wanna to get new motorcycle, which is best, help me.

Well, since you posted this in a thread about a possible ticker, i assume it is sarcasm. So, I'd say you definitely need to get a Harley.

 

[RadioHowie]

hey, i wanna to get new motorcycle, which is best, help me.

Well, since you posted this in a thread about a possible ticker, i assume it is sarcasm. So, I'd say you definitely need to get a Harley.

Nahhhh......an RD350 with a Bassani. :yahoo: