running bad (feeling blessed)...limped home (walking on air)

[SkooterG]

... every FJR on the road, from 2003 to 2013 is a potential time bomb.
Being "Chicken Little" here, that's the simple truth.

Paranoid much?

..and fixed.

Amen brother Wheatie! One, I said ONE report of a broken CCT spring out of thousands of FJRs and this dufus is more scared than a long-tailed cat in room full of rocking chairs. Hell, for all we know RH did something to break the darned thing.

So far, there have been *ZERO* reports of blue dot CCTs needing to be replaced.

So I am assuming *nothing* about Patriot's bike until it is torn apart and properly diagnosed.

 

[Patriot]

No down side at all, other than having to remember to check it every so often. Hopefully before you hear the chain slapping around....

But seriously, it can't fail unless you just leave it loose. Which would be real stoopid. It's set, and it won't move, tighter or looser. You check it and skitch it down when you need to.

If there is no down side to that manual CCT...maybe it's something to consider...

service manual only mentions the CCT to pull it and play with the plunger checking that it's moves "smoothly"

it's a bitch to get to it hiding behind the frame...how many of all of you pull the CCT like once a year to play with the plunger?

the manual must be adjusted by "feel" ??? ... how does one pick a starting point to then crank up the engine ... then what, adjust just a bit of a turn past the noise goes away...dat don't sound like a happy experience

other bikes have a zero return design with a little ratchet thingy on the plunger so it can only move one way

I don't see the downside of that design

manual, you have to remember to screw it on some kind of schedule

is it because the chain naturally stretches and loosens...sprockets too ???

I'm so confused!

 

[Bustanut joker]

I'm so confused!

It's the FJR Forum Mike.. You have every right to be confused.

It's the way we roll here.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

While we wait on pictures of the dynamic duo loading the bike onto the trailer....why is it that manufacturers can't seem to design a decent CCT? Lots of bikes have problems with these, like the Suzuki DRZ for instance. Even my car is known to have CCT failures. Is this such a difficult part to manufacture to operate correctly? Seems there's a lot of money out there for a designer to fix this without going manual....

Here is my Yamaha's XTZ 750/90 model CCT.This really excellent CCT has two springs inside,one big and one smaller inside the big for double secure and for a better tension.Except this it has and a third secure,it has dents on the rod and if something go wrong with the springs there no way to come back except if you pull manualy the lock and free the mechanism!This CCT is in the bike 22+ years now without any problem!I have never replace it and i have never listen a noise from

this area!I have only replace the cam chain one time and i have do about 180,000miles with my bike.Why mama Yamaha did worst this thing..???!!!

 

[Geezer]

Mike has probably already dropped his bike off at the shop and we should hear the prognosis soon. Fingers crossed.

There really is no reason that Yamaha could not have put a ratcheting mechanism on our CCTs other than cost. I guess they thought it would be OK as is. I have replace mine twice so far, about one every 30-40k miles. The one in there now is the latest design with the heavy spring. It is getting a little bit noisy again and I will probably replace it again this season.

As much as I hate to agree with Howie, I am seriously considering switching to the manual one this time.

 

[BikerGeek99]

First-world problems, boys.

First-world problems right here.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Is it possible that with the heavier CCT tension, its causing the chain to stretch faster??

The only vehicle we ever had with a timing chain issue was a 1983 Nissan truck that got noisy. I was little, so I don't know what the cause of the bad chain was.

 

[user 213]

Some sad tale of woe here. I went through 3 CCTs on my '04, but never any damage. All of them got noisy slowly over many miles and I had them replaced under warranty during my extended YES period. The last one may have been the blue dot and was fine in the replacement engine when I sold the bike with 70k on that engine.

The down side to the manual CCT is that we are talking about Patriot here, not necessarily someone you want messing with the CCT adjustment. And Patriot, my friend, NEVER, EVER GO PULLING AND PLAYING WITH THE CCT!! You do not check it. If it's loose, you replace it.

Hopefully the bike will get fixed quickly and at low cost. Doesn't sound like anything is seriously wrong yet. And the next time you hear bad rattling noises, don't frigging wind up the motor to 6k, ok. That could have been really bad right there in the garage.

We're all pulling for a good outcome. Good karma sent your way. The engine swap club has to stick together, eh?

 

[ionbeam]

service manual only mentions the CCT to pull it and play with the plunger checking that it's moves "smoothly"it's a bitch to get to it hiding behind the frame...how many of all of you pull the CCT like once a year to play with the plunger?

the manual must be adjusted by "feel" ??? ...

Mike, before anyone on the Forum knew that the CCT could be a problem Bonzo here was having cam chain noise. I checked the CCT per the FSM, found no issue and the cam chain noise went a way when I reinstalled it. When the cam chain noise came back again I followed the FSM to check the CCT. You know what happened next... I embarked on a long lesson about FJR engines and CCTs. Don't poke the bear, it bites. Smooth operation is not related to the problem with the FJR's CCT, it is the way the CCT is assembled causing weak spring tension and rarely it has been known for the spring to break.

 

[BikerGeek99]

BTW - Mike, if Isabella winds up being retired and a replacement is sought, keep in mind that tstaff's WELL sorted out '06 is still for sale. I think.

 

[gixxerjasen]

What the heck? It's almost 2pm. Those two guys should have had plenty of time to drop it off, eat lunch, flirt with the waiter, get home and post up. We need pics darn it!

 

[RadioHowie]

Cam chain on the Duramax came loose!

 

[BikerGeek99]

Cam chain on the Duramax came loose!

Maybe, but it'd depend on if he's running break-in oil in that engine.

 

[wfooshee]

Ha!

Although I did have a timing gear break on a 3.8-liter GM V6 once. No consequence other than stopped running due to insufficient camshaft rotation, and a VERY difficult set of steps to access for replacement. Gear was that fiber-epoxy stuff with a metal-ring gear arround it. Ring came all apart.

Nothing to do with Mike, but I though I'd share my own timing damage history......

 

[gixxerjasen]

Cam chain on the Duramax came loose!

Maybe, but it'd depend on if he's running break-in oil in that engine.

It's a duramax, not a BMW!

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Cam chain on the Duramax came loose!

Maybe, but it'd depend on if he's running break-in oil in that engine.

It's a duramax, not a BMW!

Damn you Jasen! I have one of each. Or that is to say my wife has the BMW, I have the payment book.

And my Duramax has been trouble free. (So far...)

Short story guys, the bike is there. It is not my money but I was well pleased with his mechanic. I think that all of you will appreciate the mechanic's response when Mike told him how many miles were on the bike now. The guy laughed aloud and shook his head. We were standing in front of a garage full of dust covered Harleys at the time. MIke and I did not argue about diesel money, he behaved himself almost all day even to the point of letting me pay for our lunch. I think and hope you guys agree that I spent my money and my time wisely today.

Give me a few minutes and I will get some pics online with a few details. I figured you guys might be getting antsy.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

After being at work all night, and getting no nap this morning, I had a very busy and eventful day. I came home and made a crabmeat and cheddar cheese omelet for my wife and son. We had a good family breakfast, I got a shower and we all took off. The wife and kid went to work and school, I drove to New Orleans to find our friend Patriot. He was in his front yard wrestling with a (blessedly) seldom used motorcycle trailer. Realizing that he had to perform his routine his way, I remained silent and awaited orders. When I did step in and try to assist, I was told "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!!!" So... I waited for orders. There were several unhappy minutes while we were unable to make the trailer lights work. As long as the multi-meter was not lying, all we needed was a better ground from trailer to truck. Finally, we turned our attention to loading the bike. There is something really sad about pushing an FJR onto a trailer. It just feels wrong. Mike said that he needed me to make motor noises while I pushed so the bike would feel more natural. I don't think I sounded like an FJR, maybe more like a very sick Honda Rebel 250. Mike has a very good system for tying the bike down, he actually let me help with this part.

We did not get a pic of the bike loading in front of Mike's house because the system required my truck to completely block the street. Therefore a couple shots at the Burger King in Amite, Louisiana where Mike got his breakfast.

You will note what a wet and dreary day it was. The weather was not helping lift our spirits any.

We finally made it to The Middle of Nowhere. Then, we took a left and went 10 more miles. The mechanic was pleased to see Mike and Isabella. He was obviously impressed with the mileage this beast has covered. I was certain that he does not deal with many bikes that have over 100K miles, much less what Mike has covered with Isabella. He was kind enough to show us the '32 Ford Chop Top Coupe hot rod they use as a show car. If I had known what I was about to see I would have had the camera with me. A 468 cid big block that rear wheel dyno'd at 551 HP and 558 ft lbs. of torque is always impressive. The car was beautiful. I spoke to this gentleman and found myself very impressed with him. I am NOT being mean when I say he looked and sounded like the stereotypical Mississippi Redneck. After looking at some of what was going on in his shop and how things were done, I am sure it was worth it to drive that far. Especially if it makes Patriot happy.

Please note that I had a flash of brilliance when I took this pic. Now we ALL have the name and phone #... Sorry Patriot, if help is needed...

We had a fairly decent lunch in Osyka MS at Nyla's Burger Basket. Sorry, no food ****.

I made it home with 310 miles on the truck for the day. I think I did Patriot some good, I enjoyed it and certainly felt good about it. I hope he is in a better place than he was a couple days ago.

If he is not too mad at me, maybe he will let me do a repeat and I can help him go get it home.

 

[dj bill]

heres the problem straight away,how can a bike be expected to run good with ALL THEM STICKERS on it.

 

[Fred W]

stole the wurds right outta my mouf!

 

[user 213]

heres the problem straight away,how can a bike be expected to run good with ALL THEM STICKERS on it.

Stickers hell, what about the satellite dish on the top box!