The dreaded ticking.

[fjr1300canuck]

I have been reading the comments on this topic and I have listened to the soudbytes. My 05, at 8500 miles definately has a ticking sound , but it is really only apparent at certain RPMs. I notice it most from 3,000-4,000 rpm then it is pretty much gone. I recall all the FJs I owned in the 80's had valve ticking but this sounds a bit different. ..almost a "chirping" sound.

I think I have just got to train my brain to ignore it. I do not seem to lack any power...the front wheel comes up a wee bit under hard acceleration in first..wasn't expecting that on a bike with shaft drive and hard bags!

 

[Toecutter]

Bring it to WFO. We'll have a listening clinic with multiple judges. They may be drunk, but it won't matter.

 

[shuswaper]

In my not so humble opinion: most, if not all, pre `06 FJRs...will eventually tick. It`s just a matter of time and distance. Mark my words ! :assassin:

 

[Scab]

True, but could be 27 years and 183,000 miles.

 

[XLR8]

Loud valves save lives.

Man I wish I could take credit for that one!

-R-

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

shuswaper Posted Today, 12:37 PM<snippage>In my not so humble opinion: most, if not all, FJRs...will eventually tick

I think?, MamaYama (Cypress) maintains that the TICK problem is (mostly) an Internet Myth/Legend perpetuated by a few highly vocal malcontents -- you know who you are! At least they haven't quite *outed*, yet....afaik -- altho, they have attempted to fix some.

 

[apratt]

Yamaha does NOT appear to think this is a made-up Internet hypochondriac problem. First, while they don't admit to any systematic problem, they've never said it is made up either. Second, follow the money: valve guide replacements and full-head replacements out of warranty don't grow on trees, and they aren't done for fun or for "goodwill." The fact that Yamaha spends that kind of money is its own kind of acknowledgement something real is happening.

Some *dealers* might think it's not real, and some *owners* might think they've got it when they don't, but the evidence is that it's real, and Yamaha's behavior (that is, giving real money to dealers to fix it) indicates they agree it's real.

Review the concrete, objective evidence: valve guides with excessive play and unburned oil in the exhaust ports. These are objectively observable engine problems that just should not occur in the first few thousand miles of operation. When they do happen, Yamaha is fixing them (or trying to), even out of warranty. That's another observable fact from which it's possible to draw conclusions.

Of course, Yamaha's only fixing it when the customer complains, and only when the customer is persistent enough to get past the initial disbelief and resistance. I'm sorry about that, but it doesn't mean they don't think this is "real."

You can read what I've written about tickers and advice for ticker owners at: https://www.bestbits.org/fjr1300

 

[madmike2]

Let's remember that fjr1300cnuck doesn't deal with Yamaha North America in Cypress, but Yamaha Canada. They have repaired ticking bikes in Canada. Kasey had her '03 done, I don't recall others but I think there were a couple.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Let's remember that fjr1300cnuck doesn't deal with Yamaha North America in Cypress, but Yamaha Canada. They have repaired ticking bikes in Canada. Kasey had her '03 done, I don't recall others but I think there were a couple.

In Canada they only get a 12 month warranty. Cannot buy an extended warranty. Yamaha has fixed them outside of that 12 month period. Very noble.

 

[shuswaper]

Let's remember that fjr1300cnuck doesn't deal with Yamaha North America in Cypress, but Yamaha Canada. They have repaired ticking bikes in Canada. Kasey had her '03 done, I don't recall others but I think there were a couple.

In Canada they only get a 12 month warranty. Cannot buy an extended warranty. Yamaha has fixed them outside of that 12 month period. Very noble.

NOBLE, are you kidding? The fact of the matter is, these tickers will not meet the emissions standard(s) of the year of manufacture...the corporation is obligated by law to correct the deficiency! For some reason everybody is hailing Yamaha for it`s goodwill policy towards out of warranty tickers. Let me put it to ya straight: the emissions warranty comes into play here ! Yamaha is keenly aware of this...they are just not talking about it. Go back to your manual and check out the warranties. The one for emissions is a FIVE year period or 30,000 kms (which ever comes first)...at least here in Canada for the 04`s, I don`t know about anywhere else or any other year. I suspect the California spec bikes have an even better warranty. If any dealer or Yamaha rep resists fixing a ticker, just tell them there is oil going up the pipe and it cannot meet the emissions standard under those circumstances. At that point, you will get action I am sure. I am willing to bet that any FJR that is older than 5 years (whenever that time comes), regardless of low miles, will not be repaired gratis. :assassin: P.S. Kasey knows a whole slew of ticking FJRs here in B.C. alone!!!!!!!!!

 

[norcal]

Shuswaper: The Emissions Control Warranty for California is the same as yours, that is on engines over 280 cc: 5 years or 30,000 km (18,641 mi), whichever comes first. When dealers hear a customer is going to be contacting the air quality control board over a warranty dispute about something that affects the emissions system, they have been known to change thier attitude.

 

[rogdeb]

Dropped off my FJR at the dealership yesterday for a full service and to get the ticking documented.

Started ticking ('03 model) at 28,000 and now has 35,000 and tick is louder.

Per yamaha, per my service manager, "A little late for a ticker to develop, but we'll take care of it. Of course, this is not an engine failure issue"

Glad Yamaha said they would "take care of it" ------ hopefully <_< seeing as it's well out of warrantee.

I think we know it's not a failure issue, just don't want to have oil bleeding from anywhere.

Updates when & if available.

Anyone else had a ticker start at higher mileage?

 

[bramfrank]

Let's remember that fjr1300cnuck doesn't deal with Yamaha North America in Cypress, but Yamaha Canada. They have repaired ticking bikes in Canada. Kasey had her '03 done, I don't recall others but I think there were a couple.

In Canada they only get a 12 month warranty. Cannot buy an extended warranty. Yamaha has fixed them outside of that 12 month period. Very noble.

In Canada we can buy an extended warranty from YamaCanada (and I did) - but you can only buy a 3 year extension max and they charge for it bigger time than in the US.
I know of one Canadian rider whose bike was also done out of warranty.

 

[apratt]

"... Of course, this is not an engine failure issue"

"Not an engine failure issue" my ass! What else do you call guides that don't guide, seals that don't seal, and valves that don't close properly?

I guess he meant "it won't genade on you," but you are definitely down on power, leaking oil into the exhaust system, ruining your catalytic converter, and God knows what else.

I'm a little sensitive since my dealer started out thinking I was complaining about the noise itself, demanding that Yamaha fix my bike just so it would be quieter. He didn't know (as I did) that the noise is an indication of an internal failure that causes progressively more damage and reduced power.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I seem to remember on some of the early WFO's that a few from Canada would ride and they said at that time they couldn't get and extended warranty. Or maybe chose not to buy it seeing it as you say way more than the US. But I know of three Canadian bikes fixed out of warranty for the tick.

 

[Duff]

True, but could be 27 years and 183,000 miles.

Scab,

What were you doing the other 20 years? It shouldn't take but about 6 or 7 to get 183K on an FJR!

By the way, when I get to WFO you all get to listen to mine... I'm pretty sure it's a ticker, but my dealer not only sucks, but he has NO mechanics. None! He doesn't have a single guy that can actually work on a bike. He has guys in the shop, but they are lucky if they can do assembly. At least when I get to CA, you guys can point me in the direction of a good dealer!

...and if I DON'T have a ticker, you can all laugh at me and call me Chicken Little!

 

[Colin24]

I have an '05 FJR ABS which I picked up August 1 of 2004. 22 months later it has 50,000 km (30,000 miles) on it.

I am sure that the bike has been "ticking" since around the 10-15 K km mark. But you know what. The ticking has never gotten any worse and there has never been a spec of oil coming out of the exhaust. Checked all the valves over the winter at the 35,000 km mark and they were all smack dab in the middle of the proper spec.

It is my opinion that the nature of the engines is to develop a ticking like sound. I am sure a trained ear knows what to listen for. (And I am sure alot of the people that think they can year it actually can't). So if your bike is making a "ticking" like sound it may not actually have _the_ ticking problem. The most obvious result of _the_ ticking problem is oil coming out of the right exhaust.

I think I have just got to train my brain to ignore it. I do not seem to lack any power...

So, my advice is much the same as what you've been doing. Ignore it and keep riding. If it becomes a _real_ problem. Then fix it.

the front wheel comes up a wee bit under hard acceleration in first..wasn't expecting that on a bike with shaft drive and hard bags!

Actually this is related to the real problem with these bikes. When your leaned over passing traffic and the front wheel is in the air the bike will exhibit some headshake when the wheel comes back down. Seems to me that this is the real design flaw in the bike! I think Yamaha needs to step up and fix these bikes with more HP so that the wheel stays airborne................................. :lol:

- Colin

 

[FJRottie]

I am sure that the bike has been "ticking" since around the 10-15 K km mark. But you know what. The ticking has never gotten any worse and there has never been a spec of oil coming out of the exhaust. Checked all the valves over the winter at the 35,000 km mark and they were all smack dab in the middle of the proper spec.

It is my opinion that the nature of the engines is to develop a ticking like sound. I am sure a trained ear knows what to listen for. (And I am sure alot of the people that think they can year it actually can't). So if your bike is making a "ticking" like sound it may not actually have _the_ ticking problem. The most obvious result of _the_ ticking problem is oil coming out of the right exhaust.

+1 to all that if you ask me. The FJR engine, in the first three years, would tick or click. (whatever you prefer)

That is the standard sound for the engine based on its nature/makeup.

Yes some valve guides wear down early, and it it not good, but it is overhyped.

If you listen to an FJR engine, you can hear the inner components working.

If it gets very loud and oil starts to seep out the exhaust, then you have a problem.

If you compare the number of actual/confirmed valve problems to the amount of FJRs, it is low.

I would take the percentage of that and compare it to any manufacturer defect of any brand any day.

IMHO

....there are many FJRs with very high mileage with original valves, guides and heads out there.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

We'll see if you're of the same temperment when/if it's "Your ox being gored". IMHO, Yamaha "screwed-the-pooch" on this one. With today's metalurgy, assembly techniques, and just general technology; to have any failures is more than irksome. And then to have it be something as innocuous as the lowly exhaust valve guide -- something that's been around since the first engine -- is just a plain "miserable" situation.

If you compare the number of actual/confirmed valve problems to the amount of FJRs, it is low.

I'm not so sure? Any numbers? Either way -- the instances of some serious diseases in society may be low in number -- how does that make it any better?