Ticker Fear

[Just Plain Dave]

I have just passed 14K on my 05 model. I got it in may 05, so It is now 3 years old. I have 2 more years on my extended warranty and I will probably not have more than 22K when it expires. Have the ticker problems been bad on the last 05's delivered? Does anyone have a reasonably accurate guess on what percentage of 05's develop the problem and approximately what mileage the problem generally begins to be noticed?

Thanks in advance,

JPD

 

[Bustanut joker]

IMHO, The Ticker problem is overated along with the heat, short sidestand, windshield.........

Prolly what 2%? Chime in folks, it's on me.

:jester:

 

[Toecutter]

The fact that your YES expired will have no bearing on whether your Ticker will be fixed or not by the factory. They have already fixed some that were out of warranty.

However, be sure to get your cam chain tensioner checked before the YES expires, by a competent shop. I'll be doing so soon.

I seem to recall about one in seven Gen I's developed the problem.

Just ride it (more)!

 

[Bugnatr]

+1 Toe, RIDE more.

There were a lot of tickers IF it happens to you. My 04 started with 9.5 k miles. Long story short a tech from Cypress came to my dealer and put on a new head in one day and sent the ticking head to Japan. All out of warrantee. 45k now (as I knock on wood) and runs fine.

I think Yammie is still fixing tickers, if you really worry about it, sell and get a Gen2

 

[conwest]

IMHO, The Ticker problem is overated along with the heat, short sidestand, windshield.........
Prolly what 2%? Chime in folks, it's on me.

:jester:

...please disregard this everyone....this man is on CRACK! Either that or, he is one helluva tick artist.

 

[twowheelnut]

61,000 miles on my '05... Still as quiet as day 1.

 

[luvtoride]

IMHO, The Ticker problem is overated :jester:

Really, you think so? I don't. My mechanic seems to think that all of the '03's, 04's & '05's will develop it at some point. I told him that I didn't think so as proven by members here.

I have heard of many tickers... but all have been fixed by Yamaha when they brought them in. One guy, a member of this board had his bike fixed twice... & he thinks that it is starting to tick again.

My fixed bike hasn't started a 2nd bout... but hey, I only have about 5,000 miles on the fixed engine.

 

[FJRMGM]

My mechanic seems to think that all of the '03's, 04's & '05's will develop it at some point. I told him that I didn't think so as proven by members here.

If they are going to start ticking I would think it would happen by 20k miles because of why its happening - lack of lube due to valve stem seals not allowing enough oil to the exhaust valve stems and them eroding the guides.

My '05 started ticking at 14k miles and was repaired at 18.5 miles and is running STRONG at 55k miles.

I know five other guys who have '05s and at least five guys with 03-04 machines and none of them have had the problem.

 

[luvtoride]

I also know a lot of FJR owners w/ no tick... but on the other hand, I know quite a few with it. I have been to 3 EOM's & heard bikes riding around the parking lot of the hotels & it was obvious the bike was ticking.

It is obvious to me that this does not affect all gen 1 bikes. My point is that IMO it is not overrated. It has indeed affected a good handful of bikes. Not all, but a good handful.

Also, I am betting that there are bikes out there that haven't been diagnosed, yet.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

One could take the position, philosophically, that all Gen I FJRs will have failing valve guides ("Tickers").

• Yamaha issued a tech bulletin (Australia) announcing the problem; fact.
• Yamaha repairs failed valve guides under warranty (so far, all Gen Is); fact.
• If it were isolated cases (say, some bad parts from a vendor?), Yamaha could list the affected VINs and recall them (but doesn't).
• The fact that there've been many cases of failed valve guides means that the problem is widespread -- we just don't know how widespread, yet.

Mama Yama is hedging it's bets by only repairing the ones requesting repair -- easiest on the bottom line -- $$$$.
Philosophically, one could take the position: that because some Gen I FJRs have not reported bad valve guides ("Tickers") -- then no Gen I FJRs are "tickers" (failing valve guides)...... :blink:

Since the FJR is an assembly-line produced motorcyle built with, essentially, (exactly) the same parts -- the rational thinker is compelled to side with the former scenario....

 

[wheatonFJR]

I have a 2004 FJR. I do not fear the tick. Warchild fought that battle with corporate Yamaha for us.

I fear cell-phone drivers behind me and beside me.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Gotta be Monday, ya'll are wayyy to soft.

Wheaton said it best.... Don't fear the ticker.

What a great Blue Oyster Cult tune that was.

:jester:

 

[FJRSTAR]

My '04 ticked at around 8,000 miles and I ran the mileage up to 25,049 miles when it was totaled. It did start to get much louder towards the end.

My '05 does not tick with 19,845 miles. It is smooth and quiet except for the sound of the injectors and the typical Genesis type motor sounds.

 

[SkooterG]

Life is too short to 'fear the tick'.

Ride your FJR.

If it ticks, get it fixed.

Ride your FJR.

 

[luvtoride]

Life is too short to 'fear the tick'.

Ride your FJR.

If it ticks, get it fixed.

Ride your FJR.

And that's a fact Jack!

 

[Bustanut joker]

IMHO, The Ticker problem is overated along with the heat, short sidestand, windshield.........
Prolly what 2%? Chime in folks, it's on me.

:jester:

...please disregard this everyone....this man is on CRACK! Either that or, he is one helluva tick artist.

Hmm, Missed this one. Ya been talkin ta Bearly ain'tcha!

He's got me all wrong. It's whiskey keeps me goin.

:jester:

 

[Checkswrecks]

Got my tick fixed in January and we're taking this all wrong.

It was an opportunity to have MamaYama pay for doing the 25K valve maintenance.

Hand it to the company for standing behind their product!!!