Ticker Repair

[opt8low]

Hello everyone.

Have an 05 FJR that with 78000 miles started to sound like a ticker this morning. It is well out of warranty even though I had YES extended warranty.

The noise just really started and it was really bad this morning when I started it.

So has anyone had to pay for the ticker repair and how much was it? I have a good dealer that might fight for me with Yamaha as they still might fix it for me.....

Dana

 

[TomInPA]

Before jumping to conclusions, have you ever changed the cam chain tensioner?

At 78K miles you are right at the service interval for a valve clearance check. When was the last one?

 

[FJRMGM]

I have a repaired '05 ticker and I have to say if it was going to tick it would have done it long ago and you would have known it so I doubt that is it.

My vote is the cam chain tensioner, when it gets loose it makes a lot of racket. Replaced mine at about 70k miles and it made the bike quiet again.

The CCT is only about $80 so replace it first and see if that fixes the noise as it needs to be done anyway.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Before jumping to conclusions, have you ever changed the cam chain tensioner?

At 78K miles you are right at the service interval for a valve clearance check. When was the last one?

Gunny. I'm no expert but I play one at home and on the road, even at work. That being said, I would think a ticker would start off sort of quiet and over time get louder not just suddenly appear, but....
I'd look at other areas though. The CCT could be it, and sounds distinctly like a loose chain. The injectors can also be real noisy, mine are. Listen to the ticker tapes and really analyze this first. Also get another FJR buddy to listen and preferably hear from an experienced ticker forum member.

Good luck.

 

[opt8low]

Thanks for the replies guys.

It has a brand new Cam Chain tensioner as of 2000 miles ago when I did the valve adjustment. Which it didn't need. I have heard tickers and it does sound like a ticker but you are right about it just starting to tick. I had a dead battery before the last ride and push started it and it ran fine for 300 miles with no extra noise heard until I started it today.

So I plan on checking the timing and some other things. just sort of wanted to know a ballpark figure on Valve guide replacement. I will try and have Yamaha fix it if it is a true ticker.

Any other ideas would be welcome. So bring them on,

Dana

 

[FJRMGM]

sure you don't have an injector that's making a lot of noise?

 

[SkooterG]

I am finding extremely hard to believe it is a ticker. It just doesn't start at that kind of mileage.

That being said, a complete top end job which will be required was running about $2700 a few years ago. Probably more expensive now as parts prices seem to go up every year.

 

[aharper]

I don't mean to hijack but am curious about this as well. If anybody is in Indy and is familiar with the sound I'd appreciate a PM. I'd love to ride out to you and have you listen to my bike. I just bought it from a dealer in Louisville a couple months ago and am sure that it is ticking as well... 63,000 miles. The original owner said that it's made this noise since around 3k miles. A couple valve adjustments have been done but the dealer and head mechanic at the Yamaha place I bought it from said the sound is normal... I'm not so sure... the dealer in Indy says it isn't. Sometimes louder than others.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

I don't mean to hijack but am curious about this as well. If anybody is in Indy and is familiar with the sound I'd appreciate a PM...

In case you don't get any local assistance, below is a link to the Sounds on this issue:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=18163

 

[fudgejerkin1188]

Has anyone had a ticker fail ? One of mine has been ticking the last 70,000 miles and is still going strong, no drop off in performance or increase in oil use. I've no intention of doing anything about it until I have to. I did have trusted Yamaha mechanic listen to 50,000 miles ago just to confirm my suspicions and he thought it was a "Ticker" too. I've had a spare head and all the bits standing by for ages ready to go on but out of interest I'm going to run the engine until something forces me to fixed it, I can live with the noise.

 

[jeremyr62]

Has anyone had a ticker fail ? One of mine has been ticking the last 70,000 miles and is still going strong, no drop off in performance or increase in oil use. I've no intention of doing anything about it until I have to. I did have trusted Yamaha mechanic listen to 50,000 miles ago just to confirm my suspicions and he thought it was a "Ticker" too. I've had a spare head and all the bits standing by for ages ready to go on but out of interest I'm going to run the engine until something forces me to fixed it, I can live with the noise.

My 04 has 100,000 km. Been ticking pretty much from 15,000 km. Had it diagnosed by the FJR club in the UK. Have thought about fixing it but it still pulls like a train (dynoed at ~80,000 km) and doesn't use oil. I have inspected the exhaust ports for oil twice now and no sign. Maybe it will eventually grenade but it owes me nothing now and if it did I'd just get another engine. The ticker thing is perhaps overblown? Sure it's irritating but no big deal IMO.

 

[FJRMGM]

Has anyone had a ticker fail ? One of mine has been ticking the last 70,000 miles and is still going strong, no drop off in performance or increase in oil use. I've no intention of doing anything about it until I have to. I did have trusted Yamaha mechanic listen to 50,000 miles ago just to confirm my suspicions and he thought it was a "Ticker" too. I've had a spare head and all the bits standing by for ages ready to go on but out of interest I'm going to run the engine until something forces me to fixed it, I can live with the noise.

My 04 has 100,000 km. Been ticking pretty much from 15,000 km. Had it diagnosed by the FJR club in the UK. Have thought about fixing it but it still pulls like a train (dynoed at ~80,000 km) and doesn't use oil. I have inspected the exhaust ports for oil twice now and no sign. Maybe it will eventually grenade but it owes me nothing now and if it did I'd just get another engine. The ticker thing is perhaps overblown? Sure it's irritating but no big deal IMO.

If it really is a ticker it WILL be down on power from stock. After I had my ticker fixed at 19k miles there was a world of difference in the way the engine sounded and performed. It just sound "crisp" again like a high performance engine does. And mine did not use oil when it was ticking.

Bike now has 95,000 miles and runs like a top! Long Live the FJR!!