IT’S NOT A TICKAH!

4341 Views 46 Replies 6 Participants Last post by RaYzerman, May 14, 2022

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · May 8, 2022

So I have noticed a sound after yesterdays ride after the bike is nice and warm…a ticking. Now before the doomsday comments pour in I did a LOT of research on the tick that kills FJR’s and this is not it. I can warm it up and at 3 bars and idle no tick. I can give it throttle and no tick. I can be on the highway in 3,4,5 and no tick. When I am in that area between engine braking and throttle I hear what I am assuming is the valves or the cam chain. (Just guessing) Is it time for a valve adjustment? I just did a cam chain tightened and went through an used new oil and the bike feels wonderful. Thoughts and ideas would be fun.

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RaYzerman

· #2 · May 8, 2022

If you already replaced the CCT, then you should be good. If it's a light tick, then it may be the injector tick you can sometimes hear. Your valves do not get bigger clearances to cause a tick, just the opposite.
The '03 was exempt from the valve guide tick that affected some '04-'05's. That was due to valve guides worn/too big in the first place.
Never a bad idea to do a valve check if it's been a while, but extremely doubtful you'll have any clearances too big....
I can't advise you any better without actually be standing there hearing what you're describing....... how many miles? I'm not sure an injector cleaning would lessen the tick.....

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 8, 2022

RaYzerman said:
If you already replaced the CCT, then you should be good. If it's a light tick, then it may be the injector tick you can sometimes hear. Your valves do not get bigger clearances to cause a tick, just the opposite.
The '03 was exempt from the valve guide tick that affected some '04-'05's. That was due to valve guides worn/too big in the first place.
Never a bad idea to do a valve check if it's been a while, but extremely doubtful you'll have any clearances too big....
I can't advise you any better without actually be standing there hearing what you're describing....... how many miles? I'm not sure an injector cleaning would lessen the tick.....

60k and that is good to know about the valves.

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 8, 2022

I am going to go ahead and pour a bottle or whatever the measurement is of injector cleaner in there just to give it a shot but I have a feeling it may have to do with the viscosity of the oil I put in being possibly thinner than the oil that was in there that I replaced just a hunch. I am also a bit of a paranoid hypochondriac when it comes to motorcycles I never listen to music and I never wear earplugs because 99.999% of the time I am listening to the sound the engine makes and while it does not make a loud tech it is audible to me and new so I’m doing my regular thing and thinking of all of the worst things

RaYzerman

· #5 · May 8, 2022

It's not your oil. What did you use?

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 8, 2022

RaYzerman said:
It's not your oil. What did you use?

10w 40 motorcycle 4 stroke valvoline. 4.25 quarts

RaYzerman

· #7 · May 8, 2022

It's not your oil for sure, that's the 'correct' grade for an FJR IMHO.
If you can hear the ticking at idle, raise your tank and use a stethescope (or piece of rubber hose to your ear), and try to nail down where the tick is...... definitely check the injector tick, it's a pretty normal thing.

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StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 8, 2022

RaYzerman said:
It's not your oil for sure, that's the 'correct' grade for an FJR IMHO.
If you can hear the ticking at idle, raise your tank and use a stethescope (or piece of rubber hose to your ear), and try to nail down where the tick is...... definitely check the injector tick, it's a pretty normal thing.

It 100% does not tick at all at idle with the clutch in or in neutral. And I’ve been riding sporadically all day and have noticed that the tick does not increase or decrease it speed with the RPMs of the engine and is primarily audible in between throttle on and engine brake. It also is not a consistent audible ticking either it comes and goes but I am assuming that is in relationship to either the influx of gas or torque on the moving parts

RaYzerman

· #9 · May 8, 2022

Is it up high, right side of the engine, or down low left side at the driveshaft/u-joint? There is driveline lash, normally you can turn the rear wheel on centerstand, in gear, back and forth about 2" at the OD of the tire..... you'll get lash when you coast/let off throttle, and it will take back up when you accelerate.
A couple noticed some noise at the u-joint, are those splines greased?

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 8, 2022

RaYzerman said:
Is it up high, right side of the engine, or down low left side at the driveshaft/u-joint? There is driveline lash, normally you can turn the rear wheel on centerstand, in gear, back and forth about 2" at the OD of the tire..... you'll get lash when you coast/let off throttle, and it will take back up when you accelerate.
A couple noticed some noise at the u-joint, are those splines greased?

I believe it is up high right but I will have to get it on the center stand when I get back to homebase as it is hard to fully locate it unless it is in gear and rolling

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 9, 2022

Researching anything with the word "tick" in it and FJR is a trip down memory lane.

Until I see it act different on the highway or give me a "feel" I am going to beat it senseless like it was just in a bad mood.
My ass revolts when I eat spicy ramen, I assume she is mad because I was taking turns and not delivering the RPM's

RaYzerman

· #12 · May 9, 2022

Just to confirm, you do have a new CCT?? High and right is cam chain area..... the cams spin half of engine rpm, so not 'directly' related to rpm.
If it's CCT, you had better not be beating it senseless.

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 9, 2022

RaYzerman said:
Just to confirm, you do have a new CCT?? High and right is cam chain area..... the cams spin half of engine rpm, so not 'directly' related to rpm.
If it's CCT, you had better not be beating it senseless.

I.... I mean I ride it pretty hard. I have to be honest when I say that the CCT did not change the sound of the bike all that much when I did install the new one. I have a sneaking suspiscion that the old one being in for so long (50K) may have lead to some slop in the actual chain. I examined the lower sprocket that I could see from the cover off when I changed the CCT and it looked to be in almost perfect shape but that doesn't mean the chain is not stretched. I also noticed that when I installed the new CCT it went immediately to its fullest expanse when I removed the little metal holder. I am going to be riding it all day today and will be taking more notes on when/where the sound is happening. It is also impossible to find anything on the internet that does not lead to the valve issue the 2004-2005's had OR people just say "Its a huge engine, it makes a lot of noise." I really don't want to have to go into a shop just to find out that the bike is just doing it's thing lol. It feels perfect and rides perfect I may just be paranoid. Time will tell.

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RaYzerman

· #14 · May 9, 2022

Chain stretch is minimal, no worries. It is under tension with the new CCT, and is mostly extended to let the spring work properly. It will never get to max.
Probably all is normal, maybe time to wear your earplugs.

Reactions: 2

StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 10, 2022

4

RaYzerman said:
A couple noticed some noise at the u-joint, are those splines greased?

So greased! I yanked as much as I could off tonight and will surely be pulling the U tomorrow morning.

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I have a lot of cleaning to do.
And just to be sure I can use this stuff all over the splines? The Goldwing guys swear by it. What should I use on the U joint?

Liquid Fluid Plastic bottle Medical equipment Personal care

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Whooshka

· #16 · May 10, 2022

I'm not sure about assembly paste. Is it a moly grease? That's what's usually used. I gotta check the FJR's recommendation, can't remember off the top of my head.

RaYzerman

· #17 · May 10, 2022

Yamaha says Lithium soap grease, but you know we all want moly paste... assembly lube is not moly paste..... I'd use a good quality grease, it's all you need. The HOnda people had to use moly paste because their drive splines are not nearly as hard as Yammy's.

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StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 10, 2022

Whooshka said:
I'm not sure about assembly paste. Is it a moly grease? That's what's usually used. I gotta check the FJR's recommendation, can't remember off the top of my head.

RaYzerman said:
Yamaha says Lithium soap grease, but you know we all want moly paste... assembly lube is not moly paste..... I'd use a good quality grease, it's all you need. The HOnda people had to use moly paste because their drive splines are not nearly as hard as Yammy's.

It is Molybdenum disulfide paste. It's Honda Moly 60 paste (I know it says M-77 but I got it from a Honda tech) Mark Johnson talked about it in his Final Drive 101 and Universal Joint Maintenance.
Is lithium soap grease better? Can I get some at a Napa or Auto Zone?

RaYzerman

· #19 · May 10, 2022

The M-77 isn't like the original Moly 60 which had about ~50% moly. Lengthy discussion on the Honda forums, the new moly lube of choice is Loctite LB-8012 (or Loctite 51048).

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StreamRider

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 10, 2022

3

So I went through and scrubbed out every spline contact and surface the best I could and I am ashamed. The PO was about the same height and weight as me and I assume the same age. I would fight him right now and not hold back, what a travesty. The shop he had was awesome and cleaner then I would keep one but damn. Like what was he doing not taking some pride in this part? The engine is immaculate and everything I have pulled and looked at has been on point, the filter had the date on it, the oil was not even that bad and I know I had over 5k on it just myself. The coolant was tasty and fresh and the spark plugs looked like they just got pulled out of the box! How are you going to neglect such an easy to get to thing like the part that takes all the go-go juice and applies it to the car tire? WTF?
Anyway. I think I am going to go outside and pull the U joint right now. I’ll post pics.

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