[MichaelB]

My 04 registered (but I believe an 03 machine) suddenly developed a discernible ticking when started from cold which diminishes, but does not completely disappear, as the engine warms. It has 21,000+ miles on the clock therefore 3,000 miles away from a major service. The warranty expires at the begining of Apr 06.

On ther balance of probabilities is this nothing more than valve clearances that will be cured at the next service or a precursor of the fault that caused so many problems for the owners of (usually earlier) FJRs? Your thoughts/advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[st ryder]

Is it clearly coming from the top, front, (exhaust side) left side of cylinder head, ie cylinders 1 and 2? (You can use a "stethoscopic" instrument to better discern ticking noises)

Does it have "harmonics", ie does it change with intensity and frequency with the revs, ie seems to "go away" from approx 1700 to 3000, then comes back with a very pronounced rattle between 3000 and 3800, then seems to go away again above that?

Can the pronounced ticking clearly be heard above the engine drone from 50 feet away while the bike is warmed-up and idling?

Does it get louder/worse when hot?

Have you gone for a ride with a shorty or no helmet, and were astonished at how loud it really is when under throttle?

If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions, my guess is you probably have the "dreaded tick", ie defective, premature exhaust valve guide wear, and need to speak with your dealer asap.

 

[Andydownunder]

Had all my valves and guides replaced under warranty in Dec. ( 03 model 41,000k..noisy since 20k) Guess what.. tick tick tick still at 2800rpm. Valve guides were worn so therefore head was done but still it ticks.

Dealer confused. We are looking at the cam chain guide this week as that is known to be noisey however that should really only make noise under acceleration. Might be noisy injector to. Hope so otherwise I'd hate to push Mr Yamaha for a new head. I got major grief getting the stuffed valve guides done. Not much support from Yam here

This probabaly doesn't help you much but just suggestion a couple of other possibilities before you do major surgery.

 

[innominate]

I also get a slight ticking at low revs.

Not too loud though, and go's away at higher revs.
Had me worried for a while, but from teh discription does not seem to be the DREADED TICK.

What else could it be?
& is there anhyway to easily rule out the cuplrits myself.

01 model, 9,000 miles. FSH.

 

[marshman]

01 model with 9000 miles?

That'll be lack of use :wink: :lol:

 

[innominate]

By the previous owner mby, I bought it at 6200 miles 6 months ago

(spent 1 1/2 months off the road being repaired too, fecking MPV drivers pulling out on me...)

 

[donaldb]

MichaelB my 04 does the same thing. At cold start up there is a slight noticable tic from left side, but it seems to go away after the bike warms up and is ridden a bit. Paranoia? yea, I kinda think/hope so in this case. Thread after thread I have read and I probably would never have given this a second thought if it had been just about any other bike. Genesis engines are noise makers, always have been, my old vstar 1100 probably ticked a lot more than this fjr and I never paid any attention what-so-ever. But because we have these bikes we are always wondering! listening! is today the day? After you have had your bike a while, there will come that day when you will say screw it, if it tic's I deal with it, this bikes simply too much fun to have to worry about such, and take the fun away.

 

[MichaelB]

Many thanks for the information. From what I have read here and been told by other owners I have donned the rose tinted spectacles in the belief that this is a normal engine sound for the FJR. I will be back to cry on your collective shoulders if that is proven not to be the case in the future!

 

[woody]

If the noise goes away after warming up it's the cam chain adjuster, if it dont it will need to be inspected.

But it could just be the shims need attention.

Dont Panic.

 

[kayd28]

I recently purchased an '03 FJR1300 with 4k on the clock. After a couple of months and around 1000 miles I noticed a loud tick. Since it was under warranty - it went back to the dealer. They now had the bike for 3 months and have replaced all values and guides - hoping to get it back this week.
The dealer did tell me that this was down to a 'faulty' batch and not common in the UK. But reading here, and elsewhere I'm slighty worried :roll:

 

[Rabbit1300]

Not a faulty batch, no. A problem that exists in SOME FJR's, not all.

However, if it's fixed now - why worry?

And welcome to the site

 

[woody]

I recently purchased an '03 FJR1300 with 4k on the clock. After a couple of months and around 1000 miles I noticed a loud tick. Since it was under warranty - it went back to the dealer. They now had the bike for 3 months and have replaced all values and guides - hoping to get it back this week.
The dealer did tell me that this was down to a 'faulty' batch and not common in the UK. But reading here, and elsewhere I'm slighty worried :roll:

Dont worry not that many in the UK.

Oh yeh and welcome to the site

 

[innominate]

I'm starting to think its the bad tic on my machine


Tick does not go away after warming up and doing 25miles odd.
Changes with rev rate, most apparent just under 4K revs.

Surprisingly lound when not helmeted.



What do I do?
Obviously not under warranty anymore.
How much does something like this cost to fix when you have to pay for it yourself?


Its just typical. all motorcycles hate me...

 

[marshman]

Whereabouts are you innominate?
The FJOC have a workshop somewhere in the midlands IIRC and it might be worth giving them a call as they are specialists in FJs and FJRs. Don't know what their rates are like, but they may well be cheaper than your local dealer (you might have to become a member to benefit though).

Have no personal experience of the quality of their work, but Kerry or Woody probably know what they're like.

 

[donaldb]

innominate, google up some other fjr forums, I would mention a couple others but do to banishment fears, I will let your fingers do the walking. There are several threads out there that indicate that Yamaha is repairing the tic for some people, out of warranty. I don't really know who or what to believe, but it is definitely worth the time to ck into. It will likely involve the year of your bike and the # of miles, yadda, yadda. Surf around and good luck!

 

[boofer]

Boy, this is like taking a sip out of a fire hydrant when it comes to opinions.

As an x-03 owner (38K on that one I think) , I can say that you will drive yourself nuts wondering about the ticking noise. I thought for the longest time that I had a dreaded "ticker". I read post after post, opinion after opinion and was starting to feel like I was staring at a "wheres Waldo" picture. I just could not find the answer. Then one day for no particular reason, I put 89 Octane gas in the bike opposed to my usual 92+. Tick was GONE, ZIP, NADA !! I figure that I could have easily put on another 5K mikes in the time I took researching the tick :?

I have the 05 now and run good ole 89 octane and at 15K it is smooth as butter. I do hear "warm up ticking" and when it is a zillon degrees out I expect to hear the engine noises.

The moral to my story. Get a YES and worry less. It is just a great bike to ride.

Boof

 

[MichaelB]

As Marsham has mentioned there is indeed an FJ and FJR Owners Club and workshop based just north of Chipping Sodbury. It is an excellent club and the workshop is staffed by experts in all aspects of both the FJ and FJR models. I can attest to the quality of the workmanship and thoroughness of any taks undertaken on your machine; indeed they will carry out a service to the Yamaha specification not just what a dealer feels is necessarry (i.e. change the oil and kick the tyres). The annual subcrisption is a worthy investment.

 

[innominate]

Well its pretty noisey.
But at the end of the day will it actually cause any problems (apart from the noise) if not I'll just get some loud exhausts to cover the noise and carry on as normal

 

[Rabbit1300]

Well, you havn't said if the FJROC workshop is an option to you innominate, if not, then your local dealer is your only option for an opinion. Will be damn expensive that's for sure, but can you trust your local dealer?.

The answer to your question is yes, and I mean IF it is the dreaded tick, eventually you will start to lose power, oil will get past the guides and will become evident burning blue smoke out of your cans.

I seem to remember someone (on the old site) let this carry on until it became a problem and had to be fixed, but no real harm done. I also seem to remember that oil evidence on the O2 sensor is a sure sign of this problem.

If it was me, I wouldn't worry until it became a real problem. Mine's a 2001 and is more likely to suffer in the long run, built before the valve guide re-design.

Hopefully, someone else will give you a more experienced and definitive answer.

 

[innominate]

Thanks for all the advice people.


One thing I do not want to end up being is an "Internet hypochondriac" and end up annoying as many people as possible. :roll:


As the FJoC is not really an option for me, I'll take it up with my local dealer as soon as I get a chance to give them a visit. Get someone with a bit of mechanical knowledge to have a listen.


I'll live with it untill it becomes a problem or I get a chance to get the problem easily looked into.