it's not all the time, but every time i take the bike out, seems like it coming from the front, maybe oil hitting the front part of the headers, but i don't see no oil residue
it make a cloud of smoke and i want to stop it, does anyone know if this is common?
Find out where the oil is coming from, then we can tell you how to fix it.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 02, 2019, 12:53:11 AM
Find out where the oil is coming from, then we can tell you how to fix it.
gotta look again, i got to be more a detective on this one
Check the top of your cylinder head cover for oil. There are eight bolts each with an oil seal. These degrade because of engine heat. These are available from RPM. Two of my FJ's had your problem. It's an easy fix. Old bike with old seals and an older rider.
Dave
A couple of guys tried helping me with an oil leak on my 85. This was their advice. Give the engine a good cleaning, get all the old, gooped up oil off. Then take and spray the engine with an aresol deodorant. The powder kind, that will stick to the engine. Once done, ride for a bit, and look for path that the oil will have cut through the powder, as its leaking. Cheap, and effective. It didnt work for me, because my leak was on the back of the engine, where i couldn't get powder.
Quote from: mtc on April 02, 2019, 12:51:12 AM
it make a cloud of smoke and i want to stop it, does anyone know if this is common?
You're not smoking the back wheel up are you?
These bikes run pretty hot up top. Valve cover gasket gets brittle and quits sealing, and so do the grommets for the valve cover bolts. New valve cover gasket and grommets will probably solve it. You want to be careful with the valve cover bolts, they take very little torque to tighten properly (inch-lbs, not ft-lbs) and they're shouldered, so making them tighter doesn't compress the grommets any more, it just snaps the bolt.
You'll want to pull the tank to take a good look in there and see if it's just the bolts, or if it's leaking at the valve cover gasket. If you have to pull the valve cover to replace the gasket, you should check the valve clearances while the cover is off.
Quote from: Sparky84 on April 02, 2019, 03:44:04 AM
Quote from: mtc on April 02, 2019, 12:51:12 AM
it make a cloud of smoke and i want to stop it, does anyone know if this is common?
You're not smoking the back wheel up are you?
i don't ride that well
Quote from: Bill_Rockoff on April 02, 2019, 07:39:40 AM
These bikes run pretty hot up top. Valve cover gasket gets brittle and quits sealing, and so do the grommets for the valve cover bolts. New valve cover gasket and grommets will probably solve it. You want to be careful with the valve cover bolts, they take very little torque to tighten properly (inch-lbs, not ft-lbs) and they're shouldered, so making them tighter doesn't compress the grommets any more, it just snaps the bolt.
You'll want to pull the tank to take a good look in there and see if it's just the bolts, or if it's leaking at the valve cover gasket. If you have to pull the valve cover to replace the gasket, you should check the valve clearances while the cover is off.
motor sounds healthy and noisy top end, like i read which is preferable,..... mission creep
pain in the A, i kinda looked around, maybe i should just get the gasket but do the grommets leak?
how hard is it to check lash?
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv159/Salsadancer383/20190318_150908_zpshdlltucj.jpg) (http://s679.photobucket.com/user/Salsadancer383/media/20190318_150908_zpshdlltucj.jpg.html)
Quote from: mtc on April 02, 2019, 10:48:09 AM
how hard is it to check lash?
The shim check/adjustment is not too challenging. If I could get a Sat or Sun off I could bring my shim kit and carb balancer. If you are not in a hurry to do the adjustment then just get the gasket and bolt grommets. Easy to install with the tank off. They are good for many years and many valve adjustments.
Quote from: FJmonkey on April 02, 2019, 11:48:38 AM
Quote from: mtc on April 02, 2019, 10:48:09 AM
how hard is it to check lash?
The shim check/adjustment is not too challenging. If I could get a Sat or Sun off I could bring my shim kit and carb balancer. If you are not in a hurry to do the adjustment then just get the gasket and bolt grommets. Easy to install with the tank off. They are good for many years and many valve adjustments.
i am in so pasadena/ alhambra area, i ordered the gasket from ebay, china ( i know don't judge me) so when it get's here... i am down for it, can someone source budget grommets, this is a hobby i don't what to get out of hand financially
you are generous with your time, we could talk about that
https://www.biketeile-service.de/Yamaha-FJ-1100-21399/en/engine/valvecover/ (https://www.biketeile-service.de/Yamaha-FJ-1100-21399/en/engine/valvecover/)
I have these installed for a couple of years.
Quote from: balky1 on April 03, 2019, 03:08:24 AM
https://www.biketeile-service.de/Yamaha-FJ-1100-21399/en/engine/valvecover/ (https://www.biketeile-service.de/Yamaha-FJ-1100-21399/en/engine/valvecover/)
I have these installed for a couple of years.
thanks found a set on ebay
Did you try these guys? RPM (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2GH-1111G-00-00) in stock and to you in socal in a day or two.
Checking the lash is easy. (You just have to rotate the crank until the cams are pointing away from the valves for that cylinder, try to slip different-thickness feeler gauges in each one until you find the size that slips between the cam and the shim, and that's your clearance. You can check four valves for that cylinder, then rotate and check the four valves on the next cylinder, then the next one, then the next one.)
Changing the shims, if needed(*), is a bit more involved, because you have to rotate the crank until the cams are pointing *toward* (and pressing down on) the valves, and then you have to bolt the Valve Adjustment Tool into place to hold that valve down, then you rotate the crank some more to get the cam out of the way while the Valve Adjustment Tool holds the valve down. This gives you room to pop the shim out and slip a new one in there.
(*) There are 16 valves. Most of the times I've checked, I've needed to change zero of them. A few times, I've found one or two that needed to be changed, and only a couple of times did I find three or four that needed to be changed.
Either way, a new valve cover gasket and a new set of valve cover bolt grommets should keep the oil from leaking onto the cylinder head and exhaust pipes, and then your bike won't mimic a barbeque grill at stoplights.
Good luck.
- Bill
Quote from: Bill_Rockoff on April 03, 2019, 03:32:29 PM
Checking the lash is easy. (You just have to rotate the crank until the cams are pointing away from the valves for that cylinder, try to slip different-thickness feeler gauges in each one until you find the size that slips between the cam and the shim, and that's your clearance. You can check four valves for that cylinder, then rotate and check the four valves on the next cylinder, then the next one, then the next one.)
Changing the shims, if needed(*), is a bit more involved, because you have to rotate the crank until the cams are pointing *toward* (and pressing down on) the valves, and then you have to bolt the Valve Adjustment Tool into place to hold that valve down, then you rotate the crank some more to get the cam out of the way while the Valve Adjustment Tool holds the valve down. This gives you room to pop the shim out and slip a new one in there.
(*) There are 16 valves. Most of the times I've checked, I've needed to change zero of them. A few times, I've found one or two that needed to be changed, and only a couple of times did I find three or four that needed to be changed.
Either way, a new valve cover gasket and a new set of valve cover bolt grommets should keep the oil from leaking onto the cylinder head and exhaust pipes, and then your bike won't mimic a barbeque grill at stoplights.
Good luck.
- Bill
you nailed it, bbq grill smoking at stop lights, i guess when moving the smoke clears
yeah i am gona check the lash
and i guess you guys deduced without my visual as to where the oil was coming from that is is the top gasket, saves me trouble bc i tired looking again today on the relatively clean motor and saw nothing
best case i see where the specs are with the lash,
worse case leak is still there
sounds like a good case to switch out parts to see if it's fixed, going back to being 16 years old
Quote from: RPM - Robert on April 03, 2019, 02:02:31 PM
Did you try these guys? RPM (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2GH-1111G-00-00) in stock and to you in socal in a day or two.
rpm is great, but knowing me and my frugal self, i am ashamed to admit, i always shop around for a bargain, hope i don't offend anyone for being that way
I don't think they take offense at someone saving a few bucks. Personally for me, I don't mind spending a few extra bucks to help support the guys who help keep our bikes running with their parts, customer support, & simply the knowledge provided. Instead of giving money to some corporation that doesn't give a damn about keeping your bike together because they sell everything from kazoos to muffler bearings and everything in between.
I'm with Copper on this, although being in the UK makes it impractical for me to buy my parts from RPM.
I know I can save a few pennies by shopping around for the lowest price, but I value service and assistance much more highly than cheapest parts. Although I do most of my maintenance myself, I buy parts from a small number of people/friends who I know and trust - and who I know I can turn to for advice (of the odd special tool) when I need it - or for specific parts I need quickly.
If I lived in the US, I'd buy all my parts from RPM.
Quote from: mtc on April 03, 2019, 03:50:56 PM
Quote from: RPM - Robert on April 03, 2019, 02:02:31 PM
Did you try these guys? RPM (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=2GH-1111G-00-00) in stock and to you in socal in a day or two.
rpm is great, but knowing me and my frugal self, i am ashamed to admit, i always shop around for a bargain, hope i don't offend anyone for being that way
No offense taken here. :drinks:
Quote from: copper on April 03, 2019, 04:21:48 PM
I don't think they take offense at someone saving a few bucks. Personally for me, I don't mind spending a few extra bucks to help support the guys who help keep our bikes running with their parts, customer support, & simply the knowledge provided. Instead of giving money to some corporation that doesn't give a damn about keeping your bike together because they sell everything from kazoos to muffler bearings and everything in between.
i agree, i just bought the bike, with that and insurance, dmv fees and tax, and now tires, it is adding up, i want to save were i can and when the time comes i want to purchase some rpm specialty products, in the future, not now, but not all at once but a little at a time
right now i had the bike for 2 weeks and i want to give in a good pre flight inspection and fix the dangerous , fire hazards ( thank you fjowners, and potential grenading stuff
it had no front brakes with the grease on the front pad one of them..wtf scary 150 mile ride back home
ignition lock broke and key won't go it
pods that keep falling off
foam on the side covers turning to dust and getting sucked in the engine
dripping valve cover gasket, choking me out
dyna 2000 loose and blocking my new airbox
and now new tires, mounting a balance
$$$$$$$ for just a hobby, not gona race, just for weekends and not for commute, just to have around and putts around, and tinker with
all kinds of BS
the stuff i am considering are fork valves, cooler, fork brace, but have not finalized that until i spend some saddle time on the bike to see what is she all about
and i gotta pace myself with the mechanical work... it's called work...those parts just don't miraculously install themselves, take for instance the oil cooler, "drop oil pan and drop exhaust" omg
right now i am burdened with must do's... then the want to do... factoring my willingness to do, spending is just part of it
neglect is another approach , but no one here knows what that means lol
thank you all!
Sounds like you have a plan.....best of luck :good:
Hopefully you don't get hit by the dreaded Moditis bug too soon !
for the valve adjustment just watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCa556ObEi8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCa556ObEi8)
also be careful if you have not done this before, there are clearance specifications for Inches and MM. be sure you are looking at the correct ones.
Quote from: Paul.1478 on April 04, 2019, 06:29:01 AM
for the valve adjustment just watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCa556ObEi8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCa556ObEi8)
also be careful if you have not done this before, there are clearance specifications for Inches and MM. be sure you are looking at the correct ones.
ok thanks for helping