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General Category => Yamaha FJ1100 / FJ1200 Running Problems => Topic started by: scotto on November 16, 2012, 03:19:26 AM

Title: smoky top end
Post by: scotto on November 16, 2012, 03:19:26 AM
Hi guys. I from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Need a bit of help. Have had many, many bikes. Sold 5 last year, including and xs1100 and an XJ900N. Very sad, but downsized home.

Haveing said that, I have a bad addiction and I am currently looking at an FJ1200 that some clown has painted all black (including over the stickers!) and which has smoke coming from the top end, even though he has "had a mate change the gasket". After he again saw smoke emerging from under the fuel tank he parked it up and is now selling cheap. Despite the sacrilegious paint job, I am tempted as it has good tyres, braided lines and is still an FJ.

Do you concur that this is probably the valve seat rubbers? That's what I reckon anyway. So tempted to buy it, even though ratty FJ1200, my preference has always been for function over form. I like things to work well, regardless of look.

Thanks very much for your help, and for this fantastic site. TA

Scott Johnston
Currently Honda VT750DC Black Widow, XV1100, BMWK1100LT and maybe an FJ
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: The General on November 16, 2012, 03:48:54 AM
Let me clarify.....Sold 5 bikes last year and downsized residence. Withdrawals might be releived by a smokey FJ Purchase.... Scarey, but that makes sense to me.
Welcome Scotty  :hi: my name`s Doug and I am an ouchaholic. Sureley owner will let ya take her hat off ta check her out. Maths will then give ya the solution, but ya heart already knows the answer.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: FJmonkey on November 16, 2012, 06:57:54 AM
Welcome Scott, find where its leaking and fix it. The FJs are easy to work on and fix. The valve cover gasket and the valve cover bolt seals are most often the cause of a top end oil leak. Use a flashlight to make sure, order the gasket and grommets from RPM. Since you will have the cover off might as well check the valves so you don't have any too tight. What year FJ did you get?
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Dads_FJ on November 16, 2012, 08:05:13 AM
Just because someone replaced the gasket doesn't mean it was done right... and if they didn't replace the valve cover grommets where the bolts go through they should have.  Here's a 'nother thought... the oil cooler sits right in front of the exhaust header, and that would make a fair amount of smoke if there were a little hole pissing oil on the exhaust, that would be easy to check too.

And welcome to the club.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: FJSpringy on November 16, 2012, 03:08:29 PM
Quote from: scotto on November 16, 2012, 03:19:26 AM
Hi guys. I from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Need a bit of help.


yep, move south  (popcorn)











btw welcome :lol:
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Harvy on November 16, 2012, 04:08:07 PM
Yes Scott, almost certain to be either the cam cover gasket or the grommets on the bolts which fasten that cover.


Harvy
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: scotto on November 16, 2012, 06:15:07 PM
Quote from: The General on November 16, 2012, 03:48:54 AM
Let me clarify.....Sold 5 bikes last year and downsized residence. Withdrawals might be releived by a smokey FJ Purchase.... Scarey, but that makes sense to me.
Welcome Scotty  :hi: my name`s Doug and I am an ouchaholic. Sureley owner will let ya take her hat off ta check her out. Maths will then give ya the solution, but ya heart already knows the answer.

Well Dough. My answer is....always wanted an FJ. Always wanted and FJ. I'll squeeze it in somehow and maybe sell one of others, probably the XV.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: scotto on November 16, 2012, 06:17:23 PM
Quote from: FJSpringy on November 16, 2012, 03:08:29 PM
Quote from: scotto on November 16, 2012, 03:19:26 AM
Hi guys. I from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Need a bit of help.


yep, move south  (popcorn)


I agree. This darn place was only meant for locals and convicts. Not some escapee Scotsman like me. A man wasn't meant to sweat like this, at least not while standing up. Scott J








btw welcome :lol:
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: scotto on November 16, 2012, 06:19:02 PM
Quote from: Harvy on November 16, 2012, 04:08:07 PM
Yes Scott, almost certain to be either the cam cover gasket or the grommets on the bolts which fasten that cover.


Harvy

Thanks very much for help. Should be a simple fix. ta
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: racerrad8 on November 16, 2012, 06:48:02 PM
Quote from: Harvy on November 16, 2012, 04:08:07 PM
Yes Scott, almost certain to be either the cam cover gasket or the grommets on the bolts which fasten that cover.


Harvy

If the valve cover gasket (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Head%3AV%2FCGasket) has been replaced, then it will be the bolt grommet seals and eight are required.

FJ Valve Cover Grommet (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Head%3AFJGrommet)
(http://www.rpmracingca.com/prodimages/large/Head%20FJGrommet-1.jpg)

Randy - RPM

Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: movenon on November 16, 2012, 09:04:13 PM
Welcome ! I agree with Dads_FJ in the above post. "trust no one" :). The oil leak is probably a simple fix. Ask and check for the more expensive problems like a second gear issue etc. Don't pay a lot and get it home. One thing about the FJ's, there is no shortage of good, advice and for now a good parts availability. I had a good time in Brisbane way back in 1969 for Anzac Day (Hope I spelled it right). Great city, nice people Went on to Sydney and Wellington, NZ after that. Good times.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Klavdy on November 16, 2012, 10:46:17 PM
Trust Randy.
Ask his advice.
Buy stuff from him.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Dan Filetti on November 17, 2012, 07:42:50 AM
Quote from: Klavdy on November 16, 2012, 10:46:17 PM
Trust Randy.
Ask his advice.
Buy stuff from him.

EOM
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: radiotek on November 18, 2012, 03:20:31 AM
Quote from: FJSpringy on November 16, 2012, 03:08:29 PM
Quote from: scotto on November 16, 2012, 03:19:26 AM
Hi guys. I from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Need a bit of help.


yep, move south  (popcorn)











btw welcome :lol:

Ha ha! Hi Scotty welcome, I'm on the south-side and originally from Sydney but I believe BNE is a better option. It still gets stinking hot in Sydney the traffic is evil, there are revenue cameras everywhere plus you have to get roadworthy's every time you re-register your bike or cage. Having said that FJSpringy, I do miss it.

Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 09:20:58 PM
I have what appears to be an oil leak, only when the engine is good and hot, coming from under one of my cylinder head nuts. Has anyone else experienced this? It is the 2nd from the left (front) as you sit on the bike.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Pat Conlon on December 10, 2012, 09:43:33 PM
No on the cylinder head nuts, yes on the cam cover bolts (grommets).... that's what we are talking about.

Terminology is important.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: ribbert on December 10, 2012, 10:27:27 PM
Quote from: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.

Any oil leaks from the
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Dan Filetti on December 11, 2012, 12:19:15 PM
Quote from: ribbert on December 10, 2012, 10:27:27 PM
Quote from: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.

Any oil leaks from the

This reply needs
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: SlowOldGuy on December 11, 2012, 12:28:37 PM
Quote from: Dan Filetti on December 11, 2012, 12:19:15 PM
Quote from: ribbert on December 10, 2012, 10:27:27 PM
Quote from: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.

Any oil leaks from the

This reply needs

I get the feeling something is

DavidR.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: tmkaos on December 11, 2012, 12:36:57 PM
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on December 11, 2012, 12:28:37 PM
Quote from: Dan Filetti on December 11, 2012, 12:19:15 PM
Quote from: ribbert on December 10, 2012, 10:27:27 PM
Quote from: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.

Any oil leaks from the

This reply needs


I get the feeling something is

DavidR.

In order to fix this issue you MUST first

James
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Goetz on December 11, 2012, 12:50:28 PM
Quote from: tmkaos on December 11, 2012, 12:36:57 PM
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on December 11, 2012, 12:28:37 PM
Quote from: Dan Filetti on December 11, 2012, 12:19:15 PM
Quote from: ribbert on December 10, 2012, 10:27:27 PM
Quote from: Goetz on December 10, 2012, 10:02:44 PM
Could be that oil is leaking down from a split grommet. Ill check it out later.

Any oil leaks from the

This reply needs



I get the feeling something is

DavidR.

In order to fix this issue you MUST first

James

Never gonna let you
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Pat Conlon on December 11, 2012, 01:28:43 PM
I saw Noel's reply yesterday before he edited it.....It said something like...
"...if you have a leak at the cam bolt grommets, the oil is gonna leak forward onto the exhaust pipes so the oil smoke should not be coming from under the seat..."
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Goetz on December 11, 2012, 01:36:31 PM
Ah, makes sense. I will give the engine a good degreasing next time i have the tank off
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: SlowOldGuy on December 11, 2012, 04:55:03 PM
"Fun Police" Pat spoils our thread by posting useful FACTS.
AGAIN!
Sheesh...  Next he'll be spell checking every post....  :-)

DavidR.
Title: Re: smoky top end
Post by: Goetz on December 11, 2012, 06:22:13 PM
but, while we are on the subject, Just how much smoke is normal from the crankcase breather filter?