High Milage Fj

[Twowheelflyer]

  Bought a 92 FJ1200 ABS with Very high miles 98,000.Now it has 120,000.The timing chain has noise (slap) any fixes with out taking the engine apart? It still runs great !

[ribbert]

  Bought a 92 FJ1200 ABS with Very high miles 98,000.Now it has 120,000.The timing chain has noise (slap) any fixes with out taking the engine apart? It still runs great !

There are two very effective fixes for this without removing the motor.

1. Get used to or ignore the noise.

2. Earplugs.

They are all noisy, and if stretched, adjustable cam sprockets will return the timing to spec.

I have never heard of one failing and there are a number of bikes around with much higher mileage than yours.

If it's running well, just ride it.

Some of that noise may be the starter chain and clutch. They are noisy engines, particularly at idle.

If unfamiliar with air cooled motors, there is no water jacket to absorb sound and the cooling fins act like amplifiers.

This is a very common question with newly acquired FJ's

Noel

[DeltaFlyer]

  Bought a 92 FJ1200 ABS with Very high miles 98,000.Now it has 120,000.The timing chain has noise (slap) any fixes with out taking the engine apart? It still runs great !

There are two very effective fixes for this without removing the motor.

1. Get used to or ignore the noise.

2. Earplugs.

They are all noisy, and if stretched, adjustable cam sprockets will return the timing to spec.

I have never heard of one failing and there are a number of bikes around with much higher mileage than yours.

If it's running well, just ride it.

Some of that noise may be the starter chain and clutch. They are noisy engines, particularly at idle.

If unfamiliar with air cooled motors, there is no water jacket to absorb sound and the cooling fins act like amplifiers.

This is a very common question with newly acquired FJ's

Noel

Thanks for that info, Noel.

I'm in the same situation with my recently acquired '88 model. She is a bit rattly at idle, and on hot days she has a bit of a tapping noise which sounds like it's coming from the head on the left hand side... a valve maybe?

Anyhow, what would be the best indicator that the timing chain noise is normal rather than something that needs attending to for someone like me that might not be able to tell the difference between the two? i.e. how would you tell if the timing chain is excessively stretched? I'm guessing you need to look at the position of the cams relative to a reference point (at TDC maybe)?

[Arnie]

I hope Noel won't mind my jumping in here.
In answer to your question, Yes, at TDC there should be a dimple in the cam visible through the bearing cap on each cam.  If the chain has stretched, that dimple will not be seen.
It is likely that as long as the cam chain is stll being held taut by the tensioner, it is Ok. 
If there's excess free movement, the cam chain is probably due for replacement.

The starter chain is usually much noisier than the cam chain.
To replace either you will have to split the engine cases.

You can minimize the starter chain slap by making sure the idle speed is 1100-1250 rpm.

Arnie

[Mark Olson]

tapping noise is good , when it gets quiet the valves are too tight . as the engine wears the valves get tighter and need smaller shims. while you check your cams adj your valves .

[DeltaFlyer]

Thanks for the replies, I just want to make sure I have everything straight in my head before I open the rocker cover.

They certainly are noisy motors, takes some getting used to..... except on the freeway! I discovered that my bike has this sweet spot right on 114km/hr where every vibration and noise seem to completely cancel out. I swear it's like coasting with the engine off. A bit eerie, actually. But that's ok, it makes up for the exact opposite effect at 90km/hr where it almost succeeded in making my teeth fall out 

[Arnie]

IIRC, you've got a '92 FJ.  They have a rubber mounted engine which should give you a very minimal level of vibration once you're past about 3K rpm.
IF that is not the case you need to:
Adjust the valves
Balance (sync) the carbs
Check that the front mounts are not frozen
Check that the lower frame rail mount bolts are tight and unbroken
Maybe get some "vibranators" for your bars.

Arnie

[Twowheelflyer]

    Thanks for the help !

[ossylad]

hi there,

i would be interested to know how you got on with this 'noise' im having similar problems with my 1993 FJ1200 ABS. although in my case... i dont know what exactly is making the noise. its driving me nuts!! it is very irregular and seems to come from lower down beneath the bike somehere. its difficult to tell exactly because it doesnt do it at tickover. when stationary (when you can listen without your helmet on) and only does it when you are moving slowly at low engine rpm. it seems to disappear as you go faster... or maybe i just cant hear it anymore. be grateful for any tips.  cheers  ian

[bharvey60]

Ossylad - noise underneath may be exhaust.  I've read where the internals will work loose over time.  This may explain the irregular nature of the noise.  Exhaust is easy to remove and check, but given the price of new exhausts these days, I'd just live with it.

[FJmonkey]

Ossylad - noise underneath may be exhaust.  I've read where the internals will work loose over time.  This may explain the irregular nature of the noise.  Exhaust is easy to remove and check, but given the price of new exhausts these days, I'd just live with it.

The exhaust pipe issue is for the 84/85 years, double wall pipes, the inner wall breaks loose. It sounds like something might be loose inside the engine case. Father Pat had this happen at the 2012 WCR. It sounded serious, thankfully it was not and he finished the rally with no mechanical issues. The starter chain is another source of noise and rattle. It helps if you ride with other FJowners, then you get some comparative noise information.

[movenon]

Ossylad - noise underneath may be exhaust.  I've read where the internals will work loose over time.  This may explain the irregular nature of the noise.  Exhaust is easy to remove and check, but given the price of new exhausts these days, I'd just live with it.

The exhaust pipe issue is for the 84/85 years, double wall pipes, the inner wall breaks loose. It sounds like something might be loose inside the engine case. Father Pat had this happen at the 2012 WCR. It sounded serious, thankfully it was not and he finished the rally with no mechanical issues. The starter chain is another source of noise and rattle. It helps if you ride with other FJowners, then you get some comparative noise information.

From an old posting under the title FJ-LORE-3 ( http://home.online.no/~solesen/mc/fj-lore.htm ).  There was an individual that I believe rebuilt his engine top end at least twice before he found the cause to be a radial crack in the inside wall of one of his his exhaust pipes. Expensive lesson I guess.
George