FJRiders.com

f@$k!

Thanks Ross, I feel so much better now



Canadian FJR

Bring it down, I ain't skeered, I'll take a whack at it

Canadian FJR wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:05 am Thanks Ross, I feel so much better now



Canadian FJR

Sorry, just wondering if you had anyone local you trusted. From talking to them at the Hfx MC show, I get the impression that the service guys at Shore are decent but I haven't seen any of their work. I don't know who I would go to in NB - nobody I can think of.

I live in an area where there are a number of Yamaha dealers in a 30 mile area. When I needed major work done on my FJR I went to most of them and 'interviewed' the service people. They looked at my like I was weird (where were they wrong?). I quickly discovered that certifications and awards meant nothing about how they actually operated. Some were really assholes and from what I could see of their shops, the service that they administered unto you reflected that. I was fortunate to have found a dealer that was good and had a mechanic that had experience with the type of repair I was needing. It turned out to be a good choice.

'Wonder if this is up to date..?
Enter your VIN, get recall/warranty status.

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/en/vehicle-status-2

I'm sure there will be a detailed procedure outlining the steps to be taken so it can be done by the unfamiliar.... it is involved but not that difficult really, but sure, go to the dealer you feel comfortable with, have interviewed, etc. It won't be covered outside of a dealer, you can lay money on that.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:24 am I'm sure there will be a detailed procedure outlining the steps to be taken so it can be done by the unfamiliar.... it is involved but not that difficult really, but sure, go to the dealer you feel comfortable with, have interviewed, etc. It won't be covered outside of a dealer, you can lay money on that.

Ray... 'ever thought about opening up a dealership..?

Hack wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:33 am

raYzerman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:24 am I'm sure there will be a detailed procedure outlining the steps to be taken so it can be done by the unfamiliar.... it is involved but not that difficult really, but sure, go to the dealer you feel comfortable with, have interviewed, etc. It won't be covered outside of a dealer, you can lay money on that.

Ray... 'ever thought about opening up a dealership..?

He'd need to hire a fork seal man...

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:57 am

Hack wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:33 am

raYzerman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:24 am I'm sure there will be a detailed procedure outlining the steps to be taken so it can be done by the unfamiliar.... it is involved but not that difficult really, but sure, go to the dealer you feel comfortable with, have interviewed, etc. It won't be covered outside of a dealer, you can lay money on that.

Ray... 'ever thought about opening up a dealership..?

He'd need to hire a fork seal man...

I should update my resume...

Just spoke with the dealer.

Manager wasn't sure but he thinks I have up to 5 years to have this completed.
Yamaha is allowing 14 hours
Recall procedure;
- Transmission Add On kit
- Refer to Yamaha Service Manual
- Reflash ECU

Pretty low on details.

I'd really like to know for sure that this can be done without touching the top end.




Canadian FJR

Canadian FJR wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:05 pm Just spoke with the dealer.

Manager wasn't sure but he thinks I have up to 5 years to have this completed.
Yamaha is allowing 14 hours
Recall procedure;
- Transmission Add On kit
- Refer to Yamaha Service Manual
- Reflash ECU

Pretty low on details.

I'd really like to know for sure that this can be done without touching the top end.

Canadian FJR

If the transmission scrambles and bricks the engine before the five years, is the (complete engine) replacement on them or on you?
From what I have seen of people repairing FJR transmissions (2nd gear dogs etc.), the engine has to be dropped and the case split but I don't think anything with the top end. I know you haven't been entirely happy with the transmission on your bike - maybe this will fix that as well...

Canadian FJR wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:05 pm I'd really like to know for sure that this can be done without touching the top end.

In the one I pulled apart, nothing touched in the top end.

Here's the start of it....

http://www.fjriders.com/forums/viewtopi ... n&start=80

FJRoss wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:15 pm From what I have seen of people repairing FJR transmissions (2nd gear dogs etc.), the engine has to be dropped and the case split but I don't think anything with the top end. I know you haven't been entirely happy with the transmission on your bike - maybe this will fix that as well...

Momma Yama replaced my 2nd gear under warranty (thank you local dealer!) and the engine was in pieces on the shop workbench for four days. (I have photos.) Not pretty, and honestly made me a bit nauseous -- kinda like seeing guts in a horror movie.

I had a good chat with the shop owner (who I know & trust), he eased my mind on a few things. He did confirm (as did Festus) that they only need to split the bottom. In my mind, this is no biggie. Not that concerned. I also know that there have been a number of Yamaha transmission recalls on various models over the years. Most of these are more of a better safe than sorry story.

Time to strip my bodywork and get the old girl ready for transport.


Canadian FJR

I have not been following along real closely, but those of you that could be affecting up there in the great white north, would you be better off to not be the guinea pig so to speak. Maybe ask for a shop that has done this before before allowing them to majorly operate on your girl? Also, could you try to get them to provide an extended warranty on the drivetrain. I was very persistent on a Honda vehicle in the past about this and got them to provide an extensive umbrella policy that amounted to pretty much a bumper to bumper warranty of anything on the car that was even remotely related to the work. My Honda Prelude was leaking oil from a tiny hole in the sand casting of the lower block. This was a problem that eventually surfaced after break in. Once the engine was revved up near the redline, it squirted pressurized oil onto the exhaust header. New cars do not have oil dripping off the back of them. A Honda dealer swapped out engines. Then in my case forgot to hook up the transmission. I noticed some weird shifting right away and took it back to the dealer to investigate. I got sent home. You know my tranny was smoked/fragged by the time I brought the car back for the new engine break in. They tried to tell me it was not covered as a wear item.

I wound up with a new Honda Accord after 9 months. I post this NOT for discussion about my vehicle, but rather to get protected from the dealership jacking your girl up. The dealerships cannot be good at this. Hell, lots of them struggle with basic maintenance. Didn't Ray wind up with a whole bike in a box kind a thing? 14 hours to complete the job?? At current shop rates of $100 per hour. That is $1400 bucks on my calculator. I know you are not on the hook for that coin, but dang.

GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ENGINE. Here is how the conversation should go with the Yamma Rep. DO not talk to a shop manager guy. They have no pull on a warranty thing.

You; I would like an extended warranty with the repair since you are tearing into my bikes very precise engine.

Rep: You got your original warranty to cover any problems

You: This is a major problem would you not agree?? Your techs do not do this kind of thing often/ever.

Rep: Not really, it is an easy fix. We can handle it no problem, we have trained guys.

You: Do you have complete confidence in your techs?

Rep: Of course, we train them. We will just follow the service bulletin. It is an easy job.

You: Since you know they will do it exactly right and it will be no further problems.............the only reason you would balk at further warranty it is because you think they might mess it up. But since it can't get messed up, you're not risking anything. I am the only one who is risking their bike.

Rep: You have nothing to worry about.

You: 3 years or 36K miles extended warranty on the drivetrain would be just fine. Since I have nothing to worry about.

Obviously, I don't need to tell you to get it in writing. I do not know what the Canadian laws are like, but the US ones afforded me this back in the day. Just keep going over their head to get yourself protected. I wound up calling Honda of America in Torrance Cali and talking to a National Rep before it was all said and done.

Good luck guys.

Cav47 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:22 pm ...would you be better off to not be the guinea pig so to speak. Maybe ask for a shop that has done this before before allowing them to majorly operate on your girl?...

raYzerman wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:24 am I'm sure there will be a detailed procedure outlining the steps to be taken so it can be done by the unfamiliar.... it is involved but not that difficult really...

See, Ray says there is nothing to it, any ol' mechanic can do it, even without experience. Having taken my '04 engine out (three times) and splitting the cases (twice) my opinion varies from this.

Canadian FJR wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:05 pm ...Yamaha is allowing 14 hours...

The clock makes a difference between the casual backyard transmission repair which can take many days or weeks to complete and the shop repair where they have to get 'er done.

If you had the parts on the bench and the few special tools needed to make this happen, it could be done in a day, a 8-10 hour day. It's a pain in the ass for repairs because you don't know what's broken until you open it up, then you have to order parts and wait on them. I'd love to have all the needed parts and tools ready, including lifts, and be able to punch in at 7:00 am and start. You can have the engine out in about an hour. Takes a little longer to put it back in, but it could be a day job for sure.

Well.. it's official.
Hack needs a new tranny...

Well it won’t be fooled by entering a USA VIN. Even if you enter a canadienne postal code. Had to try.

Invalid Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) not found or invalid

Hack wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:49 am 'Wonder if this is up to date..?
Enter your VIN, get recall/warranty status.

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/en/vehicle-status-2