Got the motor back together Sunday after a valve check on Saturday. It took me virtually all day Saturday to do what many of you can do in an hour, but I'm a parts changer not a mechanic and as such, I've got to take it very slow, double (and triple) checking every single step to make sure I'm doing it right.
On Monday, I put the throttle cables together ( ), propped the tank up, filled her up with coolant, and fired her up. Of course, she comes to life instantly and we just stood there listening to her fast idle slowly and automatically reduce as she comes to running temperature. Like any biker worth his salt, I simply cannot resist the temptation to blip the throttle on occasion. I know that there is no logical reason for me doing so, except that I like hearing the sound through the exhaust. I would never do this at a stop light, but in the privacy of my workshop, it's just too tempting to resist.
With the motor still in full view, I can hear the internals moving round and round, up and down. I don't smell fuel out of the exhaust. I really like this about the FJR. I follow many other riders on other bikes and many of them, especially the ones with aftermarket exhaust, are running rich as I can smell fuel even keeping a 2-second following distance in open air. But not my bike. She's running very clean. The pitch is perfect and in tune, with not even a peep of knock, clatter, ping, or anything of the sort. There is hardly any vibration to be felt.
She's purring like a kitten with a full belly.
We check for any sign of a leak, and finding none, we shut her down to cool off just a little so we can top off the coolant and hook up the manometers for the T/B sync.
The Yamaha FJR1300 is one smooth machine, man.
The 2025 Calendar Voting is now live! Click here to vote!
Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
- Hppants
- Contributor
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 7007
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 9:22 pm
- FJRModel: 2021ES
- x 13815
- x 12791
Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
Steel_Gin, Full House, wheatonFJR and 3 others loved this
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living. Or get busy dying."
- Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption
- Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption
- bigjohnsd
- Contributor
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 6043
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 4:28 pm
- FJRModel: 2021 BMW R1250GSA "Gray Ghost II"
- Location: Black Hills, SD I-90 Exit 14
- x 10185
- x 9558
Re: Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
You saved more than enough doing this maintenance to pay for the Phone Call to England. JSNS
Steel_Gin and BkerChuck loved this
"The only Dumb Question is the unasked Question " - Anonymous
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
Eat every Sandwich like it is your last!
- ionbeam
- Contributor
- Veteran
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:14 am
- FJRModel: '15ES in Low-Viz Assfault Gray
- Location: Sandown, NH
- x 534
- x 5425
Re: Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
Congratulations on getting 'er done -- correctly. It is a project to access the valves, it is a project to remove the cam(s) and change shims and it is a project to get it all put back together -- correctly. I think you just became a one percenter, the number of riders which do their own shimmed valve adjustments. Take your right hand, extend it out, reach over your left shoulder and give yourself a well earned pat on the back
DON'T listen to sparkplug area like this, if a plug cap is loose or the plug wire is cracked you may get the shock of your life!!!
Find a long metal rod, very long screwdriver or even a length of COPPER pipe (must be metal), then with the engine running, place it against the engine, side covers or the exhaust headers, close to the engine. Put your ear on the other end of the rod/pipe and listen. What you hear with your new found "mechanic's stethoscope" will be amazing; you can hear the cams spin, valves operate and gears all turning, whirring and churning. It's interesting and educational. No mystery noise or vibration can hide from you any more.
DON'T listen to sparkplug area like this, if a plug cap is loose or the plug wire is cracked you may get the shock of your life!!!
Hppants and wheatonFJR loved this
- bungie4
- I post more than I ride
- Posts: 6978
- Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:43 pm
- FJRModel: 2013 FJR 1300
- x 3767
- x 6388
Re: Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
A garden variety coil will make you feel like Bill the Cat. Don't ask me how I know.
HotRodZilla and Hppants loved this
WWPD.
#SnowMexican
Choo choo mf'r.
D.F.I.U.N.
#SnowMexican
Choo choo mf'r.
D.F.I.U.N.
- Uncle Hud
- Veteran
- Posts: 3575
- Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2016 1:52 pm
- FJRModel: 2015 ES, with new fairings!
- Location: Smyrna, metro Atlanta
- x 7246
- x 2758
Re: Man, she purrs like a kitten with a full belly
NIce, Bungie; you stayed with the "purring like a kitten" metaphor!
HotRodZilla loved this
*** You can't get into trouble in second gear. ***
IBA 62517
IBA 62517