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Valve Stem Seal Replacement

Started by Greg C, June 08, 2018, 12:25:35 PM

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Greg C

Hello Everyone!

I purchased my 1990 FJ1200 last October. I didn't get to do much riding before late April/May (Ohio winter is long). I had noticed that it smoked a bit at start up, but it didn't seem too bad. During a Memorial Day trip (we did 1200 or so miles) it started smoke quite a bit more at start up. My brother joked that we were Smokey and the Bandits (he and my father were riding Suzuki Bandits). The last four hundred miles of the trip were ridden in one day and at pretty high speeds (80-90mph consistently) and the FJ used more oil that I would have liked.

Long story short, the valve stem seals need replaced. I've ordered some from RPM (along with a valve cover gasket and the valve cover bolt grommets). My brother and I are going to change the seals without removing the head. He's done it on larger engines and is pretty confident we can do it on the FJ (I have a manual). I was wondering before we started on it if there is a thread that discusses this topic and if anyone has done the same? Any tips, warnings, etc?

Greg
1990 FJ1200
Previous Bikes
1992 FJ1200
1983 GL650
1982 CB650
1980 CB750
1978 KZ200 (first bike)


movenon

It can be done.  I have done it both ways.  BUT I recommend you think about removing the head.  Not that hard and you can check your valve seats clean up and light lap etc. .   Might take you one extra day of time and a head gasket and one o ring from memory.  IMO a lot easier to adjust the valves on the bench.  I am assuming you have a TQ wrench and service manual on hand.   Good choice on the RPM seals.
Life isn't about having the best, but about making the best of what you have...

1990 FJ 1200

oldktmdude

   If it consumed a lot of oil, it's not just the valve seals. The rings are the other area that consumes oil. Compression numbers mean nothing when oil is being burned, it's the oil rings at fault. The FJ motors that I have pulled apart, as well as other FJ owners pulling their own apart, all have either or both, worn oil rings
or oil rings that have lost tension.
I hope your's can be fixed by just replacing valve seals but I very much doubt it.
   Good luck,regards, Pete.   :good2:
1985 FJ1100 x2 (1 sold)
2009 TDM 900
1980 Kawasaki Z1R Mk11 (sold and still regretting it)
1979 Kawasaki Z650 (sold)
1985 Suzuki GSXR 400 x2 (next project)
2001 KTM 520 exc (sold)
2004 GasGas Ec300
1981 Honda CB 900 F (sold)
1989 Kawasaki GPX 600 Adventure

ZOA NOM

Smoke at startup is not likely rings. Valve seals for sure.
Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

ribbert

Quote from: ZOA NOM on June 09, 2018, 08:25:43 AM
Smoke at startup is not likely rings.

The stated oil consumption is however. Valve stem seals would not account for the oil it is using.
"Tell a wise man something he doesn't know and he'll thank you, tell a fool something he doesn't know and he'll abuse you"

CutterBill

What Noel says...

Excessive oil consumption at freeway speeds is usually caused by worn oil control rings.  I'm sure the valve stem seals also need to be replaced, but they may not fix the problem.
Bill
Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old.

Current Stable:                                                     
FJ1100                                              
FJ1200 (4)
1999 Yamaha WR400 (street-legal)
2015 Super Tenere
2002 Honda Goldwing

ZOA NOM

Quote from: ribbert on June 10, 2018, 08:32:27 AM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on June 09, 2018, 08:25:43 AM
Smoke at startup is not likely rings.

The stated oil consumption is however. Valve stem seals would not account for the oil it is using.

Agreed. I should have read the entire post.
Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

FJ Flyer

Thought this was going to be a wheel/tire thread.....
Chris P.
'16 FJR1300ES
'87 FJ1200
'76 DT250

Wear your gear.


ZOA NOM

Quote from: FJ Flyer on June 11, 2018, 05:43:50 AM
Thought this was going to be a wheel/tire thread.....

Haha, good catch. Technically, the valves DO have stems...
Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

Greg C

Thanks Everyone.  :Face palm: I guess the title of the post was a bit misleading. ; )

To clarify: it smokes terribly at start up. I mean a lot. It'll fill the garage to zero visibility levels. It used about a half quart of oil in 1300ish miles with 8 or so major morning smoke outs and quite a few other start ups (without huge smoke outs). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the valve seals slow it down, but considering my luck and the money pit this thing has become I wouldn't doubt I'll end up having the motor out of it before it's done.

1990 FJ1200
Previous Bikes
1992 FJ1200
1983 GL650
1982 CB650
1980 CB750
1978 KZ200 (first bike)

balky1

Quote from: Greg C on June 11, 2018, 08:04:14 PM
Thanks Everyone.  :Face palm: I guess the title of the post was a bit misleading. ; )

To clarify: it smokes terribly at start up. I mean a lot. It'll fill the garage to zero visibility levels. It used about a half quart of oil in 1300ish miles with 8 or so major morning smoke outs and quite a few other start ups (without huge smoke outs). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the valve seals slow it down, but considering my luck and the money pit this thing has become I wouldn't doubt I'll end up having the motor out of it before it's done.



Don't get discouraged. It might seem as a money pit now, but if you do it right and fix it all you can have more than 100k happy kilometers.


FJ 1100, 1985, sold
FJR 1300, 2009

jscgdunn

Try putting the bike on the centre stand instead of the side stand.  On the side stand that oil that is in the head at shut off pools to the left side and then leaks into cylinder 1.  Might fix the smoke outs.
92 FJ1200 2008 ZX14 Forks, wheels, 2008 cbr 600 RR swingarm
92 FJ1200 2009 R1 Swinger, Forks, Wheels, 2013 CBR 1000 Shock
90 FJ 1200 (Son # 2), Stock
89 FJ 1200 Built from parts: (Brother bought it) mostly 92 parts inc. motor
84 FJ 1100 (Son #1), 89 forks wheels, blue spots

PaulG

Quote from: balky1 on June 12, 2018, 12:25:28 AM
Don't get discouraged. It might seem as a money pit now, but if you do it right and fix it all you can have more than 100k happy kilometers.

If not more.  :yes:  My '92 has never been opened up (as far as I know), outside of valve shim adjustment & new clutch, and I've owned it for 11yrs now. About 230,000km (~140k mi) and I go through 1L oil in approx 3-4,000km.(~2k mi).  For me that's still ok consumption for that much mileage.

Like Balky said, don't get discouraged.  What you're experiencing is probably abuse/negligence by PO's and not any inherent defect in the FJ.  Take the time to get it sorted right, and you may never have to open it again for a very long time.

Be warned though, once you open her up you may start thinking, "Hmmmm... a big bore kit would be a convenient mod about now..."   :sarcastic:

1992 FJ1200 ABS
YouTube Channel Paul G


Greg C

Quote from: PaulG on June 13, 2018, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: balky1 on June 12, 2018, 12:25:28 AM
Don't get discouraged. It might seem as a money pit now, but if you do it right and fix it all you can have more than 100k happy kilometers.

If not more.  :yes:  My '92 has never been opened up (as far as I know), outside of valve shim adjustment & new clutch, and I've owned it for 11yrs now. About 230,000km (~140k mi) and I go through 1L oil in approx 3-4,000km.(~2k mi).  For me that's still ok consumption for that much mileage.

Like Balky said, don't get discouraged.  What you're experiencing is probably abuse/negligence by PO's and not any inherent defect in the FJ.  Take the time to get it sorted right, and you may never have to open it again for a very long time.

Be warned though, once you open her up you may start thinking, "Hmmmm... a big bore kit would be a convenient mod about now..."   :sarcastic:



"Be warned though, once you open her up you may start thinking, "Hmmmm... a big bore kit would be a convenient mod about now..."

That's what I'm worried about. ; )
1990 FJ1200
Previous Bikes
1992 FJ1200
1983 GL650
1982 CB650
1980 CB750
1978 KZ200 (first bike)