Valve cover leak.

[Tenman]

I was just checking my plugs and one had a little oil standing in the plug well. Just enough to soak the threads when I pulled it out. I ran my $10 dollar scope in the plug hole and saw where a fat drop or two dripped on the piston. Piston was kinda crusty with carbon. I assume this is a valve cover leak. 47000 miles. Looks like I'll be going to a stealership. Anybody else had this happen?

 

[Tenman]

Yes I am. Haven't even thought about it. At my first check they told me I didn't need any adjustments. I think it was $425 for the check.

 

[EricV]

I just had my first valve check on the 2015 done at Yamaha of Harrison in Harrison, AR. There is a Days Inn right across the parking lot. $70/Hr shop rate and they did the job while I waited, so to speak. No re-shim needed for me. $305 for the job. I did the plugs, air filter and TB balance before I took it up there as well as an oil/filter change, etc. Great shop, 5 star trained techs. I made the appointment for 9am, they open at 8:30 and I had the bike there and waiting with less than a gallon of gas in the tank. Took my panniers off and they let me park them in the waiting area. I also left my upper crash bars at home to make it easier on them.

Hotel only gave me late check out at noon. Bike was nearly done by then. I took my gear over to the dealership and left it with my panniers, then walked down the street for lunch at an Arbys. (there is a Walmart there too). By the time I returned 20 minutes later, the bike was waiting for me. Settled up the bill, tossed stuff back on the bike and changed into my riding gear and off I went. Was home in Tupelo by dark.

They needed a week to order the valve cover gasket so they had it on hand. Great people to work with. Much better confidence in their work than the Memphis shop that told me "if it's not having trouble starting, I wouldn't even bother to do the valve check." Some of the other Yamaha dealers I called from AL to TN were quoting me 9-10 hours labor to do the valve check! WTF, like they haven't done one before?? One actually said the tech that used to do the valve checks quit and they didn't really have a tech to do them any more. That was a Yamaha dealer!

All in all, a good experience. Some fun riding in Northern AR too. I ended up riding up the day before, getting a room at the Days inn, having some Chinese at the restaurant in the parking lot of the hotel, then taking the bike over in the morning for the service work.

They are closed Mondays, so I made my appointment on Tuesday. Probably could set it up for a Sat too, and give yourself Sun to ride if need be. 400 mile ride for you, so maybe not so practical. You might give Cycle Shack North a call. ~250 miles from Natchez. No experience with them, but they are your closest listed Yamaha Pro dealer.

CYCLE SHACK NORTH
1101 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH
CONROE, TX 77301

 

[SilverBullet]

I can't recommend Cycle Shack North. They wanted to turn a noisy Gen 1 CCT replacement into my bike staying with them for a 3 week repair. This was after service dept confirmed a streamlined process on the phone so I wasted a 3 hr roundtrip drive to them.

Instead I scheduled the repair in advance over the phone and drove 400 miles roundtrip to this dealer. Bike finished and I was on my way in under 3 hours.

Recent ownership and name change. Used to be Yamaha Sportscenter of Longview. Previous owner is a Tenere owner.

Dirty Deeds Powersports
1508 W Loop 281, Longview, TX 75604
(903) 295-8697
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5hpyo

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[Tenman]

I just had my first valve check on the 2015 done at Yamaha of Harrison in Harrison, AR. There is a Days Inn right across the parking lot. $70/Hr shop rate and they did the job while I waited, so to speak. No re-shim needed for me. $305 for the job. I did the plugs, air filter and TB balance before I took it up there as well as an oil/filter change, etc. Great shop, 5 star trained techs. I made the appointment for 9am, they open at 8:30 and I had the bike there and waiting with less than a gallon of gas in the tank. Took my panniers off and they let me park them in the waiting area. I also left my upper crash bars at home to make it easier on them.

Hotel only gave me late check out at noon. Bike was nearly done by then. I took my gear over to the dealership and left it with my panniers, then walked down the street for lunch at an Arbys. (there is a Walmart there too). By the time I returned 20 minutes later, the bike was waiting for me. Settled up the bill, tossed stuff back on the bike and changed into my riding gear and off I went. Was home in Tupelo by dark.

They needed a week to order the valve cover gasket so they had it on hand. Great people to work with. Much better confidence in their work than the Memphis shop that told me "if it's not having trouble starting, I wouldn't even bother to do the valve check." Some of the other Yamaha dealers I called from AL to TN were quoting me 9-10 hours labor to do the valve check! WTF, like they haven't done one before?? One actually said the tech that used to do the valve checks quit and they didn't really have a tech to do them any more. That was a Yamaha dealer!

All in all, a good experience. Some fun riding in Northern AR too. I ended up riding up the day before, getting a room at the Days inn, having some Chinese at the restaurant in the parking lot of the hotel, then taking the bike over in the morning for the service work.

They are closed Mondays, so I made my appointment on Tuesday. Probably could set it up for a Sat too, and give yourself Sun to ride if need be. 400 mile ride for you, so maybe not so practical. You might give Cycle Shack North a call. ~250 miles from Natchez. No experience with them, but they are your closest listed Yamaha Pro dealer.

CYCLE SHACK NORTH
1101 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH
CONROE, TX 77301

Thanx for the info. Sounds good. I rode a RD 350 from Natchez to Harrison in 74. Slept in a sleeping bag. Got a ticket outside Little Rock. Forgot my license.

 

[4jranch]

The valve cover gasket is very hard to get in place and is likely the source of your leak. With that small of a leak I would be tempted to leave it be and just wick out the oil on occasion. I doubt it would hurt much in the spark plug well. Will probable be corrected with the new gasket at valve check. Your call on when that needs to be done. It is a challenging job, particularly getting that gasket in just right. I will likely postpone my next one a little longer as I know where the valves were at the last interval.

 

[HeliMark]

This is what was found on my second valve check. Explained the slight oil burn.

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[Tenman]

After I put my plugs back in. I took a ride and got the high idle at 2500 rpm crap going. First time I've had it.

 

[Tenman]

My high idle went away after a few days. Hasn't done it in 2 months. I'm still holding off on the recall 2. It been running like a champ.

 

[Tenman]

This is what was found on my second valve check. Explained the slight oil burn.

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Seems like that oring would just leak oil into the plug well.