40,000 km service - valve clearances before and after + more

On a side note, I rode home with ear plugs after the service so can't say for sure? its been pissing down since I got back and it's pegged to continue for the rest of the week. I'l try and get out for a ride minus the ear plugs tomorrow.


The following and only initial observation is therefore based on the ticking noise I previously experienced at idle before the service versus now.



Over my 4 years of ownership this ticking was always ridiculously loud even at idle. I've had the auto cam chain tensioner replaced, moved to Yamalube 15w50 R4, replaced the spark plugs but nothing ever made a dent in that noise (all well documented in different places in these forums:). Well, maybe the oil made a slight difference but ultimately riding with ear plugs eventually made it a non issue for me, which is why I didn't bother mentioning the issue to my new mechanic. I've just learned to expect it will always be there...


So I've just run the bike for the first time in my garage since the service (apples v apples), enclosed spaces normally exacerbate the ticking noise but low and behold even after 10 minutes I'm blown away at just how impossible it is to even hear the slightest tick, zip zero nothing. I'l report back once the weather clears up and I get to ride it without ear plugs.



This was my first time at an independent mechanic. What a difference in workmanship, unbelievable. She was brilliant!, spent a solid 11/12 hours on the bike, was her first MT10 and/or crossplane engine and she's potentially accomplished what no Yamaha dealership/mechanic has even got an answer for..? And if she's knocked this tick out of the park then she's done it without even knowing it was a problem to begin with.


I've always suspected the valve adjustment to be partially/fully? responsible for the severity of the noise on my bike, especially over my experience with other MT10's. But given the skills required in making these adjustments I decided to avoid the Yamaha dealerships this time around and instead rode 3 hours away from home to a mechanic I happened to encounter by chance.


My 2cents, Find yourself a good/reputable mechanic, especially for the big 40,000k service, one who knows a thing or two about valve adjustments and you never know you might just give that tick the flick.


Caveat "If it's been eliminated?" - mine started tick tocking at around 800km's from new. Therefore until I hit the 1000k mark from this service its possibly only a short lived solution, time will tell.

I once read..."A little bit of ticking means the valve is closing completely and there is a small gap between the lifter and the valve. It's not optimal but shouldn't hurt anything. If you set them too tight then there's no ticking but the valve doesn't close all the way and you get hot gasses blowing by into the head. In short, if you're going to adjust them improperly at least you did it the way that shouldn't burn your motor up."

And if that's the case it is 100% correct on my bike, no damage was ever sustained or caused by the noise. In fact, you might just be better off in the long run with a little tick 

Thanks for entering diary notes, Kameo! I noticed the tik from the moment I bought the bike and knew of the loud CP4. I think of the tik as Yamaha's version of Ducati's clacky dry clutches. I personally do not mind either noise and think it is a raw sound. The main reason I bought this bike is because it is raw compared to a fully fairing'd sportbike. Most riders will never ride a new 200hp sportbike to its potential on the street.

1800miles and counting on my 2020MT. Motul 7100 10w-40. OEM TUNE/EXHAUST. sliders and a couple radiator guards. Levers. Considering Metzlers for the next tire change.