My NMAX is blown up.

It's a 2018 V1 model.

 

It's always had a slight ticking noise, and I have heard many others with the same sound. Recently, the sound got much worse and one day it got so bad I took it to a mechanic, and it was the cam chain tensioner. After that, the noise was gone and back to the original ticking noise.

 

The other day, I was riding on an elevated road headed towards Asok with the Mrs. when there was a really strange noise, and it cut out.

Cut a story shorter, the bike ended up back at the mechanic, and it turns out it "nipped up"; he showed me the piston and cylinder.

It was just like my old RD350LC and TDR250 2-stroke when they would throw a ring and seize, sometimes damaging the bore.

He asked if I had " been in the engine", which I haven't, so then he said someone has done a bad repair before. He says 9.000 to fix.

 

Dunno If i want to really. 

 

What's Thai for "bike breakers", "second-hand parts dealers", or something like that?

I would imagine people do break up bikes and sell the parts in Thailand?

 

 

Iv'e been coming here for 20 yrs i stay in Issan for 4 months a year. Iv'e never seen a breaker they ride them till there scrapped. Sounds about right for Cylynder Rebuild they will put a patent barrel piston rebuild. I took the G/fs Dads  Aerox 150cc to have it rebuilt seized it no oil. cost just over 8k. You wont pick a 2018 D-max for under 25k so its worth it having a top end rebuild.

Take it back to the guy who did the cam tensioner, he must have screwed it up, he might realise his fault and probably gives you a lower rebuild price..., with some gaggle..., question is if want this guy to do more work on the bike...! 🙄

A ticking noise is more often a piston slap, piston against the bores, or a broken piston ring, may be little end, I would not say it was the chain tensioner, that would not cause the engine to zip up .

AS for 9000 baht to repair the engine, that is very expensive, I would ask around other dealers about a repair, it should only be? new piston and rings and probably a re-bore, top book 5000 baht?.

I had my Wave engine rebuilt, new everything, and a new 4th gear as a tooth had chipped off, genuine parts cost 4000 baht OK 2 years ago, now it's 4500.

1 hour ago, kickstart said:

A ticking noise is more often a piston slap, piston against the bores, or a broken piston ring, may be little end, I would not say it was the chain tensioner, that would not cause the engine to zip up .

AS for 9000 baht to repair the engine, that is very expensive, I would ask around other dealers about a repair, it should only be? new piston and rings and probably a re-bore, top book 5000 baht?.

I had my Wave engine rebuilt, new everything, and a new 4th gear as a tooth had chipped off, genuine parts cost 4000 baht OK 2 years ago, now it's 4500.

 

I also had a Wave worked on. Cases split and all new bearing everywhere, including the crank split. . I think from memory about 3500 Baht.

If the mechanic in question has stripped it down to find the damage the OP is more or less committed.

Yes, when it seized, I took it back to the same mechanic.

Since then, I see on Lazada you can buy a "kit" with the barrel, piston, rings,clipsand gaskets. These range from 1000 to 3000 baht. 

Dude also said the water pump was f***ed, and I have seen those on market place for 500 baht.

 

Think I will pay him a visit and double-check his original price.

 

 

Update,

 

Messaged a few people from a Facebook group for NMAX.

Cut a story short, a dude collected the bike, and it's now stripped down and in many pieces.

This mechanic and the previous one have both said the same thing: someone has stripped the engine before.

He says some of the parts are wrong for a 2018 model, and some are from a 2020 model.

 

 

 

On 8/7/2025 at 10:47 PM, BarraMarra said:

Iv'e been coming here for 20 yrs i stay in Issan for 4 months a year. Iv'e never seen a breaker they ride them till there scrapped. Sounds about right for Cylynder Rebuild they will put a patent barrel piston rebuild. I took the G/fs Dads  Aerox 150cc to have it rebuilt seized it no oil. cost just over 8k. You wont pick a 2018 D-max for under 25k so its worth it having a top end rebuild.

There is a bike breaker next to our local Lotus's 

 

Just a word shared with those who might be ignorant as myself. Ayrox to the shop ... had cut out. It had overheated. And here I thought taking it for regular service they would automatically popup fluid levels. Nope, low coolant, just toped up gear oil also. Maybe need to find a Yamaha Dealer who does a paper service here in Chiang Mai.

On 8/22/2025 at 11:14 AM, Wrwest said:

Just a word shared with those who might be ignorant as myself. Ayrox to the shop ... had cut out. It had overheated. And here I thought taking it for regular service they would automatically popup fluid levels. Nope, low coolant, just toped up gear oil also. Maybe need to find a Yamaha Dealer who does a paper service here in Chiang Mai.

Yes, you would think a top-up of fluids would be part of a service.

Sadly, people like that love to leave things in the hope it means more work in the future

For best results:

the mechanic should be presented with a list of

items to be serviced.

Keep an eye on him if possible.

Slip him B100 if he does good.

On 8/21/2025 at 10:09 PM, Bangkok Black said:

Update

How many kilometres on the clock? 

 

I'd take it to the Yamaha dealer for repairs.

 

You may end up on the side of the road, broken down in a few months time having Somchai fix it