Some kind of time cert? Looks like you may need another head bud. I see a small cut in whatever that is on the right side of the picture. It's some kind of botched thread repair if I'm seeing what I'm looking at right.

 

I agree you might need a new head. Looks like someone used a helicoil to repair the botched threads. The plug should be perfectly aligned in the hole. They must of cross threaded the plug and screwed up the threads. I changed mine on my 2014 and the plugs are perfectly aligned in the hole

 

As said, the spark plug looks angled but it might just be the angle of the camera...
Can OP verify that?

As OP say, there look to be something outside of the porcelain part of the plug...

If you use a long socket without any rubber boot inside you might be able to get it out..

 

Looks like the electrode is bent. Do you have the plug socket that came with the tool kit? It works great and there isn’t a rubber boot in it

 

Looking a second time, is the porcelain part broken off???
Is there some part left in the ignition coil??

 

As a follow up...
I had bought CR9EIA plugs which I was reliably told fitted an '09 big bang. Ended up buying a set of box spanners to see if they were thin enough (wall thickness). Got the first one out to find out it was a LMAR9E plug. So i was originally trying to take a 14mm AF plug out with a 16mm AF socket.
So a combination of duff info. and lack of skill on my part!

 

you will get educated as you go and just remember that a simple project on a R1 turns into a MAJOR project. I changed the plugs in my 2014 R1 and it wasn’t bad just need patience. When I was trying to get the lmar9 plugs there was a nationwide backorder but I found them in California

 

Finding that out, seemingly small jobs become big ones!
Located plugs in the UK - Im in Scotland!

 

When changing number 4 cylinder plug it MUST come out through the frame and back in the same way

 

Great, thanks for the heads up. #1 not the same?

 

No 1-3 cylinders come straight out the top and a little piece of advice which happens a lot when dropping the tank back down watch so you don’t pinch the fuel line. Also while it’s apart cut the top off the air junction box where the ram air tubes go into. It will run better

 

Thanks for all the tips.
The junction box, is that #87 in the attached image? Where would the actual cut be?

 

Yes number 87 there is a indent on it that locks it into the frame cut off just above the indent. You are removing the funnel that restricts the air coming into the motor. Also put in a k&n air filter

 

Will need a look at the part itself to make sure i understand. Don't want to be lopping off the wrong bit.
KandN. Check.

 

Ok. Once you cut it off and change the filter you will feel the power difference from mid range to fully open

 

Brilliant. Thanks for the help and advice.

 

Welcome. Any other problems or questions ask me. I know R1s pretty well now from working on the beast. Have you considered getting it flashed? Makes the real beast come out of hiding🤫

 

I would be happy with it being on the road at this point. Was a bit neglected when i got it, and only now approaching the finish.
Will come back to you with more questions if need be if thats ok.

 

That’s ok. Just be patient when you work on the animal

 

Patient i can do, so long as there is progress. Slow or otherwise.

 

Lou,
Still getting there with the big bang. Found a decent garage i hope with the last bit re running issues.
I have a question for you. Ever have the neutral light not go off when in gear, and/or not indicate which gear the bike is in??

Thanks

 

No man. I never had that issue before. Maybe try to disconnect the battery a few minutes and see if that helps. How is the shifter set up? 1st gear down or up?

 

Worth asking i thought, but thanks for replying.
Will try disconnecting the battery see if it makes a difference.
First gear down.

 

I’m thinking when you disconnect the battery it might reset the computer?

 

The neutral switch or the wire are grounded out somewhere.

 

Will try a reboot, and also looking for a short.
Thanks

 

Got the bike back, well took it back after three weeks as they had done precisely nothing apart from run it on the dyno. Now its not starting.
Although there is no fault code showing, the engine management light comes on while trying to start (goes off when you take your finger off the starter).
How do i check what the engine mngmt light is referring to?
Thanks

 

This light always light up while you're pressing the starter button.

 

Does it? There you go, didnt know that, thanks.
Back to the drawing board!!

 

Reading elsewhere that the engine mngmt light should not illuminate under normal starting conditions. Its indicative of a fault, which would explain the lack of starting.
Can anyone advise what it is I'm looking for in diag mode?
Thanks in advance.

 

Kind of sort of got it started, what it was doing at the last garage, but as soon as you touch the throttle it dies. No idea what that means, hopefully someone can advise.
Thanks

 

Spray some brake cleaner around the intake boots after you get it started and see if the rpm's change. If they do, the intake boots may be cracked or something may be loose.

 

Ok thanks, will try that.

 

Just an update in case anyone was interested. Had to get the bike into a Yamaha service centre (miles away!)
just to get someone savvy. V v busy place so it was being worked on periodically.

They found that the fuel pump wasnt turning off. Mentioned hydrolock, but having googled it, I'm not so sure.
Hydrolock seems quite serious and regularly terminal, yet mine continued to turn over, just not catch.
Still, replacement pump in now.

Zero pressure on cylinder 3, so after much stripping down, they found one of the exhaust valves wasnt closing
properly. Held partially open by a cable tie!! A very frazzled looking cable tie. How it got in there I have no clue,
and may even have been in there from before I got it. Bizarre.

Bike now up and running and waiting on all the other wee jobs I have to complete before the weather improves
here in damp and miserable Scotland.