Still smokin'

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:22 pm

I posted a smoking engine problem last November and here is the follow-up.......

Just finished up a top end job replacing the cylinders, rings, valve seals and related gaskets. I started the bike and it runs great but after about 60 seconds it started smoking once again from the left exhaust. Maybe the 60 second delay before it smokes will help someone here to figure it out. There are no cracks in the head or cylinders and the valve guides are good. I don't get it. When I opened the dipstick oil spilled out so is it possible that that much oil could recycle through the intake to smoke that bad? I stuck it back into storage and don't intend to get it back out and may part it out. I don't know if I have the stomach to tear it down again.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:33 pm

Maybe it is as simple as oil in the left exhaust that will start smoking once it reaches temperature.....

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:42 pm

How long did you run it? Unless its making noise, I'd ride it until it was thoroughly warmed up and maybe, just maybe the old oil inside the left exhaust will burn off. When checking the oil on the center stand and NOT screwing in the dipstick, no oil should come out. Sounds like it might be too full as well. Is the inside of the air cleaner box wet with oil?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:47 pm

I had the exhaust hanging vertically so if there was any oil in there it should have ran out. Come to think of it, when I bought the bike it had a 6 into 1 Kerker system on it and it wasn't smoking. The guy ran it before I paid him and no smoke so maybe you are onto something. Maybe there is dried oil in the left exhaust that can't run out but starts smoking after it heats up. It smokes pretty bad though so maybe it is an engine problem. As you can see I don't know what to think.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:52 pm

Ride it for an hour or so and let us know how its doing. Before that though, make sure your oil isn't overfilled and your air cleaner box is clean. Check the air cleaner box after the ride and check the oil and if its still smoking, check the plugs to see which plug is getting oil soaked. Good luck!

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:13 pm

It isn't tagged yet so I can't ride it. How long would it be safe to run the engine sitting in the drive? I don't want it to overheat. In Kansas the Highway Patrol has to inspect all out-of-state vehicles before registration is possible.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:18 pm

If I run my motors in the garage I set a large floor fan in front of it and keep the garage door open. I would think that a half hour at 3,000 revs would be enough!?!?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:21 pm

Thanks for everyone weighing in. I am a pretty good home mechanic and am thorough when I do a job so as you can imagine I about s**t when smoke started pouring out. I will report on the results as soon as I know.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:21 pm

twinegar wrote:It isn't tagged yet so I can't ride it. How long would it be safe to run the engine sitting in the drive? I don't want it to overheat. In Kansas the Highway Patrol has to inspect all out-of-state vehicles before registration is possible.

I don't want to tell you to do anything illegal, but don't you have another bike you can take the plate from and put it on the CBX for 30 minutes?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:28 pm

A good idea that I already thought of but the smoke would probably get me pulled over and they tow switched tags here. I did that on my 75 CB750 when I was testing the restoration and a friend informed me how stinky the Kansas City cops are about that so I decided to behave.........for now anyway but I may do it later during rush hour as it is insured.

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:30 pm

Have we talked about what the "smoke" looks like? Is it blue/gray or more black?

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:17 pm

Twin, I answered the other similar thread......

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:43 pm

It's oil smoke, not fuel.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:25 pm

twinegar wrote:It's oil smoke, not fuel.

Thought it was.....

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:07 pm

Was I supposed to install any o'rings between the head and cylinders? I used the shop manual and the exploded view doesn't show anything other than the gasket. I pulled the left side plugs out last night and #1 was covered with a guey black substance so oil is getting in from somewhere. If I wind up pulling the head again I will have to have it checked for any fractures that are invisible to the naked eye because with new valve seals and no obvious cracks I just can't guess my way thru this problem.