She didn't smoke when I got her!

Hey 'gain,

I just finished the safety work on the jx550 -- rebuilt master cylinder, new rear brake pads, new clutch cable, unstuck throttle cable, fork oil (one side was dry!). Brakes good, feels solid now. I have ridden it maybe 5 miles, checking things over.

Now the PO described oil in the air box and claimed to have rebuilt the petcock and changed the oil -- very believable on that count. Oil doesn't smell of gas. I have not changed the oil yet, but I did top it off. It was right at the bottom of the glass.

I hit her with a good soaking of Black Magic and rinsed her pretty carefully. That's when I topped her oil. When I started her up there was tons of smoke! White smoke at first I think, but it is dark and dingy in my garage with one 40 watt bulb, and gloomy outside.

After warming up, she never stopped smoking, no more billowing clouds, but very noticeable. Meaning, I would have noticed it before haha -- I am not that clueless. I let her idle for 10 minutes or more without change.

So, I am thinking the boots are bad (pretty checked) and let water in, *and* I am getting oil in the combustion chamber (35K miles).

So -- what might the PO have done to minimize smoking? Did topping it off make a difference? (two different kinds of oil make it smoke?) Where do I start diagnosing? I know, compression check wet and dry, right?

Thanks!

 

erm, did he put seafoam i nthe tank? i guess it will make it smoke pretty badly sometimes

 

Do the Compression Check.
Battery charged full. All Plugs out. Throttles Wide Open.
Get the numbers, now, you should have gotten before.
Lets see what you got?

This time of year ... it might not be "Smoking"
It could be Heat and water vapor.

But, you finding the Oil Level low and needing to Top-Up speaks for itself.

 

PO could have put in that "No Smoke" oil additve into the tank. It's a really thick oil additive which I think prevents or minimizes blow-by. It works pretty well on engines that aren't worn too badly, but obviously it's masking a problem, not fixing it.

Blue smoke = oil
White smoke = water

Schooter's right though. If there's seafoam in the tank, that can cause that.

 

"Get the numbers, now, you should have gotten before."
ouch! haha. You mean "before I bought her" or "before I put an extra $200 in her"?

"This time of year ... it might not be "Smoking"
It could be Heat and water vapor."
well, the smoke was not distinctly blue, but not fluffy white after the first few minutes (like a blown head gasket in a water-cooled car), and it didn't stop after the engine was hot. Hmm, maybe it got *lots* of water in the boots and I'm color blind???

I will look at it in the daylight tomorrow. The compression test will have to wait until I move -- to my new place with an attached and heated garage! Have to remember to add 'battery charger' to the list.

Oh, and I did put seafoam in the tank when I filled it, but seafoam doesn't make the 750 smoke. Hmmm. Could it be that simple?

Thanks guys!

 

You might also have a bad valve guide seal (not a major repair) such that only when the engine stops with THAT valve open it dribbles oil into the combustion chamber. Take the bike for a long enough ride (more than 15 miles) to get it fully warmed up. Then see whats going on with the smoking, and see what happens the next time you start it.

 

Thanks bigfitz, interesting idea. Smokes about even from both sides, though. I am gonna pack up my shop tonight, so I will be going through tinkering-withdrawals! Will post again when I have some compression numbers.

 

not oil -- yeah! it finally stopped raining so I could take her out for her first ling ride and get her her really warmed up. No more smokey! Of course that means I have massive holes in the boots or somewhere, but better that than other problems.
Cheers!

 

I was going to make my own post, but this seems to be the place. Was this smoke/steam coming from the engine itself? I just had the same issue when I started her today... but it should be noted that I haven't started her for a couple weeks (work). Could it be in part to 35 degrees and moisture from sitting? I'm also running seafoam, but the smoke is definitively coming from the engine, though it's hard to see if there is a specific point. Any input?

 

RTV sealent works well for the boots. its a quick and easy fix there was a thread about it some ware on the site

 

hey DianCecht,
smoke from the end of the exhaust pipe, and also from right in front of the rear tire, which I took to be an exhaust leak.

Great tip on the RTV -- I will try it when I get my new shop cleaned out.

Happy Turkey!