Issue with smoke and oil?
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 217
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Issue with smoke and oil?
1997 FXDWG. Stock engine. Cv carb- 48/180 jets. Arlen ness big sucker 2 air cleaner.
So Ive been trying to get the bike started every week or so since the temp dropped to the 40s. But I cant get it started. Battery is charged fully. Charging system tested and good. No intake or exhaust leaks.
Once I let the start button go, there is a stream of white or light gray smoke that comes out of the air cleaner. Every time I try to start it. Let go- smoke. I also noticed oil coming out when I took off air cleaner to look into carb. I know I have a base gasket leak already, but what could a little oil coming out of both of the heads mean?
So Ive been trying to get the bike started every week or so since the temp dropped to the 40s. But I cant get it started. Battery is charged fully. Charging system tested and good. No intake or exhaust leaks.
Once I let the start button go, there is a stream of white or light gray smoke that comes out of the air cleaner. Every time I try to start it. Let go- smoke. I also noticed oil coming out when I took off air cleaner to look into carb. I know I have a base gasket leak already, but what could a little oil coming out of both of the heads mean?
There are a lot of questions you're going to have to answer in order to get some good advice, but for starters, I would do a compression test. The results may explain all of your symptoms or at least point you to something else.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
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if it is under 90, what is the next step
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2019
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From: Rhode Island
I have the same problem with my softail if I let it sit for more than 3 weeks. My opinion is that the bike is wet sumping oil into the cam chest.
what I do is unplug the spark plug wires, crank it for a few seconds, stop, crank for a few seconds, put the plug wires back on, engage the choke and start it up. All that oil is weighing down on the crank causing the smoke.
what I do is unplug the spark plug wires, crank it for a few seconds, stop, crank for a few seconds, put the plug wires back on, engage the choke and start it up. All that oil is weighing down on the crank causing the smoke.
If they come in under 90 and or there's more than a 10% variance between the two, then I would start looking for what is causing the combustion chamber not to seal. Could be an issue with the valves or piston rings. But the more I think about it, I have to ask, are you sure you're getting spark and fuel? I don't have a clue to the history of the bike so I'm assuming it was running fine and then you parked it for awhile and now you got problems.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
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If they come in under 90 and or there's more than a 10% variance between the two, then I would start looking for what is causing the combustion chamber not to seal. Could be an issue with the valves or piston rings. But the more I think about it, I have to ask, are you sure you're getting spark and fuel? I don't have a clue to the history of the bike so I'm assuming it was running fine and then you parked it for awhile and now you got problems.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
Put a fresh set of plugs in it and try again.
And fight the impulse to start the bike every week during the off season, just leave it be.
And fight the impulse to start the bike every week during the off season, just leave it be.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jan 17, 2020 at 07:52 AM.
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the white smoke is atomized fuel and is a normal thing at cold temps. also, with the oil so cold, it cannot drain that well from the head separation chambers and will get blown out the breather ports.
cold temp also makes metal change size. if it ran well before, try putting a heater next to it to help starting it, sorta like block heaters for cars. i still would follow the above advise but do so with the engine warm, if marginal, will only get worst as temps fall.
cold temp also makes metal change size. if it ran well before, try putting a heater next to it to help starting it, sorta like block heaters for cars. i still would follow the above advise but do so with the engine warm, if marginal, will only get worst as temps fall.