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Nov 5, 2015 | 12:56 PM

byronk

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Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 636

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From: NorCal

Need help diagnosing *update with pics*

Well here's my issue. Bike is a 96 FB with just over 13,500 miles on it, bought it in May with 9,000 so bike sat a lot over the last 20 years until I got it. Bike runs awesome, I just did an 800 mile trip two up with the wife and it ran perfect. Just about 1500 miles ago I started going through oil and began noticing smoke when id come to a stop light but only at night cant see it during the day. Guys I ride with say they dont see smoke otherwise when they're behind me and I dont see it on start up. I'm using about a quart every 5-600 miles. Did compression test and got between 160-165 front and back. My plugs look good, rear plug has a little oil on the bottom couple threads but barely anything. I'm thinking valve seals/guides? I was gonna pull the heads this weekend and get them checked out but thought id run it by you all here first and see what everyone thinks?

Last edited by byronk; Nov 11, 2015 at 12:53 PM. Reason: Updated

Nov 5, 2015 | 03:30 PM

byronk

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 636

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From: NorCal

Oh also I live in far northern cali and there's no shops near me so I'll be shipping the heads out to be looked at/repaired. Can someone recommend a place for me to send them too? Thanks!

Nov 5, 2015 | 03:54 PM

apples402

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Joined: Nov 2013

Posts: 556

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From: nebraska

When you get your exhaust off you should see an oil trail in the exhaust port, if it is valve seals. Another member here just replaced his seals and lapped his valves at home, maybe he will chime in shortly.

Nov 5, 2015 | 04:13 PM

Racepres

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 8,590

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From: Cental, MI

Don't go and do no Home brew crap....Either do the entire top end [Correctly]...or Ride it..It sure ain't got no miles on it...Change to a different Oil...don't care what...just different Oil......

Me...I ride 'em till they absolutely need help...then...I rebuild the Whole **** and Shebang....Ride...Repeat.

Nov 5, 2015 | 04:25 PM

byronk

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Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 636

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From: NorCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by apples402

Thanks for the heads up on what to look for.

Nov 5, 2015 | 04:34 PM

byronk

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 636

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From: NorCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racepres

No idea about home brew crap, although I do love a good home brew! Guess I look at it differently far as if somethings wrong with my bike im gonna fix it. If I have to do the whole top end I will, but if I just have a bad valve seal(s) then why not pull just the head(s) and fix it? Im not interested in taking a quart of oil with me on every out of town trip or a bike that smokes. Thanks for chiming in though!

Nov 5, 2015 | 04:35 PM

SIDECAR BOB

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 932

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From: CENTRAL IL

I would pull rocker box covers and check oil returns are clear and not causing the oil to pool up there. Usually bad valve seals will smoke at start up it sound more like could be your rocker box if filling up And the the excess is being sucked out through the breather tubes.