Hi all,
(new to this forum, this is my first post).

I've got a 75 FLH (all stock).
It's been great, then it started smoking, so....
We put new valve stem seals on it, still smoking
New pistons and new rings, still smoking.
It actually got worse. There is TONS of thick white smoke that comes out the pipes, but what's more, oil spits out the rear cylinder all around where the exhaust meets the cylinder. Oil every where in the pipes. After it starts up, it's even coming out where the muffler meets the exhaust.
This happens right away as soon as it starts up.
This is just out of the rear cylinder though. As I said, Oil allll over the place all around the rear exhaust where it meets the rear cylinder.

I'm not sure where to go next with this, how to trace it, or what to look for.
I've now got the time and resources to (roughly) do it myself, but before I moved, my mechanic buddy went through all this and still could not figure it all out.
Spoken to a few people here in LA and the only person I trust so far seems to think I need to check out the engine breather gear (maybe something's not aligned). That sounds all well and good, but I'm not entirely sure I know what the heck I'm actually looking for.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

 

I am no expert - but that sounds to me like it could be a bad valve/guide or even a cracked cylinder head. Similar symptom to what I had with a shot exhaust valve - but sounds a lot worse.

Oil may be coming from the rocker box down the through the valve/head into the exhaust port.

When you put seals on the valve stems, did you check the valve guides themselves?

 

was thinking that as well, but my mechanic said that the cylinders looked great, but I haven't checked the head for leaks.
What's the best procedure/way to check for head leaks?
Any suggestions as to what to look for to check the valve/guide?
This seems more like a top end thing than an engine breather thing, right?

I'd like to make sure I tuck into the appropriate end of the motor before looking around for troubles.

 

For a minimally invasive approach, you could try pulling the rear exhaust pipe and looking at the inside of the exhaust port if you can get your eyeball close enough - or maybe a phone camera. If there's loads of oil around the valve guide, it'll probably be valve related. See if it looks like this:



This is what mine looked like with a shot exhaust valve guide - all the oil around that area is a giveaway. It was coming from the valve pocket in the head and either between the valve stem and guide or valve guide and head casting and dripping into the exhaust port.

Having said that - I'll reiterate I am no expert - just learning as I pull my bike apart and rebuild it and your problem sounds like mine did.

 

this is super helpful thanks!
Will take a look now and send photos

 

Last night I posted a major update with photos, but, for some reason, it told me that it's "awaiting moderator approval". Hopefully it will update soon. :-/

 

I think you need to have more than 5 posts to be allowed to add photos.....

 

bummer.
ok then, I'll rewrite what I'd said and maybe send some link to the photos....

 

So I tucked into things a bit and yes, lots of oil in every port.
What was interesting was that there are pools of oil on top of the intake valves as well.
(see images below)

That said here's what I'm thinking:

- Maybe the valve guides are worn?
If so, what are the best one I can/should get to replace them

- That said, should I get new seals too? (if so, what kind)

Going to remover the rockers (and possibly top end) to see what's what. However, I'm not entirely sure as to what I should be looking for.

Lastly, I'm thinking maybe the top end was put back on in such a hurry that clearance could also have been an issue. I just want to make sure that everything was/is fixed/aligned properly up there. I supposed that means tearing it down and putting it back together very carefully myself. (with a bit of luck)


***attempt at posting photos below****


Rear exhaust
https://ibb.co/knEqka
**Note that the front exhaust also was caked with oil as well.


Rear Intake
https://ibb.co/bP9edv

Front Intake
https://ibb.co/e1Y5Jv









Front intake



Rear Intake (note the pool of oil)



Rear Exhaust

 

Heads and then the rocker box's have to come off to get to the rocker arms, they are inside the rocker covers and have nothing to do with the oil issue. Before you tear into anything else the engine needs to have a leak down test run on it to tell where the problem or problems are, could be a few things. Some auto parts places will rent specialty tools of this type. No questions somethings up with the guides be it they are shot or they are loose in the head allowing oil the pass around the guide. Either way isn't a backyard repair unless you have the tools and some background.