Leaking or weeping? Smoking or choking?
#1
06-01-2018, 06:10 AM
Is this Leaking or weeping? Little smoke
Morning! First things first.. 1976 FXE 1200. Starts up on 2nd or 3rd kick, sounds AWESOME and runs excellent. Bored over .30 NEW pistons, rings in, and my heads are in great shape. Put about 250 miles on it since I did the work. When first starts up to warm it up noticed a little “whitish” smoke coming out of front cylinder exhaust.. with the choke in its worse... once it warms up and I’m ridinrg there is NO smoke what so ever. At stop light while idling maybe a little at the most but once rolling again nothing. I am Stillin the break in stage... I know everything was installed correctly. This is My first shovel is all. So just curious if this could be normal and nothing to worry about.
On anther note out of the SAME cylinder the left side base gaskets are “weeping/seeping a bit so I hit the base nuts a little with a wrench hoping that should keep that leak from occurring again. I always let warm up for 5 minutes and I’m running conventional 20-50 in her. ALSO i put 3 quarts in and on kickstand it’s at bottom of neck of oil tank.. and curious if that’s sufficient or too much.
qiestions are
-that little white smoke normal?
-could it be related to weeping/seeping base gasket?
-Is Filled to bottom of oil tank
on kick stand too much fluid?
- should I expect these kind of things during break in?
- OR am I just worrying about nothing and should just ride the thing?
Thanks in adavance!!
Last edited by Rickierockit92; 06-01-2018 at 07:30 AM.
#2
06-01-2018, 06:18 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Sounds a little like the valve guides. When you had the heads done did they replace the old cast iron guides with new brass and did they install valve seals?..Cast guides have a looser fit on the valve because of the amount of expansion to heat which will make it smoke more on start up but tend to disappear as it gets hotter.
#3
06-01-2018, 06:52 AM
Sounds a little like the valve guides. When you had the heads done did they replace the old cast iron guides with new brass and did they install valve seals?..Cast guides have a looser fit on the valve because of the amount of expansion to heat which will make it smoke more on start up but tend to disappear as it gets hotter.
Thanks!
And Any idea about base gasket leak or am I just imagining things?
#4
06-01-2018, 07:21 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
#5
06-01-2018, 07:27 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Sounds a little like the valve guides. When you had the heads done did they replace the old cast iron guides with new brass and did they install valve seals?..Cast guides have a looser fit on the valve because of the amount of expansion to heat which will make it smoke more on start up but tend to disappear as it gets hotter.
someone mentioned the same thing to me... they are the original cast ones. I was told and showed they were in good shape and they did install valve seals. so with the cast I’m assuming it’s just “nature of the beast?” Not something that would eventually result in damage?
Thanks!
And Any idea about base gasket leak or am I just imagining things?
But, IDK what New stuff may be Dreamed up out there...
I don't worry over Shovel Base gaskets.. I would Not tighten anymore, as I have witnessed Overtightening.. [especially true with intake] cause a leak!
Finally 5 Minutes of Warm-Up!!!!
Seems at least twice too long ... The Shovel does Not require nearly the warm-up that an EVO requires... nature of the "Sandwich" construction..
#6
06-01-2018, 07:31 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
#7
06-01-2018, 08:20 AM
Ok gents thanks for the info!! Very helpful and I’ll just ride this son-B!! Last questions... with the oil level question... in these specific oil tank for the superglide shovels... bottom of neck on kickstand too much? I only put in 3 quarts but that’s how high it is while leaning. Seem sufficient? Thanks!
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#8
06-01-2018, 06:31 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
^^ This... Considered Normal... Until much later Production. Especially the E-Motor.
Wondering how the Guides could accommodate seals without removal and machining ... and then Clearancing for Height???
But, IDK what New stuff may be Dreamed up out there...
I don't worry over Shovel Base gaskets.. I would Not tighten anymore, as I have witnessed Overtightening.. [especially true with intake] cause a leak!
Finally 5 Minutes of Warm-Up!!!!
Seems at least twice too long ... The Shovel does Not require nearly the warm-up that an EVO requires... nature of the "Sandwich" construction..
Wondering how the Guides could accommodate seals without removal and machining ... and then Clearancing for Height???
But, IDK what New stuff may be Dreamed up out there...
I don't worry over Shovel Base gaskets.. I would Not tighten anymore, as I have witnessed Overtightening.. [especially true with intake] cause a leak!
Finally 5 Minutes of Warm-Up!!!!
Seems at least twice too long ... The Shovel does Not require nearly the warm-up that an EVO requires... nature of the "Sandwich" construction..
owning a bike and doing your own work and actually restoring them is 2 different things
Last edited by johnjzjz; 06-01-2018 at 06:36 PM.
#9
06-02-2018, 08:18 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
well 35 years ago I started purchasing special tooling just for that - it turns the out side of the guide to 410 evo 535 early shovel 625 late shovel and it has an extra cutter that shortens the guide so your travel is extended - also have the spring seat cutter tools and seat micrometers plus a rimac machine for the springs - its in the 1000s just to tool up and they don't last for ever - the knuckle cutters we had to make to use seals and the Indians we use the late shovel rubber seals like the knuckle
owning a bike and doing your own work and actually restoring them is 2 different things
As I have said Many Times... I do Not Restore, nor do I purchase Restorations.. Haven't worked on Someone elses Bike In a Quite some Time!!
I like Survivors.. Not going CrossCountry on No 4-speed shovel, Not Racing One either, Just Poking around within 200 Miles of Home...
I suspect that If I only owned One, I would Pay More Attention... Maybe. ... them old Shovels put alot of Miles on without No Upgrades.. But, it is good to Provide Knowledge of newer Technology for them that Prefer it.
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