My front cylinder is smoking a little after it warms up. I can only see it smoking at idle. I'm currently running amsoil 20-50. If I run 60w would that maybe make the smoking stop? I suspect I need new rings at least, will heavier oil prolong the need to do the rings or just mask the problem?
Thanks.

 

This is what I would do.

Go get some sea foam add to gas, add to oil as reccomended on can. Run a tank of gas and change the oil.

Could be a ring, valve seat and could be carbon build up. You take pipes off and look for carbon. You can also do compression tests. And there are thing to do while performing comp test to determine root cause.

If I were you I would want to know now what the problem is.

 

amsoil is a synthetic oil is it not - older shovels with questonable valve seals ( on a good day almost never work well ) and even cast iron piston rings maybe - if they the cylinders are not smoaking with a 20 50 synthetic oil i would be worring - jz

 

And to add a liitle more to why it might not be a good idea...eventually seeping at every possible spot that you never knew you had using synthetic...

 

So iyo should I not be running synthetic? What would you recommend for the old shovel with over 100k on it?

 

An overhaul.

 

what i use in my shop for a shovel is 1/2 quart of lucas oil additive than i fill it with 60W racing oil as it has zinc added to it and its needed for reducing wear in an air cooled motor like yours - jz

 

When was the last top end rebuild ?

 

Not sure when the top end was last redone. I know my dad did it twice over the life of the bike tho. Also for what its worth the front cylinder just started smoking after I changed the oil.

 

jz, thanks for the input, I'll try that concoction and see how it goes!