2000 sportster white smoke from cylinder
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2000 sportster white smoke from cylinder
I have a 2000 sportster 883 that I converted to a 1275 with a hammer performance big bore kit. After doing the conversion everything ran good until I messing with the exhaust studs and one broke off flush against the head. I then took the head off and brought it to a shop to get a new stud installed. Fast forward a few months I just put everything back together. I ended up replacing all the seals on the top end of the engine. After starting and letting it idle so I can listen for any unusual sounds I noticed white smoke coming from both cylinders. I doesnt have any distinct smell to it. Im relatively new to engine work and havent gotten enough knowledge to diag it myself, so any information on what could be going on is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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How much white smoke? Could be condensation depending on location, like your breath in cold weather. If it ran good before, it should run fine now. How many miles on your 1275 kit?
John
John
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[QUOTE=John Harper;22247684]How much white smoke? Could be condensation depending on location, like your breath in cold weather. If it ran good before, it should run fine now. How many miles on your 1275 kit?
Im in South Jersey and we did just have a pretty cold and snowy winter. As for the smoke it wasnt enough smoke to be super concerned. Like it wasnt a big cloud that was pooling out it was more of like a constant light flow of smoke. The 1275 kit also has about 250-300 miles on it which is still within the 500 mile break in period for that kit.
Im in South Jersey and we did just have a pretty cold and snowy winter. As for the smoke it wasnt enough smoke to be super concerned. Like it wasnt a big cloud that was pooling out it was more of like a constant light flow of smoke. The 1275 kit also has about 250-300 miles on it which is still within the 500 mile break in period for that kit.
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I'd say that is normal for a new top end. There will be some light smoke initially as the rings seat and the assembly lube and what not burns off after putting everything together.
Last edited by OCSpringer; Mar 29, 2026 at 07:47 PM.
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This is my initial thought too.
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Depends where the smoke is coming from. Is it just oil on the actual cylinder burning off or from somewhere else? Does the instructions call for the whole thing to be given a good clean before firing up the engine for the first time?
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Ok thank you. I was planning on doing a few more heat cycles too.
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I couldnt see where exactly it was coming from but I noticed most of the smoke coming from around the fins of the cylinder heads. Also when putting it back together I did give it a quick clean just to make sure there werent any big pieces of debris.
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My guess it's just stuff burning off like greese and oil and what not that got on there during the building process. As long as it's running good I wouldn't sweat it.
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