Smoke signals
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Smoke signals
'09 Ultra. 32,000 miles. Stage 1 with Jackpot slip-ons.
Rode a couple hours to Lake Erie to close up the cottage for the season. Stopped at Jolly Roger in Port Clinton for a perch sandwich -- It's kind of a tradition for me and a riding buddy and is usually the last ride of the season. Started bike to head home when my buddy started talking to me, so I shut her down to hear what he was saying (he needed fuel, in case you were wondering). When I thumbed the starter button the motor cranked over but didn't start, and a large puff of white smoke wafted out of the Jackpots and headed east towards Marblehead. Bike started right up and ran strong afterwards, but I'm wondering if there's anything I should be concerned about. I treated the last tankful with SeaFoam and I have been chasing down a mysterious chattering noise lately, but the bike has always run strong and reliable. No other issues and no white smoke signals since. Anything I should be checking?
Rode a couple hours to Lake Erie to close up the cottage for the season. Stopped at Jolly Roger in Port Clinton for a perch sandwich -- It's kind of a tradition for me and a riding buddy and is usually the last ride of the season. Started bike to head home when my buddy started talking to me, so I shut her down to hear what he was saying (he needed fuel, in case you were wondering). When I thumbed the starter button the motor cranked over but didn't start, and a large puff of white smoke wafted out of the Jackpots and headed east towards Marblehead. Bike started right up and ran strong afterwards, but I'm wondering if there's anything I should be concerned about. I treated the last tankful with SeaFoam and I have been chasing down a mysterious chattering noise lately, but the bike has always run strong and reliable. No other issues and no white smoke signals since. Anything I should be checking?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
white smoke is oil burning-
I would guess that the intake sucked a little schmutz and pulled it into the combustion chamber...when the motor fired, then the built oil burned.
the white smoke and the hard start are probably unrelated
if you get white smoke after the bike has been sitting for a while...that indicates bad valve stem seals
I am not sure about the wonderfulness of sea foam:
I tried a tank last year and failed emissions testing....called sea foam ( and they were nice) they suggested running all the sea foam fuel out, then a few more tanks.
then i passed emissions-
white smoke, on decel indicates bad valve seals, or worn valve seats
white smoke on accel indicates bad piston sealing to cylinder walls; piston rings, out of round or otherwise worn bore
mike
I would guess that the intake sucked a little schmutz and pulled it into the combustion chamber...when the motor fired, then the built oil burned.
the white smoke and the hard start are probably unrelated
if you get white smoke after the bike has been sitting for a while...that indicates bad valve stem seals
I am not sure about the wonderfulness of sea foam:
I tried a tank last year and failed emissions testing....called sea foam ( and they were nice) they suggested running all the sea foam fuel out, then a few more tanks.
then i passed emissions-
white smoke, on decel indicates bad valve seals, or worn valve seats
white smoke on accel indicates bad piston sealing to cylinder walls; piston rings, out of round or otherwise worn bore
mike
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
You started it then shut her down then restarted. It was unburnt fuel in the cylinder. Nothing to worry about. I get a pop when I do a quick restart.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 568
Likes: 147
From: Georgia
I had the same thing happen to me a couple of months ago only it blew smoke out the air cleaner.
After some searching on the forum it turns out that it's normal and what some refer to as the "Harley sneeze".
After some searching on the forum it turns out that it's normal and what some refer to as the "Harley sneeze".