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Valve clearance adjusted, now white smoke

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    #1

    Valve clearance adjusted, now white smoke

    So I finally got around to doing my valve clearances, and turned out I had to replace 3 shims. Exhaust 1 was very tight, and intakes 3 and 4 were borderline tight (0.03). Everything is within spec now.

    Got everything back together after the bike was apart for a week (did rear tire during this time too). After starting and idling for a couple of minutes, I noticed some white smoke coming from the exhaust headers. It smelled kind of hot, maybe burning oil? It was not very thick. But the bike never really did this as badly before the clearance adjustment.

    Another thing - right after starting the bike, as the engine was running there was a distinct pop or snap sound from the engine. Only once, not too loud, but enough to kind of concern me...

    Any ideas about these things or am I just being paranoid? Haven't had a chance to ride yet as it is raining pretty bad here.
    Tags: None
    #2
    personally i would pull the valve cover off again and check inside, the pop could have been a shim seating itself properly in the bucket, which would have given you a false clearance reading, or even worse, it could have spat a shim out, if it wasn't seated properly.

    i would look just for peace of mind.......
    1978 GS1085.

    Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by Agemax View Post
      personally i would pull the valve cover off again and check inside, the pop could have been a shim seating itself properly in the bucket, which would have given you a false clearance reading, or even worse, it could have spat a shim out, if it wasn't seated properly.

      i would look just for peace of mind.......
      OK, I will definitely do that when I get some time. Maybe tomorrow morning. If a shim was not seated correctly or popped out, could that cause the smoke I'm seeing? I'm very new to anything engine related, so I hope the question doesn't sound ignorant...

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by exzachtly1 View Post
        OK, I will definitely do that when I get some time. Maybe tomorrow morning. If a shim was not seated correctly or popped out, could that cause the smoke I'm seeing? I'm very new to anything engine related, so I hope the question doesn't sound ignorant...
        i dont know about the smoke but i sure would be concerned about the "pop".
        maybe even a valve stem seal popped off????
        1978 GS1085.

        Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

        Comment

          #5
          +1 on what Adrian says, probably a shim not seated properly and is now, but the danger is that it might be broken and sitting in the bucket.
          The white smoke off the headers is likely spilt/dribbled oil from the removal of the cover.
          sigpic

          Don't say can't, as anything is possible with time and effort, but, if you don't have time things get tougher and require more effort.

          Comment

            #6
            Hi,

            Smoke from the headers? As in an exhaust leak? The only place exhaust should be exiting the engine it out of the end of the mufflers. Exhaust leaks can make tuning carbs difficult.


            Thank you for your indulgence,

            BassCliff

            Comment

              #7
              All shims in place. Maybe the pop was just one of them settling. Anything else to check? I will try to get a video of the smoke if it keeps up. Need to confirm that it is actually the exhaust and not just oil burning off.

              I also need to do a compression check. Never have but I don't have Anything to ground the caps with... is there another way I can disconnect the spark plugs for compression check?

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by exzachtly1 View Post
                All shims in place. Maybe the pop was just one of them settling. Anything else to check? I will try to get a video of the smoke if it keeps up. Need to confirm that it is actually the exhaust and not just oil burning off.

                I also need to do a compression check. Never have but I don't have Anything to ground the caps with... is there another way I can disconnect the spark plugs for compression check?
                recheck the shim clearances again, if one has popped back in, the clearance may be wrong now.
                disconnect the coils to prevent any nasty shocks!
                1978 GS1085.

                Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

                Comment

                  #9
                  All in place..but any cracked??? Check them very closely. Wipe them off around the tops as best you can and take a good look.
                  MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                  1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                  NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                  I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I checked them pretty closely, I think all is well. Just torqued the cover back down. At this point I'm pretty sure they were all seated okay, I was super careful and triple checked everything throughout the process. Engine turned freely by hand too. Let's see if I can reproduce the smoking...

                    Also dumb question but where should the coils disconnect? I'm having trouble telling where the wires go because everything is wrapped up in electrical tape

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Theres no need to disconnect coils to do valves. Unless you have the key on youll not get any reactions.

                      Edit..It does make it easier to roll the engine over with all the plugs out though..no compression resistance then.
                      MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                      1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                      NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                      I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by chuck hahn View Post
                        Theres no need to disconnect coils to do valves. Unless you have the key on youll not get any reactions.

                        Edit..It does make it easier to roll the engine over with all the plugs out though..no compression resistance then.
                        i think he was referring to doing a compression check, spinning the motor over.

                        actually, just remove the plugs and tie the HT leads and caps up out the way. you should be ok then
                        1978 GS1085.

                        Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Compression reads 134, 130, 135, 135. On a cold engine. Manual is not in front of me but this is good right?

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Yup...pretty good on a cold engine and one of the age it is. Youve got lots of years with her if you keep good oil and the maintenance up at regular intervals.
                            MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
                            1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

                            NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


                            I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              That's what I like to hear

                              Comment

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