1984 Suzuki GS1150ES New Wiseco 1229 Kit, 400 miles is blowing smoke

[LeeMills]

Hi Everyone, I have a 84' Suzuki GS1150ES with a new wiseco 1229 kit with 400 miles on the break in that is blowing smoke. . I had a pro help me install the new pistons and rings and a solid, reputable shop do the cylinger boring. It also got a proper valve job with new valve seals. I took it very easy on the bike for the first 375 miles then it started to smoke. A few folks told me the rings should be broken in by now and I should ride it hard. So I did that. I got on the highway and let her rip on the on ramps a few times. The smoke did not go away.

This is super frustrating as I've poured a lot of money into this bike. I really hope I do not need to put new rings in or another entire kit. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lee

[GS1150Pilot]

Hi Everyone, I have a 84' Suzuki GS1150ES with a new wiseco 1229 kit with 400 miles on the break in that is blowing smoke. . I had a pro help me install the new pistons and rings and a solid, reputable shop do the cylinger boring. It also got a proper valve job with new valve seals. I took it very easy on the bike for the first 375 miles then it started to smoke. A few folks told me the rings should be broken in by now and I should ride it hard. So I did that. I got on the highway and let her rip on the on ramps a few times. The smoke did not go away.

This is super frustrating as I've poured a lot of money into this bike. I really hope I do not need to put new rings in or another entire kit. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lee

The first 1-200 miles are pretty critical for getting the rings to seat right. Not everyone agrees with what many folks now call the MotoMan break-in method, but going easy on a motor can lead to poor ring sealing and oil consumption, loss of performance.

[chris]

Hi, from the description of your problem, something has failed. I don't think the break in has anything to do with it. The bike should run great with new parts. It costs nothing but time to check valve clearances and then compression. This will give you data that you can report back. I hope you find the problem.

[GS1150Pilot]

First 100-200 miles are critical, and the rings are a likely culprit if you babied it.

https://www.enginelabs.com/news/dispelling-engine-break-in-myths-with-high-performance-academy/

[stetracer]

Your rings are in upside down. Seen it a few times. Take it back apart and put them in correctly. The letter goes up.

[Big Jay]

See if it is only smoking in one hole. You can pull the exhaust and start it up to see.

[Carter Turk]

I had a new piston failure too on an a street ridden 84 1150. Only 400 miles. Did several break in heat cycles, changed the oil/filter probably 3-4 times, varied revs throughout, 20 minutes riding thru 3/4 rev range, 20 minute break, etc.

A shop with good racing history did the boring of cylinders, however no ring end gaps were measured by me or the shop...& a piston/ring set was brought to the folks doing the boring, but said it"ll be fine.

I had the same mods done previously by the same shop with no issues, but starter clutch grenade created the need for a rebore of stock block.

A member here (RR) said it was clearly a too tight ring end gap failure.

The front & back of 3 cylinders had massive scoring on the piston skirt.

The cylinder bores didn't look to my untrained eye be very deep, but the limits of stock bore of 3mm over would likely mean new sleeves or a rebore of a stock block.

[Carter Turk]

Here's a shot of my Wiseco 1229 pistons after 400 miles.

[Maddevill]

I also think you could have an oil ring upside down. Do a leakdown test. However, when I was working as a tech we'd often see new bikes, usually big bore models, with poor ring sealing. They were usually broken in too easy. The rings need some significant combustion pressure to seat. When I was visiting the Ducati factory, EVERY brand new bike was put on a dyno and taken to red line in every gear. Part of the acceptance test.

Mad

[Nessism]

A leak down test won't tell you if the oil control ring is messed up. Gotta bust er down again...

[Big Jay]

Oil ring expander in one hole was overlapped.

[rphillips]

Where'd you go LeeMills, we need an update. Hope you didn't find your new pistons looking like his.