Burnig oil

[ChopperJeff]

My '05 Chopper is burning oil. Sometimes it's just subtle in that my fellow riders behind me can just smell the oil burning, but then about 3 or 4 times during a 150 mile ride it will put out a cloud of blue smoke when accelerating.

When I spoke to a motorcycle mechanic he figured it's from the cylinders getting "out of round" and thus I'll need to have the cylinders bored and pistons replaced to really fix it, though he said there is really no need to worry about it at this time. With 57,000 miles on it, perhaps he's right.

However, I wonder if it could be something simpler, like the valves or something of that nature. Also, could I have messed it up back when I pulled the rocker box in order to change the gasket? It appears to be smoking from the front cylinder, which happens to be the one that I did the rocker box gasket on.

Thanks!

 

[Raywood]

My '05 Chopper is burning oil. Sometimes it's just subtle in that my fellow riders behind me can just smell the oil burning, but then about 3 or 4 times during a 150 mile ride it will put out a cloud of blue smoke when accelerating.

When I spoke to a motorcycle mechanic he figured it's from the cylinders getting "out of round" and thus I'll need to have the cylinders bored and pistons replaced to really fix it, though he said there is really no need to worry about it at this time. With 57,000 miles on it, perhaps he's right.

However, I wonder if it could be something simpler, like the valves or something of that nature. Also, could I have messed it up back when I pulled the rocker box in order to change the gasket? It appears to be smoking from the front cylinder, which happens to be the one that I did the rocker box gasket on.

Thanks!

Mine is starting to use some oil also. I'm pushing 65,000 now so thinking it's time for a top-end this winter. If you're really worried about it then you should do a compression test or leak down test whatever they are calling them now a days.

 

[MARV]

yea a leak down test can pinpoint a problem.

youll need the fitting to pump air into the plug hole while at TDC on the comp stroke. then listen for air escaping. out the exhaust would show a problem at the exhaust valve. at the carb would be the intake valve. since we dont have a crank vent you could open the sight plug for the crank and if you hear air there then a ring/cylinder issue. IMO

 

[Raywood]

Hey MARV, If I did this what psi would you normally use? I think compression is at about 165lbs isn't it?

 

[ChopperJeff]

Yeah, I was thinking of just going ahead with the top-end this winter, along with the cyclinder boring and all that. I'm just wondering if it could be something really simple and cheap, like me screwing up something when I did the rocker box. Sort of doubt it though as I really didn't mess with the push rods or valves, but not being an expert on these things, who knows what could have occurred.

The mechanic who told me to just do the top end plus re-bore is a VERY good, trusted mechanic, and is also VERY reasonably priced. He's the one that fixed my tranny by replacing the shift drum, and only charged me 1/2 hour labor, which came to $37.50!

What amazes me too is that he can have the whole top-end done, plus re-bore the cylinders and install new pistons for $600 to $800! Apparently he does all the work except for the boring, which a machinist friend of his does. I may just have to bite the bullet and have this all done this winter.

Wonder if I should go ahead and have the cam replaced with something of better performance, not that I really need it though.

 

[MARV]

How To Make An Engine Cylinder Leak Down Tester


heres a decent description which explains it better then i can.

jeff, thats a damn good price since our pistoins alone are around 3 bills with rings and pin. but if its leaking out the valves then you can save that piston cash and put the money into head work and shave the jugs to zero deck. slip in a cam...........

:2thumbs:

 

[lee]

another possibility is if you do a compression test and its a bit low then pour a drop of oil in the spark plug hole and check again - if the compression comes up a bit its your rings (the oil will temporarily seal any gap)

 

[ChopperJeff]

Thanks guys! I'll see about doing a compression test.

In the mean time, should I switch from my current synthetic oil to regular ol' dino oil? Would dino oil not leak, and thus burn so much? Plus, I'm going thru about a quart of oil every couple of weeks, and at $12 a pop... damn!

 

[Vegas]

With 56k I would just freshen it all up. New pistons, rings, bored, valve job, guides if needed . May as well shave the cylinders and gain a little compression. A compression/leakdown test is not always a good method for finding oil consumption. Worn oil rings, second compression ring, valve guides can still achieve good compression and leakdown. If your not doing a complete rebuild then I would suggest a leakdown test to see what condition your combustion chamber is in performance wise. My bet is valve guides. While you have the heads off, it's to easy to freshen up the cylinders not to do it. IMO

 

[ChopperJeff]

Yes, I imagine that's the reason the mechanic is suggesting to just do the whole thing instead of just the top end, for as you say, while the heads are off, one may as well do the whole enchilada. Plus, with 57,000 miles, I imagine it's in need to work.

He also said that the tappets should be replaced every 20,000 miles, and that too has never been done on my bike.

 

[Raywood]

Remember Jeff that with the introduction of the 05 not only did we have the restrictor plates but we had the smaller intake valves as well as the longer cylinders as MARV spoke of. So if you want to return it to S&S specs you may want to let your mechanic know that the 05's had these differences.

Me, I don't know if I will change mine. I like the mpg it gets now and it has all the power I need to go down the highway.

have fun.

 

[TCALZ06]

He also said that the tappets should be replaced every 20,000 miles, and that too has never been done on my bike.[/QUOTE]

Thats interesting. The S&S manual says the same thing but when you ask most people they are like

 

[scubaman15]

Remember Jeff that with the introduction of the 05 not only did we have the restrictor plates but we had the smaller intake valves as well as the longer cylinders as MARV spoke of. So if you want to return it to S&S specs you may want to let your mechanic know that the 05's had these differences.

Me, I don't know if I will change mine. I like the mpg it gets now and it has all the power I need to go down the highway.

have fun.

Ray what kind of mpg do you get ? and what mods have you done ...sorry I guess I could search but its early and my head hurts .

 

[woodbutcher]

he must not get too good mpg, he's always running out. and i believe the only mods are his pipes and maybe a tripleX.

 

[surferdude]

Restricted but good MPG

The best I gotten on my 05 Ridgeback is 51+mpg on the highway ... that's one of the reasons I don't want to mess with the restrictor plates right now ... in town I get about 35mpg ... :up:

 

[Raywood]

he must not get too good mpg, he's always running out. and i believe the only mods are his pipes and maybe a tripleX.

Ray what kind of mpg do you get ? and what mods have you done ...sorry I guess I could search but its early and my head hurts .

I missed this thread. Must have been when I was at Redwood, Run 21 or someother rally.

I used to get 45+ but I think my motor is wearing out or something. During this Sturgis trip the best I could muster was 34.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Oh well, now the burning oil issue is the least of my problems.

On the way home from work my oil idiot light came on. I made in home, checked the oil level, and it was fine. Thinking the oil pressure switch was lying to me, I hooked up a mechanical oil pressure gauge, and sure enough, there is NO PRESSURE!!!

So, I loaded the dog into a friend's pickup truck and drove the bike to my trusted mechanic 2 hours away in Jackson, California. Hopefully he'll determine what's up with the lack of oil pressure, after which I'll have him fix the burning oil issue.

He suspects that the bearings in one or the tappets came out and has messed up the oil pump. It turns out you're suppose to replace the tappets every 25,000 miles or so, and my bike now has 57,000 with the original tappets!

Will keep you guys informed as to his findings.

 

[Vegas]

Sounds like it's time to rebuild a couple motors.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Yeah, I'm sure that I'll be having this guy do the top end on my bike once he gets the oil pressure thing fixed. Once he's in there, he said he'll take a good look at the pistons and cylinders and inform me is I need to get them honed.

 

[Raywood]

I'll be doing the same now I guess Jeff. When I got home from Sturgis the other day as I was pulling off the highway something let go on my motor and it sounded like I had marbles in my rockers. Maybe a collapsed lifter or broken spring but won't know shit till I pull it apart. Still ran great just sounded awful.

I'll be waiting to hear what happened to yours.