- Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:38 pm
#98134
My 500 AVL seems to have developed a smoking habit reminiscent of my old KH 250, fun when I was 17 but less so now!
It has clearly started to wet sump but I am really unsure why?
On cold starting horrific smoke (embarrassing), starts first kick but does really bang out oil smelling dark grey smoke and once I ride off and it clears runs a treat but does sometime conks out before it clears with a very wet oily plug (change plug and away I go). Once cleared and fully warmed up running really well and cruises along nicely at up to 70 relatively smoothly and picks up well, plug a lovely colour.
I am careful about leaving it at TDC but doesn't seems to make any difference, dip stick oil level is just kissing the bottom. I have removed all the catch can gubbins and opened up the cast stub on the crank case and fitted a Hitchcock's breather kit (can be fitted to an AVL if you have the stub) and blanked off the old breather spigot hole at the top of the oil tank. Has all seemed to be working well.
What would be the symptoms of it not breathing correctly, excessive internal pressure and blown seals?
I do think it needs a rebore (winter strip down) as was honed to upper limit to repair piston slap damage but does have reasonable compression when both cold or hot and seem to ride well with lots of torque and clean revving. Not sure if that would create wet sumping though, but more like just general high oil consumption? But guess if there was already wet sumping the oil would get past the piston easier and create the smoke.
Two questions I think, if the timing side crank seal had blown on an AVL engine would that cause the wet sumping regardless of crank/piston position when parked, would it allow the oil in the timing chest to fill the sump?
But as it seem to take a while to clear is it possible my oil pump is not scavenging correctly (remember from another post these engines should scavenge quickly)
I am loving this bike and runs like dream once warmed up, been out for some long rides without issue, if at all only conks out in first 500 yards and then just an oily plug.
Any words of wisdom or comfort much appreciated!
It has clearly started to wet sump but I am really unsure why?
On cold starting horrific smoke (embarrassing), starts first kick but does really bang out oil smelling dark grey smoke and once I ride off and it clears runs a treat but does sometime conks out before it clears with a very wet oily plug (change plug and away I go). Once cleared and fully warmed up running really well and cruises along nicely at up to 70 relatively smoothly and picks up well, plug a lovely colour.
I am careful about leaving it at TDC but doesn't seems to make any difference, dip stick oil level is just kissing the bottom. I have removed all the catch can gubbins and opened up the cast stub on the crank case and fitted a Hitchcock's breather kit (can be fitted to an AVL if you have the stub) and blanked off the old breather spigot hole at the top of the oil tank. Has all seemed to be working well.
What would be the symptoms of it not breathing correctly, excessive internal pressure and blown seals?
I do think it needs a rebore (winter strip down) as was honed to upper limit to repair piston slap damage but does have reasonable compression when both cold or hot and seem to ride well with lots of torque and clean revving. Not sure if that would create wet sumping though, but more like just general high oil consumption? But guess if there was already wet sumping the oil would get past the piston easier and create the smoke.
Two questions I think, if the timing side crank seal had blown on an AVL engine would that cause the wet sumping regardless of crank/piston position when parked, would it allow the oil in the timing chest to fill the sump?
But as it seem to take a while to clear is it possible my oil pump is not scavenging correctly (remember from another post these engines should scavenge quickly)
I am loving this bike and runs like dream once warmed up, been out for some long rides without issue, if at all only conks out in first 500 yards and then just an oily plug.
Any words of wisdom or comfort much appreciated!
2006 Electra X and 2008 350T Bullet Watsonian Trails conversion