XS11 Smoking When It First Starts

[Larry Fine]

That is a small amount of smoke, most likely water vapor. It's not oil, and doesn't look like fuel.

You're right in feathering the choke as it warms; my belief is the least choke that runs smoothly.

My opinion is that, if it's smoke-free by the time it's warm enough to run choke-free, you're okay.

 

[steppenwolf]

Just ride the dang thing,from what I saw it is normal.I must say that bike is in great shape.It started right up and purred like a kitten.My bike,is like a junk yard dog,ruff looking,runs about the same.I usually don't use the choke tho,I don't give it any gas either.I think the choke is more of an enrichner what ever that means.

 

[Larry Fine]

It means to introduce fuel at a richer-than-normal fuel-to-air ratio; a choke is one way of doing that.

 

[Kynan C.]

Whats funny, is last week when I started the dang thing, and the week before it smoked like a chimney. I go to film it, no smoke. I guess its camera shy.

Thanks Steppen, it is a very clean bike, I have done a ton of work to it. Runs nice, besides the invisible smoke.

 

[steppenwolf]

AV,not trying to tell ya what to do with the GO Pro but slow down on the camera movement,the human eye is quicker than the camera.When I film I go about 1/2 speed and it seems to turn out better.
Seeing just a little white smoke in the video.don't let the imagine run wild while riding like I have and then start to worry.These bikes are pretty hard to kill except for the primary wires,think that is what they are called,because they move up and down all the time and eventually crack.You will notice it if it is wet and sputters above 2000 rpm.

 

[Kynan C.]

Thanks for the GoPro info Steppen! I have only used it a couple times. I will do another soon. Makes total sense about fast movement.

 

[Kynan C.]

Well, mystery solved. The bike was in fact smoking, however at random times. I would start the bike one day and it would really smoke, and a few days later no smoke on start.

I noticed that at times it would leak oil off the number 1 cylinder exhaust flange bolt. I looked and looked and could not find out where the oil was coming from. It was not the cam chain tensioner gasket, head gasket, valve cover gasket, or traveling from somewhere else on the top end. After being driven nuts by this, I cleaned everything thing off and pulled the exhaust pipe.

and there it be, a puddle of oil siting on top of the exhaust valve. So bad valve seal or guide, my knowledge starts to diminish here. So, what it was doing was sometimes when the valve was open, the oil would just run into the cylinder causing lots of smoke on start. Other times the valve was closed, and it pulled up on the valve and ran out the flange onto the floor. So, I removed the head, and it sits in my trunk, ready to go get fixed up by my bike mechanic/ machinist friend.

 

[steppenwolf]

As long as it didn't look like this

 

[Kynan C.]

First, great to hear from you Steppen!
Second, that is the most interesting way I have seen to categorize your valve caps and shims.

Whats the back story on your XS11 head?

 

[steppenwolf]

Well not my head.We used to have man cave days and work on XS's,up to 9 would show up,that was a barn find and it got a head that was sitting around and finally put back together running great and then 6 months later his garage caught on fire and it was destroyed.It happens.Have a picture of the bike somewhere.
We can pretty well do everything to theses bike to keep them on the road.
Lining up,think I got a new fuse box,glass to spade that day.
How about a homemade timing wheel.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t37/yamaha_28/DSC_0892.jpg[img]

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[steppenwolf]

Well can't get pictures to take so try here.

My head here..

 

[Kynan C.]

Yeah, putting the top end back together should be fun. Never had to time one of these things.

 

[Larry Fine]

I've forgotten the fun of valve adjustment (both screw and shim types) and setting the ignition timing.

Makes me appreciate my Nighthawk's auto-adjusting valves and electronic ignition all the more.

 

[Saxonplace]

In my much younger days (read as no other expences) I spent much money on getting the Kawasaki "tuned up", 1100 big bore, Yoshimura high compression pistons, Yoshimura stage 2 cams and gas flowed head, trouble was it running weak and really needed octane booster and used to hole a piston about every month or so, when it did the ritual was to pull the tank off and get the plugs out then poke a long screwdriver down the the plug holes until it dropped into the hole in one of the pistons. Then strip down, get a replacement piston, head gasket and rings from Dixon Racing in the UK ordered from Japan (3 weeks) then rebuild. I could rebuild everything including the valve timing on the cam chain without a manual after a couple of failures. Eventually that engine had to go and I bought a standard engine replacement.

 

[steppenwolf]

But man cave days are fun.

 

[Kynan C.]

Man, that looks fun! I need a new man cave. We used to have bike resto night every Monday at the local brewery. One of my closest friends owns it and we would have all the buds over to drink beer and work on bikes, till late hours in the night. Ill start a thread with some pics soon. What a fun 4 years or so! Surprised I'm alive still!

 

[steppenwolf]

Yes,mancave days were fun and we always had a happy group working on the bikes.

How do we stray off topic/Attention span of three seconds?

 

[Kynan C.]

Bringing it back on track!

The head is now at the wizards house being worked on. Steppen, do you recommend the OE valve seals? I bought the Athena gasket kit from Parts N Stuff.

 

[steppenwolf]

I would say to just get what ever you can.Go to the XS.com site and see what they recommend.They know more than I do.
SWOXS GROUP

 

[aliensatemybuick]

I've previously resisted chiming in with this ditty heard from my Father many times, but can't hold out any longer...

It's old enough to smoke.

I know, not very helpful...