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Buell Forum » THUMPer Forum » Buell Blast Thumper Knowledge Vault » Diagnosing problems: » Archive through May 20, 2011 » I'm smoking like a locamotive. « Previous Next »

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Ratsblast
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 09:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hello, I should introduce myself. My name is Daryn and I ride a 2000 buell blast. I love this little bike and it has around 24000miles so i've done 18000 of them. The only mods are the V+H exhaust and a couple of jets also with my repairs. I can really drive this little thing around bigger bikes so I like it.

The only real issue aside from a nasty 2nd gear and slipping clutch is the thing smokes like a torch. It has smokes from the time I got it from my Mom, she gave me the thing. The little beast will do 90mph on the freeway so I think the compression must be good. I'm pretty sure I have a leaky valve seal, probably on the exhaust side. I've checked my plug and it looks fine. I was curious to find out what the issue could be. The bike burns tons of oil also and puts out clouds of smoke. The issue is that I can get 5qts of 20-50 at walmart for 11$ so the incentive to do it isn't too great.

Does anyone know common reasons for excessive oil consumption in the buell? I know this was the 1st model year so I got all the new materials. Any help would be appreciated!
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Slowhand96
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hi Daryn, and Welcome!

Have you checked the breather baffle under your "valve cover"? Not completely sure about blasts but they can break and or come loose on the big twins, especially on the early twincams with a plastic baffle.

It might also help to reroute your breather lines. There is a procedure for doing this and turning the orifice inside the airbox away from the carb. Try a search of breather.
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Slowhand96
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Um..... 5 quarts of 20-50 for $11.00?? That might be part of the problem too. Change your oil to a good synthetic 20w50. I use Amsoil others here use Mobil1 or other QUALITY synthetics such as the Harley syn3.
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Gearheaderiko
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Welcome RatsBlast!
Concur with Slowhand, but I'll add:
Definitely do the breather re route. I've never heard of the Blast having PCV valve problems except that routed in stock form it will suck lots of oil.

Are you overfilling the oil? It will only take less than 2 quarts if you do an oil change (more than 2qts if you drain the crankcase, but few do). Overfilling will cause smoking.

Are you jetted too rich? Jetting sizes?

Probably rings, but possibly a bad valve guide or seal (thats without doing any diagnostic checks, just on what usually goes bad).

(again, without doing any diagnostic checks), Use heavier weight oil which might curtail some usage. Minimum 40 weight. Redline sells special V-twin 20w-60 synthetic, but it will run $9 a quart. Valvoline 40w and thicker will be about $3 a quart. If you're going through a lot of oil you can just keep adding heavier weight oil until it stops smoking (kind of a hack way of doing things though).

PS Check out:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/43413.html?1232778772
Hopefully you can make it (but I doubt anybody will ride behind you!).
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Gearheaderiko
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

PS if you're smoking that bad dont use any oil thinner than 20w-50, synthetic or not. It will go through it dangerously fast.
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Ratsblast
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There is no point in synthetic right now, I have burned 17$ a gallon HD oil with the same result. I think there is actually oil blowing into the exhaust system but I don't know for sure. I have the service book, I just wanted to know if there might be any common issues. We all know these bikes weren't built that well, I need to zone into the problem.

I noticed that when I took a long 180mile journey on the highway the bike didn't burn nearly as much oil. I've had this bike for over 3 years so I know about checking the oil. The problem seems to have been progressive. I'll look at the book and see about the PCV valve. I know that nomatter what oil I use the stuff that comes out after 1500miles is sludge.

Thanks for the help folks, I'm thinking I might need to do the top end. I'm not going to do anything until after I burn up this set of pirellis.
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Swampy
Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 - 11:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Welcome Ratsblast,

You say your plug is clean and its smoking out the exhaust? If that is the case you probably have a bad exhaust seal, possibly a worn valve guide. Both would be an easy inexpensive fix.
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Crackhead
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 06:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you don't mind spending some money on the bike, doing the 515 piston / jug upgrade and a stage 1 on the heads. Then every possible reason for the oil consumption is taken care of.
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Crackhead
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 07:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

$275 for stage 1 porting
$ 299.95 for the 515cc Kits With Iron Lined Aluminum Cylinders

As long as you can do the wrenching, then it is not that bad for a top end rebuild with better components.
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Fast1075
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 07:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If it was blowing oil out the vent into the carb throat, it would show on the plug...if it was the ring seal or cylinder problem....same thing, it would show on the plug...my bet is exhaust guide seal..the oil would go down the guide and out the exhaust not affecting the plug...the stock valveguide seals are notorious for problems...a leakdown test will tell if there are any cylinder problems...

The problems with the clutch slipping...there is a company called Energy One that makes a kit..it will fix the slipping issue...and...properly adjusted it will help with the grinding gear problem, which is often caused by incomplete clutch release...that worked on my bike...also if you do the clutch, be sure to check the shift pawl adjustment and the drum pins...that will require removing the primary drive set, but it's worth the trouble most of the time..

(Message edited by fast1075 on February 03, 2009)
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Reepicheep
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 12:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Slipping second gear sounds like a worn shift dog to me, which unfortunately means splitting the cases on a blast or XB. Is it like shift... release clutch... wide open throttle... ***WHACK***... then normal? That's worn dogs.
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Fast1075
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 01:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sounds like the ever popular clatter clang bang 1-2 shift...mine did it horribly till I changed the clutch.
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Thump
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 02:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

How do you like that Energy One clutch kit? I have been meaning to ask you bout it Fast1.

How easy was it to install? Besides getting rid of the clatter (which I seem to have enough of myself) what other things do you like about it?
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Fast1075
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 02:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thump...you need the clutch tool to compress the diaphragm spring to take the clutch apart...it is really easy and simple to do...when I installed the new clutch it made a huge difference in how it shifted...and it is smoother engaging...the stock clutch showed none of the usual signs of damage like warped or blued plates or smoked fibers...but it simply would not cleanly disengage...I went ahead and bought the tool when I ordered the kit...it was a ton cheaper than taking the bike to the shop and paying the dealer to install a new OEM clutch....and Energy One did a fine job of taking my order, answering tech questions and getting my order RIGHT OUT!! highly recommended vendor.
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Ratsblast
Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 10:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Wow thanks for all the information. Too bad there is such little clearance between the spark plug and the gas tank. I think you can loosen the tank to give you some clearance for the leakdown test. I got burned by the HD service shop too many times and figured if anyone is gonna give my bike bad service it will be me.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to wait on the clutch and cylinder head for this summer or until I'm in a decent mood to pull it apart.

Thanks for the help and I look forward to offering some of the fixes I have done. Thanks again and I hope I can be of some use.
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Gearheaderiko
Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 12:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

We look forward to your postings and help. There's no authority here, just one Blastard helping another.
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Fast1075
Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 07:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The fuel tank is easily removed to access the plug...but if you have nimble fingers, the plug can be removed with the tank in place...
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