a bit of white smoke

[bomber]

L.O.All,
i've notice some white smoke cummin from the pipes as my bike is running and presumed it was just runnin a bit rich or something to do with the setup,
i'm no mechanic and never professed to it so value any advice from the boys who know their Zeds, i've been told that its probably the piston rings or the valve seals?
i can do a video if it will help? is it a big job? can i tackle it myself?
i'm a bit of a have a go hero but usually only tackle things like brakes and cosmetics, making brackets and the usual external engineering tasks,
so will it open a can of worms that i will live to regret?
if i end up removing the cylinder head am i as well replacing the cam chain as that seems to be a little bit noisy too?

i look forward to your advice as last time i had problems i found the response was abundant and very helpful,
Many thanks,

[jimmock]

White smoke???

With a diesel normally indicates lack of, or low compression.

[Pigford]

Black smoke = rich/excess fuel
White smoke = oil burning (or water vapour if cold engine)

[The Zedster]

White smoke is oil burning , at the very least you will need new rings, if your bike smokes when you shut off the throttle while going along then open it up again this means valve guide seals,
On these old engines it is relatively easy to take the top end off, i am looking at doing the same on my rickman Z1R,
Probably best to do top end overhaul , rings , lap valves in, and new guide seals, and a new cam chain wont hurt while you have it apart
Pete

[jimmock]

Guyz,

I'd have thought ANY burning of oil = blue smoke??

[Jay1969]

Hope this helps Bomber

[mikey]

Just sorting this on my Z and it was bores rings etc
it will only get worse as mine did

[Tonka]

Put the palm of your hand at the end of the exhaust and rev it a few times. Then check to see if you have oil on your hand or if it feels oily. If so it's starting to burn oil.

Has it had a good run and still doing it? Where did you get your fuel from? The best is Total as they are the only company who don't put Ethanol in their fuel - yet!

http://www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/wes ... pdate.html

[ZedHead]

Put the palm of your hand at the end of the exhaust and rev it a few times. Then check to see if you have oil on your hand or if it feels oily. If so it's starting to burn oil.

I like this simple tip .... you can also smell the petrol soot on your hand if it is running rich.

[bomber]

Great response,
Some top tips there Chaps and I thank you all
But I think I may need some help in deciding exactly what colour the smoke is so, I'll start by giving it a good run on the road to see if it still smokes,
not a very nice day for it in Hastings today but fukkit! Needs must!!!
I'll do a you tube video later and post a link for all to see,
If It does turn out to be one of the above then I'll probably go for the full top end re-furb just to make sure (and earn another feather in my cap of course)
Bit of a bastard because its on eBay and ends today..eek!, I wasn't aware there was a problem until someone else pointed it out, I just presumed it was something all old motors did....
looks like I need to make a decision...quick!!
Cheers all, ...

[toycollector10]

I had this problem for about 18 months on my fresh USA import, intermittent white smoke. Once, extreme white smoke! I suspected stuck oil rings on the pistons and that's what it was. The bike had been sitting, I think, for about 20 years. Jeff Saunders of Z1 enterprises has confirmed this is a problem with this model. Just take it out and give it the fang on long runs. This will free them up. Also, keep the oil level in the sump only about 3 mm above the empty mark. That is, just below half full. If you fill the engine with oil right up to the top mark it burns off and the engine smokes until it reaches it's "I'm happy" level, which is, see above. This is just my halfpenny's worth. Sometimes just doing nothing or at best, the simplest thing, can fix a problem and in my case, it did.