shovel smoking on rear cylinder

[shoveleric]

Just completed top end rebuild on my shovel, the front cyclinder runs very clean, but the rear is puffing a bit of white smoke and at times sounds like it might be missing occasionally. Don't really notice any problems under throttle - it seems to run strong, but I would like to get the rear to run as clean as the front cyl.
I've tried fresh plugs and swapping the the coil leads ... no difference.
Any ideas on what I should look at next?


Thanks
Eric

[GrayRider]

You say it's puffing white smoke, I would think that would mean a valve was not seated, maybe?

If the rings weren't seated it would puff black/blue smoke.

[newultraclassic]

Originally Posted by shoveleric

Just completed top end rebuild on my shovel, the front cyclinder runs very clean, but the rear is puffing a bit of white smoke and at times sounds like it might be missing occasionally. Don't really notice any problems under throttle - it seems to run strong, but I would like to get the rear to run as clean as the front cyl.
I've tried fresh plugs and swapping the the coil leads ... no difference.
Any ideas on what I should look at next?


Thanks
Eric

Did your valve guides have seals on them? It sounds like a seal is damaged if so....

[tequacha]

if you have 2 into 2 exhaust check for oily black ring on end of pipe usually indicates guide blowing oil by. also if plug is showing oil could be cylinder oil passage is leaking through head gasket

[xxxflhrci]

Originally Posted by GrayRider

You say it's puffing white smoke, I would think that would mean a valve was not seated, maybe?

If the rings weren't seated it would puff black/blue smoke.

Black smoke is from gas. White smoke is from antifreeze/water, which he ain't got. Blue smoke is from oil. He's probably seeing blue smoke.

Now back to the problem...........Is it smoking at idle and gear shifts, not under load? If so, you likely have a leak at a valve seal. It is common in Shovels/Irons. The miss is also something that is common on the rear cylinder on those bikes. Ride it for a while and check the plugs. If you don't have an oil consumption problem and the bike runs good, ride on and forget about it.