ws450r
10-19-2012, 12:46 PM
A while back, I noticed some white smoke after a race when I unloaded my bike, or at least I thought it was. Didn't think much of it, let it sit and started it up a week later. This was back in the first part of September.When I started it that next weekend, I noticed some smoke when I popped the throttle. Read on different sites it could be coolant, head gasket, ect. Talked to a buddy of mine, he said it sounds more like valve guides.
I let it sit all week and changed engine and tranny oil that next weekend, for the first time since I bought it (only 1 two hour race ride time in that period). The previous owner had so much oil in it, you couldn't see a "line" in the sight glass. Filled it up to H, let it run for 3-4 minutes, let it settle, then put a little more oil in it, let it run, let it sit. Now after letting cool all the way down, the "line" is almost to the H, so about right.
After filling everything, I let it warm up, popped the throttle, basically did everything that I did last weekend to get the smoke. But, after that was complete, I didn't get any at that time. I drained each seperate to see if I had any coolant / oil seperation, but didn't get any. After that time, I just kind of ignored it, hoping that was the cure.
Fast forward.....Obviously, I don't start or ride this a lot right now. I went down to start it and let it warm up for a little while (first time started in 3 weeks, just sits in my basement), and noticed that maybe the smoke wasn't white to begin with afterall. When I started it outside it did look white, but sitting in my basement, at least with the way the lighting was, it almost has a blue tint. I've read that this could be piston rings, among other things.
It has a 13.5:1 JE Piston in it.
1. Could a guy re-ring that piston without taking the piston all the way out?
2. Should I just get a new piston and gaskets, since originally if it was white, it may have been leaking coolant (which I don't think it was since there was no coolant in the oil). I figured this would eliminate some problems that it may be.
3. How much would it hurt it if I rode it on the trails? No hard riding or racing, just nice leisurly trail riding. Could a guy ride it with burnt (minor maybe?) rings?
Sorry for the long post, just trying to get as much info out there that I can. I haven't rode it anywhere, so I can't see what is coming out of the exhaust, if anything at all, when I ride it. I guess I'm paranoid about riding it right now, with the possibility of tearing something up internally. Plus I don't know if it actually is the piston or valve train.
If I did ride it, it would be just some trail riding, nothing too crazy or at any races. I plan on over the winter to put a new piston and valves in, but just seeing what everyone suggested I could do in the short term. Just go ahead and ride it? If it lasts, it lasts? Or since I'm replacing some stuff, ride it until it blows?
I let it sit all week and changed engine and tranny oil that next weekend, for the first time since I bought it (only 1 two hour race ride time in that period). The previous owner had so much oil in it, you couldn't see a "line" in the sight glass. Filled it up to H, let it run for 3-4 minutes, let it settle, then put a little more oil in it, let it run, let it sit. Now after letting cool all the way down, the "line" is almost to the H, so about right.
After filling everything, I let it warm up, popped the throttle, basically did everything that I did last weekend to get the smoke. But, after that was complete, I didn't get any at that time. I drained each seperate to see if I had any coolant / oil seperation, but didn't get any. After that time, I just kind of ignored it, hoping that was the cure.
Fast forward.....Obviously, I don't start or ride this a lot right now. I went down to start it and let it warm up for a little while (first time started in 3 weeks, just sits in my basement), and noticed that maybe the smoke wasn't white to begin with afterall. When I started it outside it did look white, but sitting in my basement, at least with the way the lighting was, it almost has a blue tint. I've read that this could be piston rings, among other things.
It has a 13.5:1 JE Piston in it.
1. Could a guy re-ring that piston without taking the piston all the way out?
2. Should I just get a new piston and gaskets, since originally if it was white, it may have been leaking coolant (which I don't think it was since there was no coolant in the oil). I figured this would eliminate some problems that it may be.
3. How much would it hurt it if I rode it on the trails? No hard riding or racing, just nice leisurly trail riding. Could a guy ride it with burnt (minor maybe?) rings?
Sorry for the long post, just trying to get as much info out there that I can. I haven't rode it anywhere, so I can't see what is coming out of the exhaust, if anything at all, when I ride it. I guess I'm paranoid about riding it right now, with the possibility of tearing something up internally. Plus I don't know if it actually is the piston or valve train.
If I did ride it, it would be just some trail riding, nothing too crazy or at any races. I plan on over the winter to put a new piston and valves in, but just seeing what everyone suggested I could do in the short term. Just go ahead and ride it? If it lasts, it lasts? Or since I'm replacing some stuff, ride it until it blows?