Failing to proceed

[MikeFossl]

Before I open everything up…looking for a diagnosis and recommendation.

I was taking the girl out after a couple of months hiatus and after starting normally and a bit of a warm up,  I proceeded down the road.  After a few moments, I lost power and started emitting copious amounts of white smoke.   The engine stumbled and died.   Lots of oil out the back of the right exhaust.

Did I lose a valve seal?

Any opinions are welcome.

Thanks!

[wilcom]

Lots of oil out the back of the right exhaust

That is very worrisome!  Was it making any metalic sounds? Will it turn over now?  I'd pop off the right head and look for broken things..

[Bob_Roller]

Remove the rocker arm cover and see if you have a valve related issue .
If the engine will turn over with the starter without any ominous sounds, do a compression check .
No seals are on the valves themselves, due to how they are positioned in the cylinder head .
Only other thing I can think of, is a head gasket failure, there is pressurized oil going along two cylinder studs to supply oil to the rocker arms, there are rubber seals molded into the cylinder head gasket to prevent oil going into the combustion chamber, not a very likely scenario .

[MikeFossl]

It makes sense that it’s the head gasket then.   It does start without to much problem and no untoward noises but after a second or two starts belching smoke.   Seems to correlate with building oil pressure.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Mike

[Justin B.]

Maybe do a compression check if you are able.  The Junkyard Dawg would smoke like hell after warming up before I changed rings...

[MikeFossl]

Snowbum suggests that the head gasket can be replaced without removing the cylinders by holding them in place with bungy cords.  can anyone suggest another procedure to secure the cylinders without the benifit of the head bolts?  Apart from a new gasket, are there any other items that would need replacing?

Thanks,

Mike

[georgesgiralt]

Hello Mike,
If I understood correctly, the bike is quite new to you.
I would remove the head, jug and check piston and rings to ascertain the actual state of the engine.
All it will cost you is a set of new gaskets and it will give you either confidence in the engine status or an idea of the cost of refurbishment.
And it is not that hard of a job either.
Just my 2¢ ....

[Bob_Roller]

If the exhaust nuts have never been removed before this can be a bit of a problem .
You need a special tool to remove them .
Also they can be seized onto the threads on the cylinder head .
Depends on how you want to proceed, try to remove them and possibly strip the threads,(  the nut is made of a harder alloy of aluminum than the cylinder head ) or cut them off and replace them .
If you get them off, or replace them, use an anti-seize compound on threads upon reinstallation .