Hey guys, just picked up my first bike, a 2007 F. Got it for $400 on craigslist in need of some work, I figure this gives me the winter to take the MSF and become very familiar with the bike while I fix it before I ever get on and ride it.
Previous owner said it started blowing white smoke out of the exhaust after a restart on a cold day while he was out. Bike sat for a few months, then got vandalized, he was tired of dealing with it and so he dumped it off cheap. Off the bat I know it is missing the fairings, headlight, seat, turn signals, and undertail/fender. The glass on the gauges is also shattered and the needle for the tach is broken off. From his description of the engine issue my guess is either rings or valve stem seals. I asked if the smoking went away and he said he wasn't sure as he didn't run it long after it started. Either way, I have ordered all the parts aside from the engine stuff and am still out less than $800, so I think I got a decent deal (not including fairings, plan to keep it naked). All the labor will be free, or will cost a few beers since it will be done by myself and friends.
After starting to go over it in the garage, it actually seems like everything else is in really good shape. No major dents or scrateches on the exhaust, tank, or frame and the bar ends look to be in good shape so I don't think it was dropped, at least not bad. The engine turns over and the transmission shifts through all the gears, oil and plugs look good too. Will be doing a compression check soon to attempt to determine if it is bad rings or stem seals. Any other ideas on what could cause smoking are welcome of course.
Will get some pics up soon, don't have much aside from the craigslist photos right now though.
Good luck and have fun. It's a great bike to work on.
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Thanks, I will. I'm a mechanical engineer and worked as a car mechanic for several years in high school and college, so an air cooled carbureted twin should be cake, especially compared to my Subarus. Looking forward to restoring the bike over winter. I actually plan to throw down some moving blankets and pull it into my living room to work on it when it starts to get cold out. Gotta love being a bachelor.
I'd be really surprised if a 2007 needed rings or valve seals. Do the compression test of course, but check valve clearances before putting too much thought into anything else. How many miles on the odo? The valves may have never been done.
Oh - if the bike was tipped over and sat for a short amount of time, oil can get into the cylinders, causing it to smoke until it is burned off. Just a thought.
Good deal on a project bike, and welcome to the site!
Yes that sounds like an awesome deal!! Congrats on the first bike! I taught myself how to ride in the dead cold of winter too... it was a blast :D
As Rich said, welcome to the site and good luck!!
Keep us posted with pics and updates :cheers:
Here are the 2 photos from the craigslist ad, and the two I took the first day I brought it home, sitting next to her brother (or his brother, I haven't decided yet, haha). Has almost 12.8k on the clock, and based on condition of everything I would say it was well cared for, though I asked the PO and he says he does not believe the valve clearance was ever checked.
Got a battery and went to do compression test today, but couldn't find the 12mm adapter for my tester, so have to wait a few days to get one from Amazon. Otherwise my first order of business is to get the fairing mounts off, and put all the parts I have now purchased for it on the bike, so I end up with a complete bike that has an unknown engine problem, then go from there.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTRHK7gkJe8/VgHPgDBin-I/AAAAAAAABXY/gjYzr4kfS_4/s1000-Ic42/2015081795193028.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZZzWlDqPykE/VgHPgKAlcDI/AAAAAAAABXY/HbLwQOoNXbA/s1000-Ic42/2015081795193120.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-twmWEuk1W0I/VgHSwrVFsII/AAAAAAAABYc/rYnVdjBjt3g/s1000-Ic42/20150909_130742.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6R45RX1zjCI/VgHS01IEmSI/AAAAAAAABYo/RTFChR8KaEM/s1000-Ic42/20150909_130726.jpg)
EDIT: Hopefully my pictures show up for everyone else aside from me now. Sharing fail.
Ah. Want another Subaru? I've got a dinged up 99 legacy wagon GT with the typical headgasket leak in need of a new mechanically inclined friend :icon_rolleyes:
welcome to the show :wink:
Awesome deal. Congratulations and welcome. From your description of the engine smoke I would first of all start the bike and see for myself. I always hate second hand descriptions - you don't necessarily get all the info you needs, and with the bike smoking in front of you you can also try other tests as you deem fit. I would also do a compression test before getting elbow deep into the motor, gain just to make sure what you are doing is necessary. At only 12K the engine should be fine. Also replace the fuel. It could be something in that. And definitely check the valves.
As for having a nice warm living room to work in - I'm just jealous!!
Good luck.
Congrads! I'm doing the same thing- picked up an '89 from a dealer for $500. PO had removed the ignition and battery so the dealer didn't want to bother w/it. 9 months later and I'm in the home stretch, light at the end of the tunnel...just waiting on valve shims, then, fingers crossed.
Good luck!
Did a quick compression test this afternoon with some puzzling results, it only came up to 69 PSI on the right cylinder, 70PSI on the left cylinder. With a compression ratio of 9.0:1 I would have expected closer to 130 or more. Will have to check to make sure the gauge isn't broken or something else isn't wrong with the tester, because that is awfully consistent even though it is low. Also got all of the fairing mounts off, pulled the rear fairing and gauges off, and fixed the tail light lens.
Taking off the gauges, they actually still function fine. I already have a new set, but I think I might try to clean these ones up, laser cut some new lenses out of acrylic, and 3D print a new needle for the tach at work and try to get them back on the bike. They will look a bit beat up, but it will be unique that's for sure. Then I can either sell the ones I bought, or if this ends up like my cars, keep them in my stockpile of spare parts.
Also changing over all lights to LED, and I mean ALL lights. The right way though.
Did you hold the throttle open as you spun the engine over?
Yes sir. Tested at WOT, I have done this on cars before, with a different tester though. I did have the spark plug out of the other side, but that shouldn't make a difference, save for taking a bit of load off the starter. I will also have to check the airbox, or just take if off completely, to make sure there isn't something wrong in there. It also has a valve cover leak around one of the camshaft half-moons, but that shouldn't matter either.
Jenson=Swedish
Jensen=Danish
Norwegian actually. There are a bunch of vacuum lines unhooked under the tank by the carbs, but I wouldn't expect that to matter for the test either. So I still suspect a faulty gauge, an engine which wore very evenly, very fast, which seems unlikely, or the exhaust valves are so out of spec that they are both stuck slightly open.
I will add that to my Jensen Fun Facts Page :thumb:
Jensen, did you check valve clearances yet?
Mr Sporrer brought his GS to my garage a couple weeks ago with Low compression and we checked the valves. I believe we did both intake and exhaust valves on the right side, and the compression went from 60 up to 130? Just remembering details from memory, but it was a huge jump in compression....