Hi all,

I'm currently typing this with grease- and oil covered hands, in a Seattle maker space. Life is pretty good. My bike's in pieces next to me, but apparently not enough pieces.

I got my '89 about 5 months ago, and while she's certainly not the prettiest or smoothest, I adore her. Started spewing white smoke a couple weeks ago, figured out it's likely the piston valve(s) leaking. No biggie, started disassembling. Ends up the manual is like a goddamn choose-your-own-adventure book. One which wants me to take the whole engine out. There have *got* to be other options in getting to those piston rings. Any ideas? Links? Pictures? I'm all about taking things apart, but I'm not sure I have the skills to put the whole thing back together again, and I'm missing some essential tools and support for removal of an engine.

Guidance is appreciated.

Cheers!

White smoke - valve, piston Who the Fluck told you that.

My vote ... water in fuel.

My second vote - stuck float ...

Neither of which are anywhere near the valve or piston.

Cool.
Buddha.

Buddha is right again, white smoke means water is in the mix.  Water is a natural byproduct of internal combustion and white smoke is generally present during cold start up even on an air cooled engine like a GS500 but should disappear shortly as it warms up and not be visible after that.  Could be water in the gas if it persists..

even if you had to... the engine does not need to be removed to access the pistons. The head and cylinders can be removed with the engine still in the frame. Not much room but it can be done.

blueish smoke is oil and I think black means you're running rich, white smoke is water or coolant but since our bikes don't run coolant then it's prob just water

well look on the bright side.. you now know how to take apart your engine.  just the wrong part.   

Taking apart is usually never the problem ... 
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on January 21, 2010, 06:56:37 PM
Taking apart is usually never the problem ... 
Cool.
Buddha.

+1
it's getting it back together without having parts left over that's usually where i fail.. 

+1

Take apart? Where's my torch and bolt cutter?

What? You want to put it back together?

What ever happened to checking compression? Why tear into a combustion chamber without verifying out of spec compression 1st.