Did the value gap, now burning oil?

[bowery4]

If you look in the how tos for Thunder's value gap, I posted in that about doing mine (full story about the bike and such and thanks for all the help BTW!! * also Please look if replying*** thanks) but now I am having a new problem. As I rode it the last couple of days, it is burning oil. Level is normal, been running great since doing this. One thing not mentioned in that thread is the fact that here in Thailand they do not sell 91 octane anymore (found out after the gap fix I have been running it with 91 Gasohol for the last 3 or 4 months). So last fill up I used a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of 91 gasohol and 95 regular gas (which is called benzine here) I have used the 95 (1/2 tank) one time (a couple of years ago)and it ran like crap. I sort of doubt the fuel is the problem.

Beyond that I am kind of stumped. Any Ideas?

[skuuter]

When You say "burning oil"...is it actually using it to the point of the oil level getting smaller, or just have "blue oil smoke" out the exhaust....??

[bowery4]

I am not entirely sure now. I did top it up a bit after the I did the valve gap as it was near the bottom of the stick... it really takes so little oil I kind of thought it might have spilled out a bit when I did it (there was a small amount on the floor). I also did it last week, again just a tad though, also was down on the stick a bit.
Yesterday and today it was still half way up the markings like it should be.
But it smelled and was burning blueish smoke (after it was warm) and the exhaust has dry black oily powder around inside the tip. I really only use it for short trips mostly so it is not "warm" much (although this is a hot place here in Bangkok). So it has been smokey maybe twice as I slightly smelled a little something before yesterday a week or two ago. Didn't see smoke that time.

I doubt it is fuel but it is an old engine, maybe not being able to burn it as well is hard on it (I think the gasohol was bad for the carb some of the rubber is a bit stiff, especially the diaphragm but it moves fairly easy). When I have used 95 octane it ran shitty before. I didn't look at the plug yet but it has always had a bit of black oily on it (rich, I know)even shortly after changing it. Don't have the tool to turn the little screw at the bottom of the carb so never did that. Don't have a way to measure RPMs either.
It also seems just a little slower and slightly noisier but I'd be damned if I could explain what the noise is. When I took out the stick today I thought I smelled a hint of gas, maybe.

I didn't have to change the exhaust shim but I did have it out. Not sure how that would affect the seating though.
If the top is a bit too tight? I wouldn't think that would do it??.
My battery died the other day and I had to kick it and that was a bit hard, first kick had to again and it was easier.
Checked the hoses they look okay. The air filter is pretty clean still.

The only other thing I can think to add is after I adjusted the valves it would run for a cycle or two a couple times when I turned it off but not every time.

[skuuter]

With the extra information, it's sounding like You could possibly have a valve set too tight...might want to re-check them....

[bowery4]

Thanks. I will check again but have a busy week end. I checked twice when I did it and the top was just a bit tight but I could move the gauge in and out ok. We'll see, I guess. I hope it is that simple.

[skuuter]

Aug 3, 2013 1:53:35 GMT -5 bowery4 said:

Thanks. I will check again but have a busy week end. I checked twice when I did it and the top was just a bit tight but I could move the gauge in and out ok. We'll see, I guess. I hope it is that simple.

Let us know how this went...Thanks.....

[chanito]

Sounds more like stuck rings than tight valves, the solution is probably just as easy as to take your ruckus for a long ride (over 20 minutes) and then just have a series of wide open throttle blasts and have some fun, some times short rides tent to cook the oil around the rings, just enough to prevent them from expanding properly, getting them fully warm up will get the oil liquid again and the sudden acceleration will blow the carbon and deposits away from the rings, allowing them to work properly again

[skuuter]

Aug 6, 2013 5:33:15 GMT -5 chanito said:

Sounds more like stuck rings than tight valves, the solution is probably just as easy as to take your ruckus for a long ride (over 20 minutes) and then just have a series of wide open throttle blasts and have some fun, some times short rides tent to cook the oil around the rings, just enough to prevent them from expanding properly, getting them fully warm up will get the oil liquid again and the sudden acceleration will blow the carbon and deposits away from the rings, allowing them to work properly again

If it was most anything but a Ruckus, I would never even remotely suggest a tight valve..."BUT"...because of the excessive Crankcase Pressure, and Excessive Cylinder Oil Splash in these little engines, I've seen a half dozen of Them here with exhaust valves too tight (partially staying open causing some cam overlap) smoke like the proverbial "Freight Train", apparently from a constant draw of spill-over oil. Adjust the Valve(s) correctly, and once the pipe and muffler clears the built up oil residue, They stop smoking. Not ruling out stuck rings, as that could be a real cause, but since the Owner adjusted the valves and now has this problem, I've personally seen it happen here........

[bowery4]

Thanks for the replies. I still haven't gotten around to it, I will soon though, it hasn't used any oil the past few weeks and it didn't do anything bad, wasn't smoking at all until today. It seems not to do it with any kind of regularity. Very, very intermittent. I use the bike most mornings so it is hard to get it when it is really cold after sitting a night (although I did do that when I did it the first time). I am going to try Chanito's suggestion just because it will be easier to do so at the moment. We'll see what happens and I will report back.

Hah I just realized today too that I haven't filled the tank since the light went on after the last time (the 50% 91 gasohol and 50% 95 octane "benzine" (or just high octane gas), the fuels I am left with in this strange country). That was August 1st when I started this thread, so see I don't make many longer trips. The rings being a bit mucky could definitely be an issue. Plus it is hot here (average temp in Bangkok is 95 year round).

It never smoked before the adjustment and the intake was way,way too tight, so much so it almost wouldn't start. The exhaust on the other hand was good to go.

thanks again