Exhaust smoke, tapping noise, compression test

Most likely - it seems the only thing I want to do these days is ride or wrench, and I've got plenty of projects to work on....

[Dogma]

Speaking of rain in the forecast... Are you wrenching on it tomorrow evening? I might drop by to say hi.

Yeah I agree that plug 4 looks 'better' than plugs 1-3. Running lean/hot probably exacerbates things like popping and any other symptoms affected by heat. I'll try to tighten up the loose pipe (if I can't get the broken bolt repaired) and get the carbs synced/adjusted, and ride like a bat outta hell in between.

It sounds like I don't have much to worry about regarding piston rings and valve seals, so I'll check that stuff out next time I'm close to valve cover removal.

I still don't understand where all the smoke is coming from (and where all the oil is going) if the rings and seals are OK, but I trust the recommendations to give nature a chance at fixing it first.

Apparently I've finally found a hobby that works in all weather conditions. I've been enjoying some decent riding weather, and also excited for rain predictions so I can get back in the shop

[Steve]

Can you helicoil a new stud in?

Need to get the broken one out, first.

.

[GS1150Pilot]

Can you helicoil a new stud in?

[jsandidge]

The tapping you hear could be from the exhaust leak.

[Cipher]

There are two pictures now.
Yes they look lean

[Steve]

In that picture, I would rather have MY plugs looking like #4 than #1-3.

.

Something's weird with the attachment function. I changed it to show Plugs 1-3 are white, only plug 4 looks dark.

[Cipher]

You are not running lean if the plugs all look like that.

If it's not using a lot of oil, I wouldn't worry about light smoke. Does it smell like oil or unburnt fuel?

Does the tapping only happen near idle? Is it perfectly steady, or does it miss a little?

• Good question about the smell - I'll pay closer attention to it.

• The tapping is perfectly steady, loudest at idle but frequency coincides with engine speed - as the engine revs up, the tapping gets faster and seems quieter (I think I can hear it when riding - there's a peculiar 'zing' but it could be something else). And it seems louder when hot.

Here's what the plugs look like. 1-3 all look the same (white), #4 is dark. Note that most of the smoke is out of the 1-2 pipes.

I guess the big question for me is what to do about the exhaust leak (broken manifold bolt). I feel like it needs to be fixed before a carb sync, but feel like a carb sync is needed before I ride much more (if I'm running lean). If the head comes off to fix the bolt, I'll use that opportunity to do valve seals, etc but obviously will lose riding time.

[Cipher]

There may be oil residue left in the packing material of the exhaust pipes.

Does it make good power on the road? If it does I would drive it hard for a few hundred miles.

Hell yeah it does! And I can certainly do that. I'll get the carbs synced and see what I can do about the exhaust leak, hopefully that will help with the backfiring and I'll put up with the smoke for a little while.

[Cipher]

Does it make good power on the road? If it does I would drive it hard for a few hundred miles.

[tkent02]

Your numbers are fine. Ride.