Bike Smoking

Moderator: Moderators

JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

Recently, when I stop I get a hissing sound and then a cloud of smoke rises out form somewhere on the engine. I can't see properly at the mo because of the fairing, but it looks like it's coming from the exhaust type area.

It isn't running hot according to the temp gauge, but I just redid the coolant what did improve things, however it is still doing it.

Any ideas what this could be? Head gasket maybe? not sure!

Any help would be appreciated!

Cheers Guys! :)
cargo
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 3341
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
My Bike: tomos moped
Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by cargo »

is it defo smoke or could it be steam

Might be a hole in the rad ?
User avatar
banner001
Track day God
Track day God
Posts: 2584
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:27 pm
My Bike: ZXR400 L4
Location: Nuneaton

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by banner001 »

does it do it in the dry?

could be water hitting the hot exhaust and evaporating?

mine does it slightly when its raining out, my wingmirrors and screen can become fogged if sat for too long in the rain.
UK ZXR400 L3 (1993) - Fully restored and on the roads, my green beast!
JPN ZXR250 A2 (1990) - Revs to 19,200rpm... 'nuff said :smt003
JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

Nope does it in the dry too, and it's like a plume of smoke. May be steam yeah it's hard to tell though. Either way do ya know what could cause this?
ross46
Restricted
Restricted
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:31 pm
My Bike: zxr 400 l6

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by ross46 »

does it smell like steam or does it smell like petrol and or coolant, what colour is it? how dense is the smoke/steam?
JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

it's grey so don't think it would be oil which is blue smoke right? Not like petrol, I guess the only liquid left is coolant?
ross46
Restricted
Restricted
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:31 pm
My Bike: zxr 400 l6

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by ross46 »

compression test to see if it is a head gasket leak, is your oil milky? bubbles in coolant?
JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

Think I may know the problem, but does this sound like it could be?

Basically, the top right bolt on the rocker cover has snapped and got jammed inside the top of the engine block. Oil is present around this corner where it is not fully sealed, and is therefore dripping down onto the engine block and burning. I think that this is the cause, can't see anything else that could be doing it.

Has anyone got any tips on how to get this bolt out? Am I going to need to buy an easy out or do they not work?

Cheers!
cargo
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 3341
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
My Bike: tomos moped
Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by cargo »

I'm amazed...................a bolt just snapped ! !
top cover bolts have a sealing washer so that washer is prob gone too.....................lots of oil getting out I would have thought

Those bolts only have a very light torque setting. If it was me I'd try using a small centre punch to tap the remains of the bolt out.


But how did it just snap........................there is more to this IMHO
JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

I must've tightened it too much when I put it on a month ago, I guess eventually causing it to break.
cargo
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 3341
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
My Bike: tomos moped
Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by cargo »

I am often accused of not being helpful...................and perhaps rude. This of course is not true...................but if you'd told us that little bit of information in your original post it would have been very relevant.


I have absolutely no doubt that more than 50% of the problems people on here have with their bikes are a direct result of something they have done with or to their bike in the recent past and without fail they come on here and completely fail to tell the truth.

TELL THE FULL STORY
cargo
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 3341
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
My Bike: tomos moped
Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by cargo »

JamieNeve wrote:I must've tightened it too much when I put it on a month ago, I guess eventually causing it to break.

you think ???.................I fooking know
User avatar
banner001
Track day God
Track day God
Posts: 2584
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:27 pm
My Bike: ZXR400 L4
Location: Nuneaton

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by banner001 »

torque wrench...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keyw ... yra9i4bo_b

cant work on a bike without one.
UK ZXR400 L3 (1993) - Fully restored and on the roads, my green beast!
JPN ZXR250 A2 (1990) - Revs to 19,200rpm... 'nuff said :smt003
cargo
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 3341
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:33 am
My Bike: tomos moped
Location: Carrickfergus Northern Ireland

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by cargo »

banner001 wrote:torque wrench...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keyw ... yra9i4bo_b

cant work on a bike without one.


agreed


And do NOT buy the cheap nasty one
JamieNeve
Posts: 197
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 pm
My Bike: CBR600RR, ZXR400 L-2
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire

Re: Bike Smoking

Post by JamieNeve »

yeah I know, bought one last night haha
Post Reply