How much smoke?

W.C.Machine

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How much smoke is normal/acceptable? My 53 shadow has 15500 miles on the clock and near as I know it has never been apart. It smokes when it gets fully warmed up, mostly after a period of low RPM cruising or when accelerating after some decel and down shifting. Did they smoke when they were new and is some smoke normal? My wife does not like to follow me on the shadow.:rolleyes:
 

Tnecniv Edipar

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Smoke is not normal. From the symptoms you describe it sounds like valve guide wear. Another possibilty is an issue with the bore oil holes , they have a metered oil feed. If this feed is over oiled it could cause the problem you describe.
 

roy the mechanic

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smoking twin

You neglect to say which colour smoke! black {like the book] Is rich mixture[like the book! Blue is another story. this is caused by oil inclusion in the combustion process. Most times after deceleration {shutting-off] too early for a corner, or idling at the lights for a while would indicate the clearance between valves and guides is more than desirable. Your machine,like mine , is fast approaching sixty years young! Don't be a tight bastard, give it the overhaul it has been begging for every time you have ridden it. If you don't do it soon, I'm quite shure the machine will bite you in the wallet., If not there are plenty of specialists who will. BE careful out there. regards . Roy.:mad:
 

Tnecniv Edipar

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I assumed it was blue oil smoke from the symptoms described. You need to know the history of this machine before you can comment on if it needs an overhaul or not. It's a totally original example ,low miles, never been stripped down or messed with, was owned by the posters Father before he aquired it and has been in ideal storage conditions for sometime. In other words , a dream bike !!! It could still be valve guide wear though , but the bore oil feeds and rocker metering wires need checking out.
 
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W.C.Machine

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Yes, it is oil smoke. Is the bore feed jet the one on the timing chest? If so it is a 170. Is there a feed metering wire under each banjo bolt on the rocker connection? Just want to know before I start taking things apart. I don't think the heads have ever been off, Asked dad but he can't remember. At 81 I can't blame him, And Yes it is my dream bike. Thanks for the help.
 
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W.C.Machine

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I can't help but show it off.
 

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Tnecniv Edipar

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Yes , there is a 0.020" wire in each rocker feed banjo bolt and the oil jet for bore feed is 170. If the jet is loose , that could cause the smoking problem. Some books I would recommend if you don't already have them , Know Thy Beast , Forty Years On and Another Ten Years on. The latter 2 are a compilation of technical articles from the MPH club mag , there is a huge amount of invaluable info in them. The club has them all in stock.
 

bmetcalf

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I can't find your first post to see what books you already have, but the Richardson book and the Instruction Sheets are good to have.
 
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