Smoking from the left pipe

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e-sarvelmk3

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Dec 8, 2011
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So The other day I come home for lunch and decide its such a nice day out that ill pull the bike out and take that back, good idea. As shes worming up ill crack the gas a bit and out the left side was a puff of smoke, not a big deal I taught shes cold. But it never left my mind. By the time I get home that night iv noticed that theirs a fair amount of smoke coming from the left pipe now and a light ticking sound I don't like, now im concerned.

My thoughts are its gonna be rings or a valve guide. So before I snatch the head off im putting it out there for some advice the bike is in need of some cosmetic work and other then this problem runs strong. Im on the fences about pulling the motor and doing a full rebuild but that would take time and money then ill loose the summer that I want to ride so much or just do what needs to be done now to ride and worry about the restore in the winter. Encase it matters the bike in question is a 75 MK111 I got from my father who had it when he was a young 21 pup, so the bike means a lot to me.

Any help or advice would be good so please tell me what you think.
 
E-sarvel
Start with a compression check. wet/dry. this will tell lots before tearing into the engine.
CNN
 
e-sarvelmk3 said:
As shes worming up ill crack the gas a bit and out the left side was a puff of smoke, not a big deal I taught shes cold. But it never left my mind. By the time I get home that night iv noticed that theirs a fair amount of smoke coming from the left pipe now and a light ticking sound I don't like, now im concerned.
Click to expand...

Loose valve guide?
 
Compresion test probably won't tell you a thing why it's smoking, infact the smoky side will probably have a higher reading due to oil . Blank the rocker feed line off and see if it stops
 
Screw the smoke screen its the new ticking sound i'd be pensive of d/t all the things you can list and imagine causing it, its a lot shorter list right now. How could you enjoy summer ride far from home if its smoking and fouling plugs and getting sneers by strangers and the anxiety instead of forgetting your troubles for what immediately happening? If a valve guide slipping picture it hanging up valve retreat for a piston clash. May have sucked in a piece of carb slide that's still being digested till peckered the combustion chamber and valve lips till smaller piece spit out. Smoke on throttle up implies rings, smoke on let off implies guides, smoke all the time implies thinks he's a good economist.

Bald on front = great thinker
Bald on back = great lover
Bald on both front and back = thinks he's a great ...
ugh.
 
L.A.B. said:
e-sarvelmk3 said:
As shes worming up ill crack the gas a bit and out the left side was a puff of smoke, not a big deal I taught shes cold. But it never left my mind. By the time I get home that night iv noticed that theirs a fair amount of smoke coming from the left pipe now and a light ticking sound I don't like, now im concerned.
Click to expand...

Loose valve guide?
Click to expand...
Also maybe valve guide seals on intake??? :? It is tough to diagnose unless you are committed to pulling off the head.
 
Its no big deal to tear down the yop end . barrells / head .

If youve not been inside it , it allows you a decent inspection / service / overhaul .
Remove Valves & clean , regrind . Remove & inspect rings / Bore .

The old days pre detergent oils , a ' decoke ' was std , Ea. season ( Anually ).
Explains why Sidevaves were favoured .
Head would be the minimum . Comp. Test Isnt going to harm , & may tell you something .FIRST .

Odds are its a Valve Guide .Though if its beenlayed up for centuries, a little Rust Spot on bore or valve stem could
cause all the drama .Even a knckered Cam Chain.

Can be as enjoyable as rideing it , After Cleaning . Inspection & assembly with care are rewarding of the effort . :mrgreen:
 
CanukNortonNut said:
L.A.B. said:
e-sarvelmk3 said:
As shes worming up ill crack the gas a bit and out the left side was a puff of smoke, not a big deal I taught shes cold. But it never left my mind. By the time I get home that night iv noticed that theirs a fair amount of smoke coming from the left pipe now and a light ticking sound I don't like, now im concerned.
Click to expand...

Loose valve guide?
Click to expand...
Also maybe valve guide seals on intake??? :? It is tough to diagnose unless you are committed to pulling off the head.
Click to expand...

Mayby just remove the inspection cap and have a look to see if the inlet valve seal is still in place? the ticking mayby something else?
 
Thanks for all the input guys I think im going to do a comp test just because it wont hert anything. I havent been in the motor yet and pulling the head would be insightful and give me a chance to look things over. Plus if im going that far I may as well do it right rebuild the head and fix one of the fins that has a small peace missing, new rings and so on.

What would be better while I have the bore off? To have it powder coated or painted? Plus who could I trust to send the head out to for the work? And any suggestions for replacement parts i.e. springs, valves, rings, ect.
 
This is what im working with I have no side covers and need to get some so dont be to hard on me its a work in progress

Smoking from the left pipe


Smoking from the left pipe


Smoking from the left pipe


Smoking from the left pipe
 
Damn Watts up with that..
git yer beotch dressed up proper.
git some side covers on her and some proper pea shooters...man
that just aignt right. git her dunn :mrgreen:
The backside (seat ) don't look bad but she could use a new cover.
CNN
 
Looks like the priorities are in order , from here . Id go for the Cross weave ( 74 / ) seat cover if youre getting all decadent .

Possible to do head sevice YrSelf , if you dont rush it . Why , they used to get 10 yr olds to do the actual ;' Valve Grinding '
on V8s , for some reason ( done it once youve done it a thousand times , EIGHT anyway . ) Even Guide Replacement , IF
they havnt come loose .

Alluminum side panels for the race numbers will be O.K. :lol: :wink:, on a budget , the Mechanical stuff heads the list ,
IF you want it to go well .As its the least accesable, and gives the most peace of mind . Like the Tyres , :D 8) .
 
Ah so, does my heart good to see a good one history showing with a bright future.
 
If you're not up to the head work, Leo at Memphis Motor Werks did mine for about $800 and it seems fine. I'm sure CNW will do just as good for a bit more. That's if you're in the US or CAN. Powder coat or paint is personal. I had mine powder coated and already it's beat up a bit, but how can you keep a bike clean when it's so exposed to the elements unless you put it in a museum. I'd do it again. If you do the powder coat make sure you mask for the engine mounting points. The coater should have all sizes of plastic masks, forget the nuts/bolts/washers for masking. Some people even use spray can, but I found it doesn't hold up to the gas and oil, especially around the cradle, however I did spray my barrel silver and it seems fine.

Dave
69S
 
Lots of places that can do the head work for you. From the pictures I would guess that you live in SoCal area, lots of places around here to do the work. I just restored my 75' (a real mess) and used about 5 suppliers for the parts. Old Brits, Fair Spares, Colorado Norton Works, Commando Specialties, and JRC. I painted and polished everything myself. Make sure you check the layshaft bearing in the tranny! The side covers are easy to find, I needed the battery side.
 
Every time I smoke from the left pipe I start to sense my front brake is pulling to the right. That's when I know it's time to stop smoking from the leftPipe.
 
platinumsmith said:
Every time I smoke from the left pipe I start to sense my front brake is pulling to the right. That's when I know it's time to stop smoking from the leftPipe.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm.....Curious what ya got in that there pipe?? :P
 
OK, Dog...I see where your're coming from. I wonder if it would be improper etiquette to post a thread to see how many Nortoneers smoke from the Left Pipe before tearing it up?
 
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