Help with tuning.

[brian4.2]

I'm Having problems tuning. It is spewing white smoke from one side only. Doesn't seem to be oil smoke but with all new ignition parts I cant believe it is unburned fuel.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

A bit about the bike. New pazon surefire, new HT leads, swapped in the 6V coils from my running triumph, new plugs.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

Finally put together (need Help) Cant get it to idle properly. (2019)

About the bike. 1972 Combat Commando. Crankcase oil ways have been sorted. Timing cover and oil pump upgraded by AMR. New main bearings., pistons and rings, cylinder head rebuilt by JimC, JS1 cam and radiused followers. New Amal Premiers with 220 mains, 106 and needle clips on the top grove...

www.accessnorton.com

Todays Video. Feb.19,2022 https://youtu.be/9hxdudpSQVU

 

[Larry S]

I'm Having problems tuning. It is spewing white smoke from one side only. Doesn't seem to be oil smoke but with all new ignition parts I cant believe it is unburned fuel.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

A bit about the bike. New pazon surefire, new HT leads, swapped in the 6V coils from my running triumph, new plugs.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

Finally put together (need Help) Cant get it to idle properly. (2019)

About the bike. 1972 Combat Commando. Crankcase oil ways have been sorted. Timing cover and oil pump upgraded by AMR. New main bearings., pistons and rings, cylinder head rebuilt by JimC, JS1 cam and radiused followers. New Amal Premiers with 220 mains, 106 and needle clips on the top grove...

www.accessnorton.com

Todays Video. Feb.19,2022 https://youtu.be/9hxdudpSQVU

Video link is set to private.

 

[ozcruiser]

Nice long rider fastback

 

[ILLF8ED]

Is it possible the rocker spindle intake or exhaust on the right side is not assembled correctly? The flats point forward on the exhaust and to the rear on the intake.

 

[marshg246]

I'm Having problems tuning. It is spewing white smoke from one side only. Doesn't seem to be oil smoke but with all new ignition parts I cant believe it is unburned fuel.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

A bit about the bike. New pazon surefire, new HT leads, swapped in the 6V coils from my running triumph, new plugs.

I had to stop this project a couple years ago due to a move and having no place to work on it.

Not causing your problem, but many Triumphs have 12 volt coils unless changed.

White smoke normally is water, blue is oil, black is gas. Are you sure that side is running (exhaust hot)? Was the bike stored on the side stand and is the left side the problem? How long have you let it run?

 

[Schwany]

Seriously misfiring. Is that right side plug covered in oil or fuel?

The AMR mod does not prevent long term wet sumping in every instance.

What Greg and ILLF8ED said

 

[marshg246]

The video link works now - didn't when I wrote before.

That looks like blue oil smoke to me. If you haven't, make sure the oil is returning properly to the oil tank to be sure it's not keeping the sump too wet.

It doesn't sound like it's running well. It might clean up if you get it completely warmed up and get it running smoothly. If it's rideable, I would take it around the block a few times.

 

[L.A.B.]

Not causing your problem, but Triumphs normally have 12 volt coils unless changed.

6V from '79 model year (Lucas RITA ignition).
Or an earlier 6V model?

 

[kommando]

What @marshg246 said plus you can see the smoke increase as time goes on and the misfiring increase so its building up and leaking into the right side, likely straight into the combustion chamber. So check the inlet valve seal has not popped off the inlet guide, the rocker shafts are the right way round, after that run without oil going to the rockers and if it continues then the rings have not bedded in or a ring or rings are upside down.

 

[acotrel]

If the two 6 volt coils are connected in series, you might do better with a double-ended 12 volt coil from a Japanese bike. Then if you have a problem with the electrics the motor just stops running. With two coils, one can be defective and the motor will still run.

 

[marshg246]

6V from '79 model year (Lucas RITA ignition).
Or an earlier 6V model?

And this year alone I've had two people insist that they had 6-volt coils and really had 12 and I had one change the three 12-volt coils to three 6-volt coils when he installed his Trispark and wonder why it died - he didn't read the instructions and assumed that since 6-volt coils were needed for twins that they would be needed for triples as well.

Seems like a decent thing to mention when a large percentage of vintage Triumphs on the road in the US came with 12-volt coils! He didn't say which Triumph.

You are, of course, right that "Triumphs normally" might be too strong so I have edited it to "many Triumphs".

 

[concours]

Oil smoke.

 

[mean gene]

Can't see video but right exhaust pipe is already blue. Blue pipes can mean late timing. Late timing can make it easier to kick over but you need advance to run properly. I usually set the timing that if you give it a lazy kick it might kick back. Give it a good kick and it will start1 Good luck I agree , run it around the block a couple times!

 

[Schwany]

Definitely burning excessive oil on the right side. Could be all it needs is miles and the ignition double checked as mentioned.

The cheap 12V dual coils do function well for testing, and it may turn out that you like the way it runs with one. I use one and run resistor plugs without the resistor caps. Dime City Cylces and others sell the dual coils for a reasonable price. Under $50 US. They are not made in the USA, but they work.

Pazon says, "For low compression ratio engines (less than 9:1), two 12 volt coils connected in series can be used, but we strongly recommend running with two 6 volt coils connected in series or one 12 volt dual output coil with a primary resistance of 3 to 4.5 ohms"

I did not read the previous post you linked to. Who assembled the engine?

 

[Tornado]

Check for oil building up in inlet rocker box. Can be from spindles faced wrong way around, but also a blockage in the small drainage hole under the right inlet valve seat. Run a wire down that as far as possible, then hit it with a good spray of WD etc. Ideally with timing cover off you can check it is freely draining into there.

 

[ashman]

If the motor has been rebuilt and when replacing the pistons in the cylinders maybe to much oil in the bores will cause a lot of smoke and if the rings are new they won't bed in with to much oil and if the motor is cold and reving it like that not good, left pipe in the pic is very blue, what's the plugs look like after a good run, timing out, carbs need tuning, but if the plugs are oiled up then to much oil.

 

[brian4.2]

Is it possible the rocker spindle intake or exhaust on the right side is not assembled correctly? The flats point forward on the exhaust and to the rear on the intake.

The head has been rebuilt by Jim Comstock, I have about 5 miles on it. I want to assume its something else. Can I see the position of the shafts by pulling the spindle plates?

"Not causing your problem, but many Triumphs have 12 volt coils unless changed.

White smoke normally is water, blue is oil, black is gas. Are you sure that side is running (exhaust hot)? Was the bike stored on the side stand and is the left side the problem? How long have you let it run?"

Verified 6V coils from the running Triumph. Alway on the center stand or the rolling stand which is level. Let it run 5 minutes or so.

Seriously misfiring. Is that right side plug covered in oil or fuel?

Oil seems to be circulating fine,I can see it returning. I can turn the motor fast (plugs out) with the electric start.

I will check timing again in the AM.

 

[Matt Spencer]

" swapped in the 6V coils from my running triumph, "

falling over laughing icon , ad infinitum . !

Will put the link to this . https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/coils-well-suit-yourselves-then.34652/

You need a 3/8 in blue spark.

you WANT a 1/2 inch plus , blue spark .

From the H T Lead . Any coil over 10 years old is SUSPECT . due to vibration ( Did you say TRIUMPH ) heat , leaks , gremins , cheapness , heat , lack of cooling , and missuse ! .
Cheap mangy small conveniant ones are stock junk . Lucs Sports Coils used to be o.k. , if they were any good and less than 8 or 10 years old , if fitted not in a dungeon .

 

[Matt Spencer]

" I will check timing again in the AM. "

Check howfar a spark jumps , from a scredriver ? in the plug cap . If it aint 6 mm it aint gunna work , unner load . Pshaw .

 

[B+Bogus]

All the coil advice is interesting, but given the symptoms are one side only I'd venture to suggest the ignition/coils etc are unlikely to be the problem?
Does the smoke smell like oil? It rather looks like it....
Presumably it was running for long enough to completely clear the sump of any residual oil from being stood?
If so it would indicate an oil control failure, whether guides, seals, rings or rocker spindle orientation, only investigation will tell.
The link to previous endeavours doesn't seem to show excessive smoke (especially for a newly rebuilt motor), just poor low-end running?

Aside from the smoking issue, based on your prior posts...
Strobing to 28 degrees would be a better bet for a tuned motor, and it's also worth noting that the original timing marks can be quite a way off. Checking with a timing disc and dial gauge is imperative IMHO, and given the mods which have been done I'd also want to confirm the valve timing is to spec.
Tuned motors can't be expected to run well at tickover, but yours should be better than that.
Previous advice regarding turns-out on the pilot screws is great, but every bike is different, and a 20 degree adjustment can make a difference - any data (1&1/2 turns etc.) is just a guide, not a fixed value. One of my bikes was 1 1/4 turns on one side an 3/4 of a turn on the other. All on a fully warmed up motor, of course...
You don't mention if the carbs have been cleaned since it was parked up. They can block up after six weeks or less, so after 2 years it's a pretty safe bet they'll need a thorough clean.