anyone ever had their gaskets smoke after running it for the first time after replacement?

[wolfo68]

ok, so I'm thinking it's the oil I used to seat the gaskets burning off or something but has anyone ever had their gaskets smoke after a rebuild?

 

[konarider94]

explain this more. what gaskets? what type of gasket material. and what do you mean seat with oil.

 

[wolfo68]

I put a thin layer of oil on the gaskets, specifically the metal gaskets for the rocker boxes, as it says to do in the manual. Now I noticed it smoking after I fired it up. I believe it's from the oil but I haven't heard of it happening to anyone else.

 

[konarider94]

idk. i know i wouldnt use any oil on my base gasket or head gasket. i dont know why they would say to do that on the rocker box. i guess keep riding it for a while an see if it goes away. keep an eye on it.

 

[wolfo68]

idk, it says to coat them all so I did, I'm only noticing it on the top though.

 

[konarider94]

what manual says that? in my factory service manual it clearly states thoroughly clean and dry the gasket surfaces of cylinders and cylinder heads. the only thing you lubricate are the head studs, bolts, and o rings with a little motor oil IF you are using paper head gaskets from HD. You should be using a MLS head gasket and single layer steel base gasket which eliminates the o ring between the cylinder and head.

 

[victormonopoly]

If it's not the gaskets, it's all your finger prints and smudges and drippings from wrenching.

 

[wolfo68]

I just used the hd gasket kit, but you're right. it doesn't say to put oil on the base or head gasket. it says to lightly coat the o-rings. I'm still just talking about the upper end. mainly the rocker box gaskets.

I could also imagine the stuff that's smoking being the smudges off of my gloves.

 

[konarider94]

i know that all you are talking about is the rocker gasket, im just worried that you coated them all and will have a failure soon. i wanted to post that in case anyone finds this thread they dont go coating gaskets in oil.

my original opinion stands though. see if it stops smoking eventually. just keep an eye on it.

[down] on the hd gasket kit though

 

[wolfo68]

i wanted to post that in case anyone finds this thread they dont go coating gaskets in oil.

good point, I don't want to mislead and cause headaches

I had a cometic kit that I was going to use but somehow it got thrown away, so I settled for these due to a lack of money for it at the time.

 

[wolfo68]

It's running beautifully. other than I'm pretty sure both my headlights are burnt out at the moment.

and the smoking is almost unnoticeable.

 

[levi]

I just did the rocker box gaskets, and mine smoked for a little while too.

It's all the hand oil and WD40 and maybe spilled motor oil that's burning. No biggie unless it lasts more than your first couple rides.

 

[wolfo68]

I'm pretty sure it's gone now, and I finally fixed my intake leak that was plaguing my idle.