Smoke from the breather reroute filter

[casshole23]

Hello. i have 2007 buell xb12ss that has been sitting since 2017. Since 2020 it has been sitting with the engine rotated to change the gaskets that are know to leak. It had a couple rags blocking anything from getting into the heads. I then changed the oil and primary. After changing them i took care of some of the ground issues in another thread from here with adding a 4awg wire from the tbone to the negative terminal. I also pulled the throttle body and injectors and cleaned them as at first it would not statr and i could not smell and gas. I also did a reroute, see photos. I reset the tps and adjusted the idle between 1000-1100 and let it run for about 30 minutes. I have since let it tun for about 1.5 hours and rode it around my block a few times and there is still smoke coming out of the filter from the breather reroute. I ran ecmspy and it showed no error codes. That and resetting my tps are about all i know how to use that program. Not sure what that may be from or what i should check next so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[casshole23]

So no visible oil leaks but am losing oil as it is now low, twice. Thinking I messed something up when replacing the upper, lower, and inner rocker cover gaskets. Going to do a compression test and try again on the gaskets. Does anyone know the best gaskets to use and what the part number would be so I make sure I’m using the correct ones?

 

[Barrett]

After changing them i took care of some of the ground issues in another thread from here with adding a 4awg wire from the tbone to the negative terminal.

Should NOT be connected to battery terminal

I reset the tps and adjusted the idle between 1000-1100 and let it run for about 30 minutes. I have since let it tun for about 1.5 hours and rode it around my block a few times

Steam can be misinterpreted as "smoke" exiting the breather. This is accumulated internal moisture being vented thru the system. Harmless and reasonably normal.
"Smoke" that has a lingering combustion or oil aroma and does NOT dissipate almost instantly into atmosphere is a by-product of blow-by and internal engine damage.

If you actually made this motor sit there and idle @ 1100RPM for a total of 2 hours...the damage is already done.

 

[Cooter]

Ol level in a dry sump tank will vary wildly with engine temp and checking procedure changes, thats why there is a whole procedure in the manual and the large range between low and high on the stick. You aren't meant to add oil to the tip of the top, it is pointless and dangerous if overfilled it will definitely come out the breather, and not as smoke.

If it's not leaving a puddle on the ground, I doubt its actually been "low, twice". More likely you're just obsessing over nothing as the engine oil level settles to normal from being apart. You would know if it was burning that much oil or coming out the breather that much for SURE. A thimble of oil spray makes a BIG mess.

Theres no 'oil bypass' or anything in the rocker gaskets, if thats what you're thinking, and where would that oil go anyway? Back to the tank... The best thing you can do for your poor Buell is ride it. Leave it together and just ride the dang thing.

Why would you let it idle for that long?? Don't do that. Buell-rule #1... if you startit... ride it. That includes the winter storage weirdness people do.

TL;DR
Quit obsessing over nothing, go for a ride.

 

[casshole23]

Hey Barrett, Thanks for the reply. I followed this thread on the ground and did all 3 that was suggested below (I said tbone but meant the earth strap):
https://www.buellxb.com/forum/showthread.php?54706-Fixing-Earthing-Problems-Why-and-How

You can avoid all these issues by running extra earth cables/wires. The major one is a 4Awg (20mm2) cable from the frame side of the braided earth strap, at the top anti-vibration mount above the engine, back to the battery negative terminal.

Note the two extra wires in the lug at the anti-vibration mount end in the RH picture above; one runs forward to the earth point on the steering head, and another shorter one, connects to the rear coil mounting bolt.

See reply to Cotter on the idling, i did not word that very well.

 

[casshole23]

Hey Cooter, thanks for the reply as well. I misspoke on the idling. I did not just let it sit there for that long idling. That was total time of idling for no more than 15v minutes including driving it around so i apologize for not being more detailed. I never had the oil level above or near the top so i know it was not overfilled but the level has dropped from where i filled it twice, once to needing to add more oil. I very well could be obsessing as it never did this before and being it only has 2 wheels makes me nervous something may go wrong while out riding, lol. I will try to take a video of it smoking and post if i am able to. Thanks again and always appreciate the help and info.
Here is the not so great video, I'm sure i am just being paranoid lol.
https://youtube.com/shorts/8CZkhBfzF3s?feature=share

 

[Barrett]

My pleasure. Do NOT adhere to or pursue anything on that thread. That Vreede cat is long gone and was a kook. A proper auxiliary ground is simple and straight-forward.

As follows: 12-14 gauge quality wire measured to proper length
Install ring terminal on each end
Attach one terminal to the rear coil mounting bracket bolt
Attach other terminal to left inner frame rail on top of the negative ground cable
That's all you need

 

[Cooter]

Does it smell like burning oil? It would be strong. Also let me repeat. If you start it... RIDE it. Buells have a very long and very rich cold-start cycle and you will ruin the oil and foul the plugs very quickly with repeated cold starts with less than 10 miles of riding.

I'll go ahead and one-up that obsessive grounding thread that all you need to do is make sure your existing grounds are good.. Dis-assemble, clean with a wire brush, immediately re-assemble (do NOT use di-lectric grease between the contacts, it is an insulator), grease or paint afterwards if you feel like it.

An easy test is to use a Ohm-meter to check resistance from the battery negative to any suspect part or circuit. Will save you a ton of work, and settle your mind that theres no issue. It is MUCH more common for the battery terminals to loosen from the paint shaker Buell heart.

 

[casshole23]

Hello. I did run a wire to the coil and frame as well and did not use any di-lectric at all. I did clean them and used what you suggest in that thread. Just ran the bike, and drove it and there is a faint oil smell from the filter. I’m guessing that’s a normal smell front the runoff it collects? The oil level seems to not be going down anymore. I don’t get any check engine light and the fan has only been coming on when I shut off the bike. Haven’t rode it longer than 20 minutes with no stop and go so that seems good. I will do what you said and just ride it but will keep an eye out on the oil level to ease my paranoia, lol. Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated!!

 

[Cooter]

I completely understand being nervous after finishing an unfamiliar job:black_eyed: and these things can kill you. You did the right thing. It's better to ask!