Brothers,I've got this little problem that's just started on my 2004 fe 550 [186hours] when i start it after say about a week she blows some oil smoke for about 5 seconds then clears itself and doesn't re-occur again during a ride or after the engine is warmed, hour later you can start it and no smoke, my mates say it doesn't smoke when i'm riding and the motor feels like it always has ,no strange noises etc ,religiously change oil @8hrs oil looks ok nothing in the filters, my first thought was valve stem seals maybe ring, appreciate your thoughts really don't want too pull the old **** down unless its neccessary because it runs so well, but these sorts of things never fix themselves........colin
It sounds to me that it's just showing its age. I have about the same hours on my bike and it also will push a little blue on start up after its been siting for some time. IMO though you should check the timing chain for wear as it might have to be replaced with that many hours, although mine was ok.
Cheers
Cheers
Joined Apr 2006
94 Posts | 0+
Brisbane Australia
My o4 450 had a little less on it, about 150 hours, and started to do a very similar thing.
When changing the air filter i noticed a small pooling of oil in the sock of the carb. My belief is that as the compression ring wears, you will get an increase in blow by gas. This extra blow by will vent into the crank cases, and from there the only way out is through the breather into the carb and out the exhaust. This is no major big issue, the only thing is that this extra gas will drag oil vapour with it. After the bike has sat for a while the oil vapour that was dragged through the frame will settle, running down the frame tube, settling in the sock. When you first start this is the oil you will burn and the blue smoke you will see.
One way i have reduced it is to wash the filter in the top of the breather tube, and also to block off the rear breather on the breather hose.
When changing the air filter i noticed a small pooling of oil in the sock of the carb. My belief is that as the compression ring wears, you will get an increase in blow by gas. This extra blow by will vent into the crank cases, and from there the only way out is through the breather into the carb and out the exhaust. This is no major big issue, the only thing is that this extra gas will drag oil vapour with it. After the bike has sat for a while the oil vapour that was dragged through the frame will settle, running down the frame tube, settling in the sock. When you first start this is the oil you will burn and the blue smoke you will see.
One way i have reduced it is to wash the filter in the top of the breather tube, and also to block off the rear breather on the breather hose.
Maicoxx,
Where are you setting the oil level in the sight glass after a change? Have a look at this Husaberg factory TSB.
Where are you setting the oil level in the sight glass after a change? Have a look at this Husaberg factory TSB.
Joined Apr 2006
94 Posts | 0+
Brisbane Australia
Dale,
I dropped the oil level just after that tech bulletien came out. It equates to 800ml of oil for my bike. It improved the issue i had with the leaky kick start, and reduced the frequncey of the water pump oil leak, (orange bergs kit fixed it though).
I have noticed now that i have an 08 450 as well as the 04 450, it is the older motor that is doing it and they both have the same oil level. There is very little performance difference, just the 04 doesnt have such a savage punch anymore.
I dropped the oil level just after that tech bulletien came out. It equates to 800ml of oil for my bike. It improved the issue i had with the leaky kick start, and reduced the frequncey of the water pump oil leak, (orange bergs kit fixed it though).
I have noticed now that i have an 08 450 as well as the 04 450, it is the older motor that is doing it and they both have the same oil level. There is very little performance difference, just the 04 doesnt have such a savage punch anymore.
Joined Aug 2009
1K Posts | 346+
Charters Towers, Australia
I'd say valve stem seals if you now use 800 ml of oil and made mods to the breather, my mates 08 650 had the same smoky start up but stopped it after we adjusted the oil level. I had a SL/R Torana with a grumpy 308, the valve stem seals were fingered and it would smoke like a son of a gun on start up and then nothing, qute embarrasing really.
edit: it wont let me write bas---tard the bastrad thing
edit: it wont let me write bas---tard the bastrad thing
Hey, if only smokes a little on start up, and it's not using any oil while running I wouldn't worry about it.
The reason I asked about the oil level is that my 09 was giving a little puff of smoke when I first started it, found that I had the oil level too high, lowered it to the correct level and no more puff on start up.
And on my 04 550, I put in about the same amount of oil you do on an oil change with out the filter.
The reason I asked about the oil level is that my 09 was giving a little puff of smoke when I first started it, found that I had the oil level too high, lowered it to the correct level and no more puff on start up.
And on my 04 550, I put in about the same amount of oil you do on an oil change with out the filter.
Hi, thanks for the advice I,ll check out the oil level i might be slowly increasing the oil level by not fully draining and adding a litre each oil change its 2/3 off the glass, but i reckon i'll visit the rings and head work later in the year thanks again ..........colin
Hey Colin,
The best way I have found to replenish the oil after a change is to put in about 3/4 of what I know is needed then just keep adding it in increments until I get it where i want it.
Be sure you get all the oil out of the motor when doing an oil change. After all oil has drained out, and you still have the filter screen installed, lean the bike over to the left a bit and KICK it through a few times, this will blow any remaining pooled oil out from the bottom end of the motor, then lean it back over to the right and see how much more oil comes out.
Some advise...........With 186 hours on it, you really should pull the rocker box and check your cam followers. Mine were toast at 180, and hardened bits were coming out and had got caught between the cam follower and the cam lobe causing scoring, I got lucky and the damage was not too severe. You definitely need a cam chain at that many hours, go with the stock IWIS (at least I think that is what it is) chain, it's a good one. AND, put in the updated 2005 cam chain slider that the tensioner pushes against.
I wouldn't worry about the ring, at least from my experience. When I pulled mine down at 220 hours after the right front valve spring broke, the end gap was still within tolerance. I replaced all four valve springs and valves. I also found that the crank seal on the clutch side was toast. Now if that happens you're gonna end up with more oil in the bottom of the crank area. And that's all I found wrong with my motor.
I told myself if I had it to do over again, I would have pulled the motor apart at 200 hours and checked everything out and been done with it. But hey, there are quite a few folks out there with a lot more hours than that on their bikes and they are running great. If you have kept the oil changed, air filter clean, and have not flogged her too bad then you're in good shape. But since you have another bike to ride, for piece of mind, it might not hurt to pull the 04 down have a look and keep on trucking.
The best way I have found to replenish the oil after a change is to put in about 3/4 of what I know is needed then just keep adding it in increments until I get it where i want it.
Be sure you get all the oil out of the motor when doing an oil change. After all oil has drained out, and you still have the filter screen installed, lean the bike over to the left a bit and KICK it through a few times, this will blow any remaining pooled oil out from the bottom end of the motor, then lean it back over to the right and see how much more oil comes out.
Some advise...........With 186 hours on it, you really should pull the rocker box and check your cam followers. Mine were toast at 180, and hardened bits were coming out and had got caught between the cam follower and the cam lobe causing scoring, I got lucky and the damage was not too severe. You definitely need a cam chain at that many hours, go with the stock IWIS (at least I think that is what it is) chain, it's a good one. AND, put in the updated 2005 cam chain slider that the tensioner pushes against.
I wouldn't worry about the ring, at least from my experience. When I pulled mine down at 220 hours after the right front valve spring broke, the end gap was still within tolerance. I replaced all four valve springs and valves. I also found that the crank seal on the clutch side was toast. Now if that happens you're gonna end up with more oil in the bottom of the crank area. And that's all I found wrong with my motor.
I told myself if I had it to do over again, I would have pulled the motor apart at 200 hours and checked everything out and been done with it. But hey, there are quite a few folks out there with a lot more hours than that on their bikes and they are running great. If you have kept the oil changed, air filter clean, and have not flogged her too bad then you're in good shape. But since you have another bike to ride, for piece of mind, it might not hurt to pull the 04 down have a look and keep on trucking.
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