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Smoking on start up??

waterboy

waterboy

Joined Feb 2009
25 Posts | 0+
Johannesburg, South Africa
hey guys, hi there.... lately when I start my 03 Mille I'm picking up a puff of smoke but clears reasonably quickly. When I'm riding though there is no smoke. I took the plugs out to check if I could establish which cylinder was the smokey one. As it turns out it's the rear cylinder, the plugs looked black compared to the front ones which were a tan colour. I replaced the plugs but it sounds as if the bike is missing at idle, almost like an electrical fault. Once I get on the throttle the bike runs fine. So my question is:-
Is this just the valve stem seals which are damaged or should I be looking somewhere else?? There is no noticable oil in the airbox. I did neglect the bike for a while and when I checked the oil it took a litre and a a half(yes, I know I don't deserve to own such a beautiful bike) that was over a space of 6k km's
The one way valve which operates the "slipper" clutch is not working either, could this have anything to do with it?
It doesn't smoke everytime I start up.....
Possibly overfueling/ flooding on the rear cylinder
Any advise please...

Regards
Glen
 
Sounds like ~~~Valve seals but what about plugs. When did you last change them?
 
You will know if it's oil smoke as it has a distinct smell and will be blu ish in color. The black plugs may just be a mixture issue. Most Rsv's i have seen also puff a little black smoke on full cold start just from the rich mixture.

The misfire could be plugs and probably the cheapest place to start or it could just be rough running due to bad Throttle body adjustment. I had an idle misfire that felt horrible when sitting on the bike whilst touring in France. Twins run like a bag of crap when they misfire to any degree. My issue was a plug, (4k old NGK) i fitted iridium versions after that for the longer life, better spark.
 
check your clutch diagphram has'nt split easy job to fix mine done the same,it took a week to get hold off a new one so i repaired the split with a puncture repair kit worked a treat for a temporary fix,hope this helps
 
I do it all the time, just to calm my nerves, try the B&H Silvers, they are smoother than the standard ones.
 
i also had a diaphragm problem, but mine was far more distinctive, as many will tell you from the rate at which it threw smoke out of the exhaust at the aprilia meet in '09. is your bike running the stock exhaust? if so, it is far harder to tell because of the honey comb stuff inside of it. i put a race can on mine and it plumed. if its just on startup and not happening when you gun it then it sounds to be something different, although the slipper clutch diaphragm's pipe runs into the airbox right near the rear cylinders inlet so worth checking. you can remove the diaphragm without having to buy a new gasket, so worth checking it.
 
Hey guys,
Thanks for the responses, much appreciated!!
I'm hoping that my problem is a diaphram issue, a friend that was driving his car behind a bunch of us hooligans the other night on a wild ride said that he could see the smoke while I was cranking it....
Lastly guys, where do I find the diaphram you are talking about?
Once again, thank you for your inputs..
Regards
Glen
 
waterboy said:
Hey guys,
Thanks for the responses, much appreciated!!
I'm hoping that my problem is a diaphram issue, a friend that was driving his car behind a bunch of us hooligans the other night on a wild ride said that he could see the smoke while I was cranking it....
Lastly guys, where do I find the diaphram you are talking about?
Once again, thank you for your inputs..
Regards
Glen
Click to expand...

Behind the clutch cover right hand side of motor.

If it's split though you normally get much more than a puff on startup.

Not overfilled your oil and have some in the airbox ? Easy to overfill on an Rsv if you don't do it by the book.
 
Last edited:
Hey guys...
Had another look at the bike, took the defective one way valve out and blocked both the pipes, no more smoke...
I'll order the the valve and the diaphram and install, will let you know how it all works out.
Many thanks

Regards
Glen
 
Oil level seems to have stabilised just below the max mark after a bit of a ride.
 

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