Topic: Oil smells like gas...

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

Changed my oil today. Hadnt put more than 40 miles on the fresh oil and filter, but with as many times as i was in the clutch i figured it would be a good idea. So i Got it warm around the neighborhood. Did the old seafoam trick, drained it and went for a 30 mile run. Came back, checked the oil and it smelled like gas. Not like a kick in the face but a very faint smell...
Any chance it has to do with carbs and NOT rings?

[HondaMan]

Hard to tell from here, but...the gas has to come from the carbs, down the bores past the rings, to reach the oil. If you have an overflowing carb, that would do it.

[InTheStreet]

My bike had this problem when I got it; really poorly adjusted (or not adjusted) points. Guess no one told the PO that you're supposed to burn the gas.

[ekpent]

Just 30 miles on fresh oil does not sound like a long enouph time to be having a big gas rundown issue unless its only running on 2 or 3 cylinders. Most of the time the gas may if overflow tubes are clogged get into the engine when the bike is sitting for a long time with a leaky or bad petcock.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Are you shutting the petcock off or leaving it on when you let the bike sit for extended periods of time?
A stuck float vavle will let gas overflow from the carbs if the petcock is left on when you let the bike sit.

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

I alwAys shut my petcock off. I guess i could check my points again. It is running a bit rough. No backfire but it wants to run with better throttle response with choke on. Its not running like its missing a cylinder, definately not like its missing two.

[bjbuchanan]

I would suggest that, given your myriad issues here and there, you change the oil and inspect again after some mileage on the new stuff. Tuning and problems and such is pretty hard on oil so you never know really. Give it some fresh oil and a fresh filter and see how it goes after like 100 miles

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

Ok. I just changed it. Gonna check the points tomorrow and (hopefully) ride it to work (about 40 mile trip) and see how that goes. Im wondering if it is the seafoam i smell. Like i said its real faint. So wewill see

[bjbuchanan]

Could be seafoam, could be a light hint of gas. If you are mostly familiar with electronically controlled vehicles then you will prob be a little alarmed by older stuff. In my experience even with pretty much dialed in stuff the comparison of older machines oil to newer machines is that the older smells much funkier and gassy in comparison.

I'm young but I've restored a couple old projects and that smell of the oil is definitely distinct on older stuff

[lucky]

Ok. I just changed it. Gonna check the points tomorrow and (hopefully) ride it to work (about 40 mile trip) and see how that goes. Im wondering if it is the seafoam i smell. Like i said its real faint. So wewill see

You cannot adjust old worn out points sets.
It is better not to adjust after you first put them on.
It is better to just put in new points and condensers.
I will show you why. Hold on a sec.
Look closely at the points (contacts) or use a magnifying glass.

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

So buy new points or leave these alone? Im not catching on. I tried setting the points but it runs worse when I set them. If i leave them sloppy it starts right up.

[Vinhead1957]

Like that illustration!

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

Ok so buy new points. Got it. Cause i cant adjust worn ones. And these are worn. Got it.

[Ricky_Racer]

Just for the heck of it, you might also want to do a compression test while you're working on the bike. RR

[LesterPiglet]

It sounds like it needs a good service if it needs choke after warmed up.

[Sixgunsrattlesnake]

it wants to run at very high rpms with choke off. its a great 65mph cruise control. ive adjusted the idle, and it will either die out or have crappy throttle response. compression is good, it starts right up without problems and will run all day. i'm leaning towards points here i think

[starsnbars89]

Sounds like it might be running lean. Check the color of the plugs.

[bollingball]

If you are getting new points then go through the complete 3K tuneup in the correct order very important to do it in order. It is in the Factory service manual in the proper order so follow that.
Ken