Topic: I need help

[bonhomechristopher]

I have a 1980 cb 650 custom that I bought from a guy for $300. He didn't know anything about it because his daughter found it as a parts bike and he didn't need it. Eventually after a lot of work I got it ready and started it up. It runs okay once warmed up but most of the work is being done by cylinders 1&2. 3&4 stay cold for a long time and finally get warm but I can still put my hand on them and not get burned. The exhaust for 1&2 pops your hand nicely and smells normal whereas the exhaust for 3&4 just feels lazy and black oily liquid that smells like gasoline comes out. Since the first startup I have adjusted the valves, adjusted the carburettors, changed the oil filter and cleaned the sump before putting new oil in. Oh, and the problem is not with the ignition because I switched the wiring and the engine ran the same as before. I am pretty sure that the problem is not with worn rings as the bike only has 16,500 miles on it and there was no oil burning when the bike was running. I have a MAC 4-2 aftermarket exhaust that someone in the past put on the bike. Any ideas as to what the problem is? A friend of mine told me that the right side was running rich. I don't know. I have the carbs at the same settings for both sides. It did run better when I leaned out the idle screws. but it does not change at high rpms. I don't know where to look next I have done everything I can think of. Would and air leak do this? 

[pat english]

rings?

[bonhomechristopher]

Yeah, I have thought about that but there is no sign of oil seeping past the rings.  Someone suggested that my valves might be in bad shape.  I will do a compression check and see if my rings are bad.

[tlbranth]

When you say you switched wiring, what exactly did you switch?

[pat english]

oh yeah..did you check for spark?

[bonhomechristopher]

I figured it out.  Finally.  My problem was that some idiot had wired the coils to 1&3 and 2&4.  When I corrected it back to 1&4, 2&3 it ran normally but burned oil like the dickens from the right side.  I did a compression test today and found out that my compression isn't too bad but I could use some new rings.  I believe that the main oil problem is coming from leaky valves because the readings were about equal for both sides of my engine and only the right side was pouring smoke.  I am going to replace my rings and buy a new cylinder head.  Any suggestions would be welcomed!!!!

 

When you say you switched wiring, what exactly did you switch?

  Well, I switched the plug wires so that each coil operated the two opposite cylinders.  I was checking to make sure I didn't have a coil problem, which I don't!!

  Sparks like a dream!
oh yeah..did you check for spark?