No smoke or little smoke from middle cylinder GT380

[bazit]

Hi
What if I am not getting any smoking from the middle cylinder of my Suzuki gt 380 ?Now what would that be down to ?
Bazit

[Alan H]

What sort of oil are you using?
Is there any smoke at all?
I would check the oil lines to make sure oil is going down them to the centre pot.
If you let the bike tick over and pull the pump cable out of the adjuster so it operates the pump at full stroke it should start to smoke fairly quickly, unless a line is blocked.
If you slacken the bolts on the engine end of the oil lines, does oil come out with the engine running?

Err, there is some oil in the tank, right?!?!

[bazit]

Hi
Yep the oil tank is full ,I cant see the oil going down the pipes as they are cloudy ,the oil is putoline mx5 which apparently produces little smoke ,but the two outer cylinders smoke a bit ,to get to the union in the middle cylinder is difficult and I have not tried to loosen it yet.
I will try the full on lever movement when the bikes on tick over and report findings .I did however check the oil filler cap had a vent hole and found it did not but now it has.
I might try to bleed the pump next for air blockage .
I will not ride it till I sort this out.
Thanks

[Vintageman]

I would check the line(s) right where it goes into cylinder to make sure 100% oil and no air bubbles.

Drain oil tank and try a little bit of a different colored oil and see if still oil in lines right up to engine as above.

If you are nervous mix a little oil with gas for testing

Are you only noting this difference when Idling and running? If only checking this idling I wonder if the middle cylinder idle setting is too low and the other two cylinder are doing the work only at idle.


Just some ides

[Coyote]

The times that has happened to me, the cylinder was no firing. With the engine running, pull the plug cap off and note any changes. No change means it not running on that cylinder. Another easy check is to fife it up cold and check the pipes with your finger tips. If the left and right are getting hot and the center not so much, it's mot running.

[bazit]

Hi
The exhausts are all getting hot ,the oil pipes are discoloured so cant see oil running thru them ,have tried loosening the left hand cylinder banjo(easiest to get to) and with engine running there is nothing coming out ,
I have now pulled the oil pump and will prime all lines going to the engine ,have also sourced another pump just in case this ones faulty.
Thanks for all suggestions thus far
Bazit

[Coyote]

Keep in mind the oil runs VERY slowly. Depending on how long you run it with the line open, you may not see any or just a single dribble..As stated, the best way is to drain the oil tank and use a different color oil in the tank. Don't forget to bleed the air from the tank line with the single phillips screw near the top of the pump -- facing you. Then you can trace the oil movement in all the lines. The three lines that supply the cylinders move oil about twice as fast as the 3 lines that feed the crank bearings. All and all, it may take upwards of 30 minutes for the lines to totally be on the new oil.
CCI is green. Silkolene is red. I think Lucas is red also. Easy to see if everything is feeding right.

[pearljam724]

Check that cylinder's plug. That cylinder is running leaner do to one of a few reasons. 1, oil injection. 2. jet for that cylinder clogged or too small 3. Carb slide could be out of synch on that cylinder. 4. That cylinders crank seal may be starting to leak. That cylinder's plug will tell the story comparing it to the others. The amount a cylinder smokes is an indication of how rich or lean that cylinder is running. Also, the center cylinder seems to smoke less on all of these bikes. I believe that is due to the center cylinder running slightly warmer. But, that cylinders exhaust should smoke a little. Your pump setting plays a big role also.

[Vintageman]

When center not smoking? How do you know. just while idling? You rev it up in neutral, Someone follow behind you?


If You hold the pump arm full on even at low rpms you should see little periodic slugs of oil moving through/out of the lines

Did you see any air bubbles in lines... many times its the lines like a leaking check valve.
Get fresh o'ring for spider meets pump interface.

I don't prime lines... I empty them. I 'll get air out of pump only and then push engine in gear for example just so I know it pumps oil slugs into line and equally: Then until primed

[bazit]

Last night in the garage I primed all the lines using a very small tapered plastic super glue dispenser attached to a plastic loctite bottle filled with oil and shon a very bright l.e.d. light at the lines ,upon squeezing the bottle and watching the lines I was able to just see the oil moving thru the lines .I continued with the oil squeezing until I thought I had had put enough oil down all the lines and proceeded to start the bike .
The garage soon filled with smoke from all the exhausts .
I think now with all lines primed (as per the haynes manual ) I might stand a chance of being confident about not seizing the bike .I also stripped the pump to check if anything was amiss inside and found that one of the plungers was stuck in the hole and wasn't moving .I am waiting for the newly sourced pump to arrive .
Thanks for all suggestions and help will keep you posted when it all gets back together.
Bazit

[pearljam724]

As a precautionary, it's a good idea to premix your fuel until you verify the pump is working like it should. That will prevent a piston seize. You just don't want to use both for a long period as that will create extreme rich running conditions. Or you don't want to use premix alone as the oil injection unlike some other oil injection systems. Lubricate the crank bearings supposedly. During the time of using premix. You can verify the pump is working by monitoring the oil tank level. Once you verify it's using injection oil. I would stop using premix. I would also use a low premix ratio of oil to fuel during that time. 50:1 for example. Any other ratio will be extremely rich during the testing period if it is consuming oil via the pump also. But, it will be plenty enough to prevent a piston seizure during a short testing period.

[Vintageman]

Bazit.

New pump . I am jealous Great investment for sure!

[bazit]

Thanks to all
Bazit

[bazit]

Another visit to garage to fit new pump ,after bleeding and priming and loosening of banjos setting the pump timing etc etc the bike now runs with a light smoking from middle cylinder and the two outer pipes still have a little more smoke but I am not bothered .I will let it all settle down with a ride out this PM ,as long as the weather holds .
I now need another project to pour money into ,any suggestions?
Thanks

[Alan H]

Just keep spending on the one you have. Lots of stainless steel looks good!