I have been playing around with a 84 12a for some time now. I finally get it running and ready for the road. It has been smoking but was hoping that would clear up but it seems to be getting worse. I'm guessing it's the water seals, it's a thick white smoke but is not very abrasive to the lungs. Would the smoke smell like antifreeze, sweet? Since the smoke is water, would it evaporate like steam? It's not, just hanging around like my garage is on fire. I really thought I had it this time. I only have a few miles of drive time. Oil and water levels seem to be holding fine. I am running 2 stroke gas, very low concentration, so I know that would smoke a little.

 

Did you drive it for a decent distance yet? May clear up once you burn all the gunk out of it.
Also try running SeaFoam through it as well. This will also smoke but may help cleanup things.

 

No I really haven't. Most of it has been around the neighborhood. I was hoping that was the case, I was pretty sloppy on the rebuild, I'm no expert. I also painted the header and some of the exhaust so I was thinking maybe that was burning off as well. I really haven't ran the car for more than 15 minutes at a go. I'll try and take it for a good long drive tonight. I finally got it titled, it hasn't had tabs since 97.

 

Does the white smoke have a bluish tint to it. U almost have to see it in the light.. If so that would indicate oil.. Are u running an OMP still?

 

No. I am running mixed gas. I guess I didn't notice the tint but tonight will check it out. I had another gas leak last night and was not able to take it for much of a drive. Kind of crazy but this is the second hose clip that has failed in a week.

 

I have been taking short trips for a week. Getting the car warm and letting it cool. I took the exhaust apart and it looks like there is oil in the pipes. I'm guessing it's the oil seal. I am kicking myself now because I reused the old seal because it looked good and it only had 10k on it. I'm going to keep driving it for the next couple days. I read I could use thicker oil but I don't want to be driving around making smoke screens. Should I just cut my losses and pull the motor? It makes plenty of power and pulls hard. Does not over heat. Smokes like it's on fire. No reason to take short cuts.

 

I'm guessing it's too much premix. Or you had the irons resurfaced and that's why it's smoking. Or the oil seal springs went in wrong. Did you measure the wear on the oil seals? Did you replace the o-rings?

 

I did measure the wear and all seals should be good per the numbers in the workshop manual. However, I have been called cheap and I did reuse a lot of the parts if they looked good. Maybe I am the wrong person to determine if a part is good or not. Like I said, the motor was has 10k on it, not 10k since rebuild, 10k. The motor was was sitting for years and did have stuck seals, that was the original reason for the teardown. What do you mean by the springs being upside down? That is possible. I know my mix is not too rich, 1 to 10. This is my first time working on a rotary, so it's a probability I missed something. Thanks for the help.

 

I did pull the motor today. I'm guessing the o rings in the oil seals need to be replaced. Hope to get the parts th is week. Thanks