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21
Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Ol Smokey
« Last post by berlin bob on September 29, 2025, 09:06:25 AM »


Yeh ...I have learned in the past about assembly on the top end of engines in the factory...employees were not taught about the

offset of the rings on pistons in the beginning...they were actually lining the gaps on the rings in line with them all ....Jamie and I discussed this

before... so some bikes were let go in assembly and shipped out

before they caught the problem!!!!    hence the burning of oil    just an FYI
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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Ol Smokey
« Last post by Donkey Hotey on September 29, 2025, 02:05:19 AM »
That definitely sucks that it's doing that. I can't remember if you've had one of these engines out yet. Don't even bother trying to do this in the frame.

To get the engine out, the trick is to remove the starter motor. Wrap the frame up with split foam pipe insulation and zip ties. That makes it easy to lift and rest on the frame without damaging anything.

On to the repairs: I know nothing and I'm just sharing how I would approach it.
  • From my experience with pulling one top end, I would not count on the getting it back together without doing Time-Serts on all eight cylinder fasteners. Mine pulled the threads with almost no torque at all. That necessitated pulling the engine out of the frame to get it up on a mill for proper insert prep and installation.
  • I would also count on buying the ARP stud kit from Seastrom. Because they're studs, there's no access to do this in the frame anyway.
  • For the cylinders: I don't see any oversize pistons in the parts list. Renewing those cylinders might be a challenge. Are they nikasil? I don't remember. If so, they can be replated to stock bore size. Seastrom should have piston kits. If they're iron liners, he may even have other solutions like aftermarket pistons or maybe there were some factory oversize pistons that never made the parts list?
  • Same for the heads. Guides and valves have been regularly available on eBay and I'm sure he'll have inventory too. Yes, I've filled ports with water to see if it leaked out of the valve periphery. You know the drill with the guides: pull the retainers and springs and see if the valves are sloppy. I'd find it hard to believe a set of valves and guides wore out but, we don't always know how these bikes were treated.
What are you thinking of doing with it? You could just keep it as-is and ride it. Not the end of the world. The bike is 26 years old.
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Technical Resource Discussion / Ol Smokey
« Last post by franknsr on September 27, 2025, 04:41:13 PM »
On Saturdays ride in the Dells, someone told my wife that my bike was smoking like a Rastafarian. The bike runs great but has a history of oil consumption, so here we go.
Finally had a chance to look into this a little deeper and I have some data, but don't trust the guy who took the reading, so I'm looking for a second opinion.

Pulled the plugs and both looked black, so they were definitely burning some oil, and its not the good midnight stuff.
Did a compression test, engine cold, throttle wide open, front cyl was 115 psi, rear was 113.
Put a couple ounces of oil in each cylinder and the front went to 162psi and the rear went to 232.
Spec for the bike is 185 to 205.
Based on that I think both cylinders need to be serviced, and there is possibly and issue with the front head/valves. About 100 years ago in auto shop, Mr Ward told I could check the sealing quality of valves by removing the head and turning it upside down on the bench and fill the head with gas and see if it leaks out. Is that still an acceptable practice?

After all that rambling I'll just add that I'm not afraid to attempt anything but have only rebuild a few engines in my time so I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks
Frank
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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Motor light shuts off after starting the engine
« Last post by franknsr on September 27, 2025, 04:11:08 PM »
Hey Viking, glad to see you have a couple of the best minds in the community helping you on this for you, and don't let Bruce fool you, he is the OG of Excelsior Henderson wold and we pretty much do what he says. ;-)

The only thing I'll add is that is you do have a basic OBD scanner and can pull codes like Donkey says, you can look them up in the "almost finished" service manual that is available under the tech section of this site.

Welcome to the fun and let us know how you make out and how we can help.

Frank
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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Motor light shuts off after starting the engine
« Last post by Donkey Hotey on September 24, 2025, 01:22:23 PM »
The lights on most vehicles come on like that every time you switch on the key. That's to show you that the bulb isn't burned out. Once the engine starts, the lights should go off.

The exception in your case would be when removing the battery. If you disconnect the battery, the computer will set a code that the system had low voltage. It will self-clear that code after a few rides and the light will go off. Maybe that was on and confused you?

If you want to see the code or manually reset it after changing a battery for example: the system uses a standard, OBD2 reader, just like any modern car. The connector is under the seat. You can connect to it, read codes and clear codes. Better readers will even let you read current values of the engine sensors like temperature, throttle position, RPM, etc.

Welcome to the forum.
26
General Discussion Similar to Facebook / Re: Looking for former biker friends of my grandfather "Panhead Dave"
« Last post by wytfut on September 24, 2025, 09:19:21 AM »
I'm sorry the number is disappointing.
 How'd facebook do for you with responses?
As you can appreciate, there is no way to predict responses with members that have passed on. Everyone responds differently ...

I hope nothing but the best for you
Bruce
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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Motor light shuts off after starting the engine
« Last post by wytfut on September 24, 2025, 09:13:19 AM »
Ok... I think I've got it now....
I have a heck of time keeping up with tech at 72 and computers also... I may appear as a guru, but I'm as simple as it gets. The struggle is daily...

If that lite goes out, after starting ..... that's a good thing. If it stays on, there is a problem, as in its throwing a code. It should come on everytime you start it, as a self test, so you know it works. then go out once running. Your Picture did come thru..... I have yet to figure out how to post pictures.... have only got a few posted on here. For what ever reason this site doesn't like my pictures.

As for youtube.... costs nothing to join youtube. You may get notifications via email about channels you like here and there. Other than that its simple enough.
I'm glad you enjoyed my videos. I'm no wizard, but I do care that these bikes need to be kept running. And these are how I do it. As with a lot of mechanical processes, there are more than one way to skin a cat.

feel free to contact me anytime. I thrive to help owners out. this is a wonderful community where I have developed friends from all over the world.

Again welcome...
Bruce

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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Motor light shuts off after starting the engine
« Last post by 69Viking on September 23, 2025, 09:17:43 PM »
I don?t know if I?m doing this right but I?m trying to attach a picture of what I?m talking about
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General Discussion Similar to Facebook / Re: Looking for former biker friends of my grandfather "Panhead Dave"
« Last post by Gemy on September 23, 2025, 06:07:43 PM »
Man 741 views and only a few replies?  :(  buuummer
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Technical Resource Discussion / Re: Motor light shuts off after starting the engine
« Last post by 69Viking on September 23, 2025, 11:18:30 AM »
Thank you very much for The response. I have watched a few of your YouTube videos. I recognize the name hopefully it?s the same person. I took a screenshot of a seat that you have on one of your Henderson?s. I don?t really do social media so I don?t have a YouTube account so I couldn?t ask you where you got it anyways the question I was asking is from what I understand the motor emblem light it?s yellow. It?s on the left bottom side under the speedometer. I was told it was one of the lights that stays on while the bike is running all of my other lights go out like they?re supposed to after I start the engine I bought the bike from my brother that just so happens to live in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. and he was the one that informed me about the light. I asked him if he ever had issues with the light and he said no. The light itself looks like a V twin engine if that helps.
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