you should at the very least do a compression test. if that passes then you can easily rule out oil getting burned. in that event, i would say next stop is the fuel jets. you could be running on the rich side and that could explain the unburnt gas smell. even if the air filter is dirty, it does not have any bearing on the smoke you are seeing. plugs could be a problem if they are not burning all the fuel. an easy fix could be to just re-gap them when you have them out to do a compression test. if the plug electrode is gone, then you'll just have to spring for new plugs. what you can also do if you can't do a compression test at the moment is to pull a plug out and check it. see what the electrode area looks like. that will tell you if it is running rich, or oil burn, or any other symptom.

as for engine rebuild, call around. you say it has plenty of power so i would say it doesn't need a rebuild. just needs some fine tuning.

 

Blargh i dont have the tools for compression check... gonna go check kragen. Anyway how much pressure should i look for during the compression check.

 

So i was in the process of doing compression check, looked at the tool and it turned out to be a wrong diameter. Anyway i just changed the plugs so far and will get a diff tool tomorrow however it runs MUCH better with new plugs that are tightened down since the previous ones were not even tighted down. It made me so mad when i took them out. Here's a pic of what they looked like and what the tip of them looks like

[IMG]local://upfiles/22426/F6E34716143E4231A96CDFA210260A4D.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/22426/D00538A779204411BC87BA3FD996C355.jpg[/IMG]

 

You have a lean cylinder...whichever the rusty plug came from....otherwise they aren't that bad, IMO.

Definitely sync the carbs.

EDIT: Nevermind...looks like the rusty one wasn't screwed in more than three threads or so likely causing a lean "reading" on that plug.

 

i agree w/ bergs. none of your plugs look wet but dry and black. a rich condition. i would say get your carbs synced and get hotter plugs to help burn more of the fuel. it won't hurt that it is running rich. just wasting gas.

 

Alright! that sounds good that it's not burning fuel im still frustrated at the person whom i bought this from for keeping it outside and having rust collect in the plug area but I looked inside last night when the carbs were off and the plug that had rust on it the cylinder head didn't look like it was rusted inside. I've replaced them with the iridium NGK's and hope that would be better. Im going to take the radiator off tonight and clean the fan area because it looks like it's catching on something and will start it up tomorrow iwth the new plugs and hope that it runs better with those plugs. Hopefully that will be the last engine work i have to do and will get to concentrate on sanding down fairings for painting. Thanks you so much all that contributed to this post to help me with my questions! Really appreciate it.

 

Alrighty since the smoke remains even with a new air filter im getting puzzled. I am doing a compression check tonight and am wondering what values should i be looking at. I forgot that you needed to do it to a warmed up engine so my cold results were cylinder 1 2 and 4 have 120 psi, almost finished with 3 but have to go somewhere. Anyway what values should i be looking for for a warmed up engine?