[macsolocam77]

My bike is starting to leave a trail of smoke, not that bad but you could tell it last night at the track. My bike is still under warrenty and going to have them adjusted. Just wanted to know if anybody else has had this problem, and if so what was the outcome?

 

[robg]

What color smoke? Could just be running too rich.

Rob

 

[macsolocam77]

It starts out blue and then turns black. I happen to notice it at the car wash, because I always let is run and idle a while before I load it back onto the trailer. When you go to rev it up a few times if puffs out blue and then turns to black. I know the oil level and not going to add anymore to see if there is a destistive level drop.

 

[robg]

Hmmm... blue tends to mean that oil is getting past the valve seals into the cylinder, and is burning when you initially start it or rev it. Black tells me it's probably running too rich as well.

So you may have more than one problem. How many hours are on your Predator, and did you go through the recommended break-in in the owner's manual?

Rob

 

[macsolocam77]

went through the recommended break-in and probably less that 20 hrs.

 

[macsolocam77]

I had a pretty busy weekend and just now checked the oil level in my quad. It was barely on the stick!!! I know is was at the bottom line of the full range before I raced. Its going to get a good cleaning and head to the dealer today. hope nothing too serious. Got to get my radiator hanger fixed also that I have talked about in the body forum.

 

[predatorman7687]

My oil level was low when I chexked it to. I havent taken it to the dealer but the dealers by me only know stuff about snowmobiles. Let me know if anything is wrong.

Zack

 

[macsolocam77]

Sure will predatorman7687. I guess nobody has had to have a valve job before, nobodys replying. Dealer said they will check it out and let me know pretty soon. I'll post what they find.

 

[predatorman7687]

Thanks Hope it is just nothing! My warrenty is up! I guess thats what insurance is for.

Zack

 

[macsolocam77]

Well I got my bike back this past Thursday. Warrenty covered the broke radiator hanger and rear fender hangers. As far as the smokin, they told me that my [email protected] air filter was too dirty and the bike was running to rich. I not a rocket scientist on engines but I told them I would buy it. I asked them where all the oil was going, because it used over a quart on about six hours of riding time. We got to talking about who clean I keep my bike and I was telling them that I stand it up on its rear when washing it. They told me thats proably where it went. I practiced thursday afternoon and notice still a little smoke, blue smoke. When the bike is just idleing and you rev it out, let off of it and get back on it, it just blows blue smoke out. once you rev it out and hold it at a constent rpm it clears up. Just seems to do it when you idle down and get back on the throttle. It also does it if you are just idleing around in the pit area, just constent leaves a trail of smoke. I have asked a numerous of people about it...they tell me is definetly needs a valve adjustment and proably new rings. I am going to take it back to the shop monday and hope they can get me back running in two weeks for my next race. Oh by the way I was first place winner killing the mosquitos last night..


If anybody has any comment I would appreciate it, or even a question that you have or anything that I have not told you about this problem. Just like to know what everybody else thinks.

Mac.

 

[powerslider]

My dealer has one in for the same problem, they have the motor apart and will replace the rings and valve seals. He claims the rev limiter didn't work on this one, it would rev endlessly so it may have a bad cdi also. The rings are small low tension items so it looks like it's going to need refreshing more frequently than we're used to on a 4 stroke if you run them hard/high rpm.

Not sure how the guy broke it in but he was using the PS4 oil. The dealer also said that this quad was much faster than normal due to the lack of a rev limit.

 

[prink]

My Predator just started smoking too, it is not alot of smoke but it is there. It also varies from black to blue smoke while riding. I checked my compression and it was at 125psi. Then i checked my oil and it was barely reading on the stick, i had to add almost a full quart. I have not noticed any power loss. I will be taking mine into the dealer on monday to see whats up.

 

[scott_b]

Well most people i ask say the valves dont need to be adjusted on this quad. There is nothing in the service manual about it either. There are rocker shims i think that have to be checked after a while, not sure how long, but i thought it was quite some time..

 

[rich_d9999]

hey whats up i had a problem kinda like that. my predator was blowing smoke so i tore the head and cylindar off. it turned out that the piston was cracked and the oil was blowing bye. luckally it was still under warrenty. if you have noticed any power loss since it started smoking then that is probally whats wrong. good luck

 

[prink]

I doubt my piston is cracked, i did a compression test and it said 125psi and the predator is supposed to be 130psi so that is not a big difference at all, i went riding today and the smoke was not really there as much when i was riding, but when i rev it up in neutral some smoke comes out, but not alot. it is a blue smoke so it is burning oil somehow.

 

[cj]

Have you looked inside your airbox? In regard to what the dealer was saying about standing it on end...there is a vent coming out of the motor to the bottom of the airbox. I believe it is some type of oil vent, I'm not sure if oil can get out of the motor that way but it would put oil directly in the airbox if it came pouring out. Then the motor could be sucking in oil that had accumulated in the bottom. A small chance but maybe?