Try our new info resource - "Aladdin's Cave" (Main menu)Just added a separate link to Ash's Dropbox thread (shortcut)
I've read through that thread on net site, and something they are missing which may have a parallel here is those ring markings vertically in the bores.That says to me that the piston rings are not round when compressed into the bore, else the ring's ends would not protrude further than their outside diameter (and make the marks you can see) that is not right. His question about black ring coating, and should it wear, shows that the rings are not touching the bores where the coating remains. They are, in effect, elliptical in shape. That will not seal the bores either oil going up, or compression going down. It should be getting to something like 175 psi, it's nowhere near. Leakdown testing is only going to show efficiency in holding compression, it'll not show oil retention ability as that's the opposite direction.Exhaust valve guide leaking doesn't usually affect combustion chamber as it's introduced after the cylinder. It'll smoke yes, but just from passing oil into a hot exhaust system. Inlet guides leaking usually show with throttle shut on overrun, inlet vac goes high and pulls in oil, when you get back on the throttle it'll puff out a single-ish cloud of blue smoke.Looks like the rings aren't working as they should, whether they'll bed in if they're not touching in the first place I doubt it. You'd, in effect, have to wear all of the "touching" parts of the ring down first before that process could even start to take place. But as the first example of massive ring gap, that's what you'd get by the time you had achieved the above. There's lots of evidence in that thread but it's not being connected.
That jumped out at me straight away after taking it apart, but seemed secondary to the head gasket issue. Have got some time today so am going to probe deeper. Just how good are these Cruzinimage piston kits, they look well made but it's concerning me now as the Cruzinimage gasket set was shite. Would like to find a +.25mm OEM piston set and rings for my spare barrel but that does not seem likely. Does anyone make quality piston rings that will fit the Cruzinimage pistons?
Should the clearance on Cruzin pistons / rings not be 1 thou Roy?. I know the genuine Honda pistons can go down to 0.0008 thou but I thought a tad more clearance was needed on the Cruzin kits. I can't ask Trig, I am not allowed to mention, Honda, bike, work or Forum whilst on our travels
If the smoke is Black it my be over fueling /Flooding on the cylinders of which you speak . turn of the fuel tap and as the Fuel level lowers in the Carbs see if they stop smoking ..
We should hire an Indian to follow Trigger everywhere on a Honda so obviously sick that eventually he has to take a look to see what's wrong with it... Didn't we have an issue with this company's rubber camchain tensioner wheels in the past?The words don't, touch and bargepole spring to mind.