Puff of smoke when starting

[Ruckus]

Recently I've noticed a puff of smoke coming from the front of the bike when I start it. It's happened 3 times over the past week. It doesn't happen every time I start it though. The smoke comes from the front and passes up through the speedo area. I'm a little concerned. Could it be the rectifier? The bike starts and runs fine. Any ideas what it might be? Thanks all.

[dram06war]

Exhaust leak around the front cyl header flange?

[arizonawarrior]

Interesting. Does it smell like burned exhaust, or like unburned gasoline, or is it an electrical smell?


What color is the smoke? Where in the front do you think its coming from?


Does the smoke appear at the momentthe engine catches? Or right when you turn the key? Or while cranking?

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Recently I've noticed a puff of smoke coming from the front of the bike when I start it. It's happened 3 times over the past week. It doesn't happen every time I start it though. The smoke comes from the front and passes up through the speedo area. I'm a little concerned. Could it be the rectifier? The bike starts and runs fine. Any ideas what it might be? Thanks all.

[oldman]

If it's the rectifier the battery wouldn't be getting charged and it would be a constant rather than just a puff sometimes when you first start it. My money would be on exhaust but that should be every time you start it cold, not just some times.The starter is down there. Have you noticed any difference in the way it cranks?

[Ruckus]

Thanks for the response guys. Hard to say. It happened to me about a week ago. It cranked for a second and didn't start. So, I released the starter button and pressed it again. It made a faint pop sound near the front and started. At the same moment, a puff off white/light gray smoke came up from the lower front, through and around the speedo area. I really didn't notice any kind of smell. I shrugged it off. Then my son told me it happened to him when he had it a few days ago. So, I figured I'd ask you guys. I had him start and shut it off a few times earlier today but it didn't reoccur. It happened while it was cranking just about the same time the engine catches. It starts and runs fine. Just a bit concerned.

[arizonawarrior]

Hey there Ruckus. Hopefully it just burned-off the extra fuelfrom the first start attempt.If it actually backfired with a 'pop' then did you check to make sure your front VBAK K&N is still there lol j/k. I guess if it was something mechanical like a front jug header gasket it would smoke regularly.If it was electrical smoke it would probably haveshown-up by now as a bad component or a dead battery - knock-on-chrome that doesn't happen. Weird it has happened 3x tho.

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Thanks for the response guys. Hard to say. It happened to me about a week ago. It cranked for a second and didn't start. So, I released the starter button and pressed it again. It made a faint pop sound near the front and started. At the same moment, a puff off white/light gray smoke came up from the lower front, through and around the speedo area. I really didn't notice any kind of smell. I shrugged it off. Then my son told me it happened to him when he had it a few days ago. So, I figured I'd ask you guys. I had him start and shut it off a few times earlier today but it didn't reoccur. It happened while it was cranking just about the same time the engine catches. It starts and runs fine. Just a bit concerned.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Arizona Warrior

Hey there Ruckus. Hopefully it just burned-off the extra fuelfrom the first start attempt.If it actually backfired with a 'pop' then did you check to make sure your front VBAK K&N is still there lol j/k. I guess if it was something mechanical like a front jug header gasket it would smoke regularly.If it was electrical smoke it would probably haveshown-up by now as a bad component or a dead battery - knock-on-chrome that doesn't happen. Weird it has happened 3x tho.

Nice to hear from you AW. How the heck ya been? I'll wait and see if it happens again before I freak too much....lol. I'll check the K&N's as well....lol.

[ratphlem]

doesn't the decompression solenoid end up venting the cylinder? perhaps it's sticking?

[Churchkey]

Some Warriors will sneeze when starting causing the wisp of smoke you noticed. The pop your son heard when starting is normal with a sneeze.


For you young guys: A sneeze is a back fire through the intake system.


It can be caused by a lean condition when starting.


An intake valve that is unhappy with its mate, the valve seat.


Or the most common cause is a weak/old battery. This will cause slow cranking & low current to the electrical system resulting in a weak spark.

[jfreeman1111]

Originally Posted by Churchkey

the most common cause is a weak/old battery. This will cause slow cranking & low current to the electrical system resulting in a weak spark.

I think that I need a new battery. I'm still running the original stocker from 2005.... slow crank now with the HC pistons...