Problem of smoke

[JBM34]

Hi guys,
My DL with a TS1 225 produces too much smoke at low revs : it's like fog behind me when I ride !
There is no problem at high speed, the scooter is very fast and powerful.
I have a Mikuni 35 and a Ramair filter.
My exhaust is a Taylor Tuning.
The main jet is now 310 (I have begun from 325 to 295).
The pilot jet is 20.
I have tried these needles : 53, 55 and 57.
I don't know how to solve the problem.
Thanks for your answers.
And sorry for my bad english.
Cheers from France !
JB

[missing lynx]

what % oil mix are you using?

[JBM34]

3%

[ROClarke]

What oil are you using? Synthetic or castor based ?

[Fast n Furious]

Drive side oil seal could be worn.
Halite washer may not be sealing properly.
Your fuel may be contaminated with Diesel.

[CHRIS in MARGATE]

Has it always smoked or has it just started ?
Has anything been touched, moved or changed ?
Could it be the choke plunger has lifted and causing overly rich fuelling at low speed, not noticed at higher speed because the mixture is initially too weak at WOT ?

[Rich Oswald]

Are you using Exol, that smokes a lot?

Rich'

[Paulnobodyimportant]

I've the almost same set up and agree that Exol does burn smokey at low revs. So much so that it tricked me into the laborious replacement of the drive side oil seal, but still the same smoke.
However, on my current version of this engine, I have put in a new reedvalve. Almost immediately, I trailed a white smoke stream that chocked all the rest of our group riding behind. And because we were due to go to Kelso in 2 weeks, I was again tricked into changing the oil seal. Went on a 5 day long way trip to Kelso. However, the engine became progressively difficult to start and when it did, it blew out plumes of white smoke at low revs, which cleared as the revs went higher and it had burnt all the unburnt fuel.
So your problem may be the drive side oil seal, but if the smoke clears, then I doubt this is the issue. It could be your 2 stroke oil, such as exol, or it could be faulty reed petals, especially if is difficult to start, or could be your choke adjustment.

I note that your pilot is 20, but don't make the mistake of going lower, in fact, i would have thought a 22.5 pilot would be better for protecting any lean spots as you roll off your throttle.

[a.lo]

a cautionary tale, when I rebuilt my scooter and engine many years ago it started up second kick as I remember but it did seem quite smoky billowing white clouds on the stand and behind me as I rode it. even prompting my mother to mention it as she saw me riding it. I pulled it apart and put another new oil seal in. still the same. stripped again to make sure I had not lipped the seal. not really sure how I found out it was excess grease from the mag bearing pushing through but after cleaning and burning off it was fine.

[a-teamlambretta]

Low gear and high revs, keep it on pipe

[Storkfoot]

Are you using Exol, that smokes a lot?

Rich'

I use Exol semi in a Vespa Rally. It's not smokey at all in that case but it is a standard engine.

Last time I had very smokey exhaust on a lammy, I suspected the oil and the carb. It turned out to be a gummed up piston ring. The root cause of that could well have been the oil though.

[gaz_powell]

I run my all my bikes on exol semi (just got another 20l), no issue with it all but would note ,

2x nicosil lined TS1 very smokey at low revs and tick over, clearing when riding at speed. Ran at 3% the GP is more smokey than the SX
No gumming issues on either of the above

1x steel lined TS1 not as smokey as a above at low revs and tick over. Ran at 3%
Not enough miles on bike to check top end yet.

Vespa P2, steel lined same as above. Ran at 2% . Suffered gummed rings but I believe that wad due to excessive bore/piston wear. Put new rings in and went to C'thorpes, but it does need a rebore

My mates TS1 ran on Rock fully is also very smokey at start up and low revs.

[JBM34]

Hi guys,
Thanks for these answers !
I don't think it's the seal : the smoke is clear and smell the 2 stroke oil.
There was smoke before I've changed the carb (Dellorto 30 --> Mikuni 35) but not as much as today.
And I have kept the same exhaust and reed valve.
I've just add the super short LTH inlet manifold.
Perhaps, there's not enough air ?
Do I have to remove the air filter ?
I've just remembered that in summer, I was used to remove it because of the high temperatures of the south of France
I use a mix of 3% of the BGM brand 2 stroke oil.
That's what I'm gonna do :
- put a 22,5 pilot jet,
- check the choke,
- change of oil,
- change the wool of my silencer.
Thanks for all the advices.
Cheers.
JB

[Simon ELC]

Check your gear box oil. I nearly fried my gear box on the way to York on Friday. Had to replace all drive train bearings at MB after squealing to a halt on the A1 just outside Doncaster. I put one litre of fresh oil in and after 250 miles nearly all had been consumed by the engine when I got home. It only seemed to smoke a lot at low revs and was not noticeable riding along.

[coaster]

A leak down test would confirm if you have a leaking seal

[gaz_powell]

Although not conclusive, start the bike and block the end of exhaust, it should kill the engine, but leaky exhaust joints can affect this.

[bike grim]

Weirdly my TS1 smokes a lot on Exol especially when cold whereas my Rapido doesn't really smoke at all. Both running PHBH carbs and both at 3%

[gaz_powell]

my GP was looking very suspect last week smoking more so than usual - so I took it for a run out today and it didn't clear when warmed up as is usual.

So bit the bullet and decided to strip it today .... and glad I did ;

- got cracking stripping and noted excessive movement on the flywheel, so no worries I have crank bearings so will change them when its stripped

- stripped side casing off and noticed the clutch rocking a bit and a lot of movement on first gear, so out with endplate to finds the cluster roller had fell to bits and knackered the end of the cluster that runs in.

- no spare cluster GP cluster on the shelf (SX and LI only) bugger !! so new one to be ordered tomorrow from SR (along with replacement of parts used)

- so rebuilt the maghousing bearing and seals, drive side bearing and seal, crank back in, new rings, new top end gaskets, stator and flywheel back on and cleaned everything up ready to finish as soon as parts arrive. No movement on the flywheel now so were moving in the right direction !

funny how things turn out !

[rossclark]

You can get a repair bush for the cluster from MB and get a local engineer to turn it down and fit it.

[gaz_powell]

Yeh, going to get one but for speed SR have SIL clusters for £35.00 with their mail order I'll be done quicker.

Will get a bush and get it done some time so I have a spare.

Gaz