sidestand/smoke?

[mikegates]

After a long ride if I park on the sidestand the next day it will smoke heavy out the left tail pipe, smells like burning oil. If I park it on centersand this never happens. It does clear out after riding a while. Runs like a top.

[manicmechanic]

Mine will do that if I've got just a bit too much oil in the engine.

[rogermansfield]

As I understand, you should never start the bike after it has been on the sidestand unless you lean the bike over to the right for 8 seconds. This allows the oil to drain back into the sump. You are probably burning off oil that has accumulated due to the leaning position of the sidestand.

[osbornk]

There is nothing wrong with it. You might try keeping it upright for several seconds after you turn it off to allow the oil to drain back into the crankcase before you put it on the sidestand.

[GregFeeler]

Welcome to the world of horizontal (flat) engines. Some of the Klassic K-bikes will do this as well. Doesn't hurt anything but your pride. :brow

[lkchris]

Of our three 1984s (Nikasil) only the G/S does this.

[GregFeeler]

Of our three 1984s (Nikasil) only the G/S does this.

An oft-quoted theory says the oiling after parking on the sidestand is mostly related to the position of the piston ring gaps on the left side jug. Some BMW engines have fully floating rings, so from time to time the ring gaps are located at the bottom of the cylinder. This makes it easy for any oil on the crank side of the piston skirt to migrate into the combustion chamber. I have seen brand new airhead twins do this, as well as ones with lots of miles. None do it consistently that I have seen - just occasionally.

The early K-bikes had floating rings and some were reportedly pretty bad about oiling when left on the side stand. In the middle 80's BMW pinned the rings and that seems to have solved the problem. I've got four K-bikes with the Klassic flying brick engines (all 1990 & later) and have never noticed them smoking.

[rtbuzz]

Yesterday I tried starting my 83 R80RT after it had been sitting for about 4 months. I replaced the battery and was attempting to start it. Got a pretty steady stream of white smoke from both pipes and blew a fair amount of oil out through the pipes as well. I have the feeling I did something serious, but being a mechanical bonehead I haven't a clue. Something with the rings I presume. Can anyone tell me what I did?

[PAGoldsby]

After a long ride if I park on the sidestand the next day it will smoke heavy out the left tail pipe, smells like burning oil. If I park it on centersand this never happens. It does clear out after riding a while. Runs like a top.

76 BMW R90/6 35000
00 Cummins turbo diesel 4x4 150000
01 VW jetta TDi 107000
86 VW jetta turbo 342000 (RIP)I think your Beemer is just trying to emulate its stable-mates. ;)

[bikerfish1100]

Yesterday I tried starting my 83 R80RT after it had been sitting for about 4 months. I replaced the battery and was attempting to start it. Got a pretty steady stream of white smoke from both pipes and blew a fair amount of oil out through the pipes as well. I have the feeling I did something serious, but being a mechanical bonehead I haven't a clue. Something with the rings I presume. Can anyone tell me what I did?

you neglected your bike, and it was complaining about that.

[DennisDarrow]

There is no problem going on with a bit of smoke after being on the sidestand overnight............When leaned over a FEW drops of oil from the valve train and cylinder accumulate in the corner where the head and cylinder meet in the combustion chamber. This little puddle, shall we say, burns off in the first few seconds of combustion..................THEY SMOKE..............Often times at rallies on a cool morning the campground looks like a Panzer lager..............Dennis

[PeoriaMac]

["I replaced the battery and was attempting to start it. Got a pretty steady stream of white smoke from both pipes and blew a fair amount of oil out through the pipes as well".

White smoke means the oil's being pushed out without being burned, Blacksmoke = burned oil. If you can't ride the bike....maybe you could lease it out to visitors to the Big Island....(hint hint hint)

Mac

[mhale]

I have the same condition on my 1983 R80RT. The airhead Guru's at the national rally mentioned that the oil level for an airhead should be halfway between full and add on the dipstick.
Just adjust oil level at midpoint between the 2 marks on the dipstick with the bike on the centerstand.
It won't cure the smoke problem entirely but will reduce the time that it takes to burn off the oil.
Trying different brands of oil may also be a useful solution.

[tghsmith]

yes their going to smoke, the best way to reduce it is to lean the bike slightly to the right for a few seconds before putting on the side stand. most of the smoking is due to where the pistons stopped, if in a position with valves closed a vacuum is created when the cylinder cools(ie sucking the egg into the milk bottle)any oil puddled get pulled in and burnt off during warm up. bmw went as far as putting tiny relief vent holes on the top side of k-bike pistons.you think an airhead can make smoke, an early k-bike will put a bug fogger to shame!!!

[skiteach]

Mine occasional shoots cracked corn from left pipe, when left on center stand. The bird food is 50' away and outside! At least the mice know a nice bike.

[sumran]

Mine occasional shoots cracked corn from left pipe, when left on center stand. The bird food is 50' away and outside! At least the mice know a nice bike.

That must have been a surprise the first time it happened! Hope you don't ever get roasted mouse along with the corn.

[jdmetzger]

I have the same condition on my 1983 R80RT. The airhead Guru's at the national rally mentioned that the oil level for an airhead should be halfway between full and add on the dipstick.
Just adjust oil level at midpoint between the 2 marks on the dipstick with the bike on the centerstand.
It won't cure the smoke problem entirely but will reduce the time that it takes to burn off the oil.
Trying different brands of oil may also be a useful solution.

I've actually heard it as being slightly higher; about 3/4 full. That's not actually a whole lot of difference in oil volume, so it really doesn't matter a whole lot, I think. :)

As others have said, if this only happens briefly after being parked on the sidestand, it's no big deal. I did a complete top-end on my bike this spring (well, I sent the heads out for work, but I did the rest). I lose NO noticeable amount of oil over 3,000 miles of mixed (highway, city, and flogging in twisties) riding. Still, if I put it on the sidestand overnight I'll occasionally get a touch of smoke in the morning. Actually, most of the time I get no smoke at all, but I remember starting up when leaving the RA rally this year and it looked like I was fogging for mosquitoes. :)