My 2001 rancher 350 electric shift is blowing smoke like politician.

Every mechanically-inclined person I talk to asks if it was submerged. I bought it used, so I don't really know. I do know the following...

the airbox had water in it when I bought it
the tool compartment on the back was pretty muddy
I had to change the carb needle almost right away

Now after about 30 hours of use, it blows blue smoke out of the exhaust. The smoke show got progressively worse over a three hour ride to the point now where the shed is full of smoke in the time it takes to drive it in and put it away.

It is on its way to a mechanic, but I was am pretty clued out about the internal combustion engine, so I wonder if you guys who aren't can suggest a couple things that may have caused it, and solutions so I don't look totally ignorant when the mechanic gives me a diagnosis.

Thanks.

 

Blue smoke is usually an indicator that oil is being burned. My guess is that whoever owned it before probably didn't maintain the engine regularly and probably didn't change the oil frequently. Your rings are probably shot causing oil to leak into the cylinder and get burned when the piston fires. You might be needing a top-end rebuild which on a 4-stroke will cost you. Another possibility is like you said, submerged in water and water getting into the engine. Either possibility is definately not good on your engine and is more than likely going to mean opening her up and rebuilding. You've got 2 *********.......maybe you can sell one to pay for the engine rebuild [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

thanks - I'll schedule the surgery today.

 

yea im with what 450 rider said cuz my friends dirtbike made me a smoker the other day riding with him and his dad siad he put a little too much oil in it

 

first thing i would check is the oil level. if it's way overfull, could possibly just burning the excess. if it's low on oil, then the oil is in fact burning, getting past the rings that are worn out. the reason i suggest this is there's a special way to check the oil level on the 350 being a dry-sump engine.

the good news is, that the 350 engine is pretty easy and inexpensive to do a top end rebuild on, compared to a lot of other 4-stroke engines. the cam is in the block, so there's no cam chain and timing to mess with.. simply take the cylinder head off, remove the cylinder, send out for a bore job. buy oversize piston and rings and valve seals, done deal.. make sure a shop checks the valve guides for wear while doing the valve stem seals. then check your air filter and clean and oil if necessary.. dirty air filters are a big contributor to worn rings, especially if they are dirty and not filtering anymore.

good luck