Hi. I own a 2001 Honda Rancher 350 4x4 S model . My bike has been smoking on acceleration from the tailpipe blue smoke for about two months now. Just last night, all of a sudden, the smoke got dramatically worse instantly. at that time I shut the bike off and got towed home. The bike still runs great, don't notice any different sounds in the engine, but it fills my garage with smoke as soon as I start it. The bike only has 1200 miles on it and has always had its regular oil changes I'm at a loss. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what it might be????

 

Sounds like your valve seals went south for some reason,and you are pulling oil past you valves into the combustion chamber,which will need the head pulled for repair. You did say it still ran fine,that is a good sign. I am not real familiar with the Rancher breather set up,is it possible you have plugged an engine vent hose and created a vacuum that is pulling oil into your intake. Have you checked to see if your carb boot is oily looking? Before tearing into the motor, check every hose you can find coming off the motor for a kink or plug,and clean out any oil residue you find,doesn't take a lot to make a big cloud of smoke. If that all checks out, get a compression check done to rule out piston/valve problems. Good luck.

 

yeah. the machine seems to be running good still. I was thinking either valve seals or the oil ring on the piston? - Does anyone know if the rancher comes with an auto-decompressor for the engine to make starting easier? I know the cylinder has about 75-80 psi of compression? good or bad??

 

How long before this started to happen did you change the oil?

 

gbeng1,
75 to 80 psi is bad,real bad, you shold be around 120 to 135,if I remember correctly. Sounds like a ring went bad,not good for a Honda motor with 1200 miles,usually they last a lot longer than that. Either that,or a valve isn't seating all the way,and lowering compression.But with the massive smoking, rings would be my guess.

 

Do a leak down test but when you do spray some starting fluid into the combustion chamber before you hook up the hoses. Pressureize the cylinder and then pull out your oil dip stick. Sniff the hole and see if you can smell the starting fluid. If you can then your know for sure that your rings are shot for sure. If you can't smell it then it's something with your valve train like a stuck valve or bad valve seal etc...

 

figures... You buy a Honda for reliability and then the first thing that happens to it is the engine pukes....... Thanks alot Honda... Wish the warranty was longer than only 6 months... oh well..

Guess that will be this winters project.... Stuck riding the Traxter now

 

Regarding you question about the pull start, the rancher has an automatic internal decompression system.

 

You didn't mention if you have been adjusting you valves regularly???? If your valves aren't closing, your compresion will be bad. Does it seem to use a lot of oil??