my bike smokes really bad, i have to put half a quart of oil through it a day. can i change the rings without changing the piston? or will it self destruct?

 

Not likely if it is using that much oil. The rings arn't the only things that wear. The bore and piston also catch hell.

 

engines im fermilur with , just not so much in bikes..(cars/sleds mainly) so this may work but may not for you !

#1 i would try getting at the valves , remove what ever cover you have.
In the valve cover where the oil runs in the holes , i would take a real fine wire and polk the holes , eg: make sure no not plug`d up , as oil than if pluged up would than seep itsway into the ports and cause your massive smoke / oil burn problem.

or

#2 try putting in a 1/2 quart of desil fuel or stove oil (tranny oil works 2 just not as good) (dont drain all old oil first add to it, drain some out if nessasry but not all)
in your crankcase and go for a ride , it should clean out any sludge /carbon exc.. than change your oil, sometimes that works as well.

or

#3 check valves and or do a valve job

or

#4 replace rings.


Any of thies may work for you.
And the top 1 or 2 sugestions could save you alot of money in repairs.

 

i've heard of people putting desiel fuel in their cars to clean them out but they put it in the gas tank not the crankcase