smoking engine

[JAM]

Just bought a 94 max II, 16 hp vangard, changed oil, fuel filter,plugs, cleaned carb and fuel pump. Seems previous owner removed fuel filter??, why don't know. this explains the dirty carb. Runs much better, but seems to lose prime from time to time any thoughts? fuel lines seem good all the hose clamps are secure? The newest thing is, while running earlier today the engine spit out thick white smoke, but only momentarily. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I am new to 6X6's so please feel free to offer even the simplest of suggestions.

[mad_max_500cc]

ok first question how full is it back when i was running a vanguard i learned do not fill it past half way on the dip stick! theise engines were designed for mowers and to power equptment not to be put at the extreame angles we run them at climing hills and stuff if you keep the oil a little lower in the full range it will stop the oil from backing up the breather into the carb where it burns it.... the other thing is the oil sepperator has a rubber type flapper valve that over time gets soft and brakes or just dosent seal follow the vent tube from the air cleaner down to the middle between the 2 cyls its insid the cover the vent tube attaches to ........ just a couple of ideas and my 2 cents

[Roger S]

Mad Max is right about the crank case ventilation design pushing oil into the carb throat some times. I prefer to move the vent away from the carb, so if it pukes oil it goes into a filtered catch can, or even just down onto the floor, like a 1950's car "road draft" tube. That way I can run the oil level full, or overfull and not worry so much if I'm losing oil pressure on steep inclines, etc. Well the main reason too, is you quit having to replace oil soaked paper air filters.

[jeffery9076]

compression test

bruiser before restoration and new engine did the same thing starting losing the prime on the old 18 horse then clink a clank started rapping and tapping. It was the bad rings i wandered why the guy had a primer bulb off the gas tank. Might need a rebuild

[Jeff t-boss]

Check the diaphrams and (rubber) valves in the fuel pump. And do a compression test to see if you got a bad head gasket. Your smoke problem as described is more common with verticle shaft motors, but I'd check it anyway.

[Roger S]

I wonder if the alcohol in gas is causing us problems like other power equipment.. the rubber getting deteriorated .. I've heard that the new marine grade Sta-Bil gas stabilizer will help. Or buy pure gas if available.

[JAM]

Thanx for the ideas, and quick responses, I believe that I had the oil level a little high. I was playing around as well on a gravel road doing some sharp turning when the smoke always seemed to happen. I went for a ride today and the beast ran awsome with no issues at all. Once the engine warmes up it runs like a champ. I removed the fuel pump when I seviced the carb and cleaned all the lines etc... and all the bladders in the fuel pump seemed good, dirty but good. I think it has had a ruff life, seems that it was run, but not maintained well. That being said, the vent line that runs up to the carb can be rerouted to floor? Roger do you leave the hole open that runs to the carb or do you run a line, or plug it? so you don't get crap in the carb?
Thax all, you folks really help.

[Roger S]

Yes you have to plug the air filter so it doesn't suck unfiltered air through the original vent hole. I cut the original hose and used the 90 degree bend and then added some srtaight hose. I use a "catch can" instead of just venting it downward. There are variations of cans, but the idea is to capture the blow by, separate the oil and maybe have a drain cock for it. That's for racers and badly worn engines that throw a lot of oil. Mine is a plastic water bottle. I removed the cap, slit the bottle down from the top on both sides far enough so I could get a small automotive valve cover breather inside, drilled a hole in the bottle cap and ran the vent hose through. While the bottle was split open, I hole punched some vent holes in it. The breather hangs up off the bottom, and oil collects in the bottom. I only get a thimble full or so a year. But you get the idea. A hose vented to the floor instead is probably fine, I just can't seem to do anything the easy way. EC Distributing has catch cans,

heymow.com - Lawn Mower Racing Forum - Index has pics of home made pvc cans if you do a search there.

The vanguard crankcase gets overwhelmed when oil level gets high on the flywheel side, either from vehicle tilt, or on a max I assume lots of sharp left hand turns.