Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Electra & AVL => Topic started by: Techmaven on May 18, 2013, 01:57:32 am

Title: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 18, 2013, 01:57:32 am
Going tomorrow to check out a 6k mile 07 AVL Electra. Owner says manuals, spare filters, clutch cable, pullers/tools are included. Recently upgraded the starter module and replaced the sprag gear. The carb was jetted at dealer. Bike looks to be well taken care of...Keeping my fingers crossed!
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: High On Octane on May 18, 2013, 06:38:37 am
Sweet!!!!!
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: AVL Power! on May 18, 2013, 07:47:41 am
NICE! It's a good bike :) go for it :)
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 18, 2013, 03:35:42 pm
Good luck!
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 19, 2013, 05:06:51 am
 Went to see the bike. 157 miles later, here she is..Previous owner had gassed her up the day before...after above mileage ridden home, she still isn't on reserve. When traffic was light, I kept her at 58-62 indicated. Never heavy on the throttle.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: High On Octane on May 19, 2013, 05:43:05 am
Congrats on the bike!  It looks great!  I'm thinking I need to get another RE.    ;D

Scottie
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 19, 2013, 02:52:34 pm
Congrats!  Now the fun begins. Man, that bike sure is cleaner than mine! Even in the dark.

If you've not seen Thumpers post on maintenance on the AVLs, check out the site. It's brilliant!
http://members.verizon.net/allofusmorrows/id2.html (http://members.verizon.net/allofusmorrows/id2.html)
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 19, 2013, 07:07:56 pm
It's gonna need tires soon..They look to be original. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 19, 2013, 10:51:46 pm
Lots of threads in the topic. So a search. Lots go for Dunlops K70s.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 20, 2013, 05:13:49 pm
Went in the garage this morning to take off the useless bar end mirror and re-install the stock mirrors..started the bike and it's smoking like a worn out Tecumseh WTF? sudden exhaust leaks at the head and muffler joint..closer inspection looks like pipe flange at head has some sort of sealer over an apparent crack..I guess the fun IS beginning.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: High On Octane on May 20, 2013, 05:28:59 pm
It sounds like your engine wet sumped.  Basically, if you leave your piston at the bottom of the cylinder when you park it, it will fill up with oil causing massive smoke on start up and eventually clearing out over a few minutes.  To avoid this, make sure to move your piston to TDC with the kick starter after you have shut the bike down for the day, or if it's going to be sitting more than a few hours.  To do this, very slowly bring the piston up with the kick starter until it starts to build compression, move it just a little bit further and you should be good to go.

Scottie
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 21, 2013, 03:40:02 am
Did it just smoke white until warmed up or did it continue to smoke?  What color?  Mine smokes white first thing as it burns off moisture from the night condensation. Just a minute or less.

Sounds like you need to check for those exhaust leaks. No big deal. The sealant was prob used to seal pipe-header joint. Check for leaks with smoke from a match or a cigarette. All normal stuff with an Electra
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 21, 2013, 07:34:14 pm
Blue oil smoke. would fade off and if I blipped the throttle, it would get quite heavy again. Didn't smoke at all on the whole 160 mile trip home the day before.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 22, 2013, 12:05:23 am
So, it's burning oil.

I'd first check the engine breather hoses and catch can. Clear those up, as if these are blocked your crank case pressure can get high and dislodge rings. This might have happened as oil is clearly burning in the chamber. Do you have Snidals manual?  If not, suggest you get it.

Watch the oil level. These bikes don't like the full factory specs of 2.25. I use 1.75 and if needed top up a little bit. Too much oil will try to blow through the breather system. If its blocked....
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 22, 2013, 10:03:06 pm
Anyone have an AVL/Electra wiring diagram? I need to re-install the stock tail light assembly and signals.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 22, 2013, 11:54:55 pm
I can get u one later when I get home. Snidals manual has all this. 

What happened with the smoking issue?
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 23, 2013, 04:43:24 am
Here you go.  From the owners manual.
(http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/gallery/medium_12026-220513225949.jpeg) (http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=4227)
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 23, 2013, 09:55:49 am
I haven't run it since then..gonna re-install all the stock lights, new exhaust gasket and mirrors. After that I'll see what-up with the smoking. I'm sure it's the breather setup somehow.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 23, 2013, 11:38:50 pm
Appreciated but it's just a bit blurry when enlarged enough for my failing eye sight. Question for anyone..Exhaust flange at head has 2 washers under each nut and when tightened fully, the pipe still moves/leaks.
 I have a new gasket and am wondering if a pair of 1/4" long brass bushings to replace the washers be advisable to take up the needed slack?
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 26, 2013, 08:50:41 pm
Saw a vid on youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWczauM-nFs..I did what he did here and keeping fingers crossed that the smoke stops..Stock signals are back on too.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 26, 2013, 10:08:36 pm
and airbox was filled with a good amount of moisture laden oil..checking oil warm shows it at the top of the hash mak without screwing in the stick/cap. Too much?
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: ERC on May 26, 2013, 11:56:04 pm
I'd say yes. You want it about half way up.   ERC
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 27, 2013, 04:34:41 am
You need to make a simple modification to the breather system. Simply reverse the hose that goes from the crank case to the can.  Let it run straight up over the frame and then over to the can. First though, you'll need to pull the battery out and get into that oil catch can to empty it.  Its over flowing and is blowing oil into your air filter. 

Before doing anything, I strongly recommend some research.  Read this whole thread: http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,12620.0.html (http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,12620.0.html)

I ended up keeping the can, but I:

1) Capped off the timing return line at the timing cover.
2)  Ran a clear hose from the crank breather, up and over the frame then to the can using the original duckbill
3)  Kept the primary case oil breather, as I keep 1 liter in there to preserve the sprag gear (No problems yet, but i dont use the ES often).
4) Created a drain hose using the timing return hose with a plumbers valve on it.  I can now drain the can without pulling everything apart.

Once done, I'd recommend changing the oil (if not done already as its a 'new to you' bike) and never add more that 1.75 l.  Check oil after running the engine for a few minutes and shot for a the 1/2 way mark that ERC pointed out.  make sure the oil fill cap is screwed in all the way.  You'll get a feel for it.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 27, 2013, 11:40:05 am
I cleaned out the airbox and blew out the hoses..smoke looks to be ceasing now. I pulled all three hoses off the can and nothing came out. does it have to be removed to be drained? I'm going to post pics of my setup later since it's different than yours.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 28, 2013, 03:23:27 pm
Dan, thanks for the breather info. I'm in the process of doing what you said. I think my camera is in the wife's car at work and I wanted to take a pic of another hose I have on the bike. It runs from the air box to a valve assembly bolted to the head on the left side. The AVL in the thread you link does not have this, that bike shows just a bolt in the head in that location.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 28, 2013, 06:39:36 pm
That's the PAV. Pulse air valve. It's used to injected a pulse of fresh air for emissions and to cool the exhaust valve. It's been removed by many owners, but really has nothing to do with the issue at hand for you. You can pull it and then block off the exhaust opening with a domed cover bolt sold by our hosts. You'd also need to cap off the air line that goes to the inlet manifold.

With that said, i suggest one thing at a time. Save the PAV mod for a later day and focus on the breather. The PAV doesn't hurt anything and is a good mod when you change the carb.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 29, 2013, 12:46:50 am
I pulled the hose off the PAV valve and blew a shot of compressed air through it..it was a bit clogged at the airbox end.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: Techmaven on May 31, 2013, 02:16:09 am
Got the bike all legal today...Smoke stopped, Signals back on and she's puttin' along like a champ. The tail light previous owner installed required him to drill some holes..one of which ISN'T covered by the huge stock light  assembly..Looks like I have some body/paint work in my future.
Title: Re: 2007 Electra
Post by: DanB on May 31, 2013, 03:32:42 am
Good to hear and nice job. Keep an eye on that catch can. Left stock, it's only a matter of time before it spews oil into the air box again.