I just had the heads done and jugs bored out on my buddies 80 FLT shovel. It runs good, but puffs blue when it's cold. I ran it 40 miles so far trying to seat the rings, but still puffs blue when it's cold. It's just the rear cylinder. I've been doing the accelerate and decelerate thing, but it just doesn't want to stop puffing...

 

I guess I should have mentioned. New Seats, guides, bored .030 and criss cross hone, KB pistons, hastings rings. Rings gapped per KB instructions.

 

You are not gonna get a lot of responses here due to the few number of shovelhead owners on the forum. I'd go to one of the tech forums and copy and paste your question there. Another good idea would be to pm Shovelhead Bob. He's a tech rep here and very knowledgeable.

 

Thanks!

 

I had the same problem with a shovelhead It turned out to be the valve guide seals pulled off guide

 

It will take about 100 miles or so, before the rings bed in I would not worry about it unless it still smokes after 500 miles.

 

Do heat cycles on the motor come into play here?

 

not really, it's more of a wear thing. think of it as sanding paint, or polishing, when you first start, its rough, and you spend more time, things start to smooth out, it doesn't happen any faster if you stop to have a beer or two

 

You should re-torque heads after its rolled a few miles and been thru a few heat/cool cycles. Don't ask how I know. JMHO, YMMV, etc.

Bob

 

How would you seat the rings if no major work was done (just new rings, gaskets and a lite hone)? Is it the same process?