Exhaust Soot

SSSSSS · 03-23-2007, 07:40 AM

I bought a 2003 BCR a couple of years ago and the previous owner had removed the evaporator canister. The bike runs great but there is soot coming out of the exhaust. Almost like it's running rich. Would removing the canister cause this condition?

tm1100s · 03-23-2007, 08:05 AM

Not likely by just removing the cannister. But if someone got really 'creative' about what they did with the hose ends, I guess it may be possible.

SSSSSS · 03-23-2007, 08:14 AM

I'm not really sure what that canister does. It's some sort of smog device but that's about all I know.

R111S · R111S's Garage

I see soot only when it's cold outside...very rich mixture to keep it running till it warms up.

ExarKunONe · 03-23-2007, 08:54 AM

I get soot too. It gets all over my license plate. I've just been cleanining it off up to now. My bike is definitly not running rich!

Hannibal Twin · 03-23-2007, 09:08 AM

I don't have a schematic of the system in front of me, but I thought that the infamous charcoal canister was just for 'evaporative emissions.' That meaning that the canister filters out any evaporating gasoline byproducts from the tank and fuel system.

Either way I don't think the canister has anything to do with soot. Here's my experience with the type of soot you're talking about (which I also have to a degree):

New Bike, Stock Exhaust, With Canister = No Soot

Lazer Exhaust and Chip, With Canister = Soot

Lazer Exhaust and Chip, Canister Removed = Same Soot

From my understanding, the Lazer Chip enrichens the Fuel/Air mix to maintain lower combustion temperatures with increased performance. I believe that this is the cause of the soot, which I should add, I never really cared about. Then again, I used to have a bumper sticker that read "EARTH FIRST: We Can Strip-Mine the Rest of the Planets Later!"

feds27 · 03-23-2007, 09:10 AM

Do you guys flip the choke lever and crank your throttle when starting your bikes cold?

I admit I have to crank the throttle at times. Haven't noticed soot on the plate or coming out of the cans.

I read some post where it was said the R11S should start without cranking the throttle and should start up after a few turns. Not my experience at all, but, I'm not on a battery tender.

jduke · 03-23-2007, 10:26 AM

Double check and make sure you're not over filling with oil. If you get too much oil, it'll mist into the airbox and get sucked back through the system.

SergioK · 03-23-2007, 10:31 AM

I have the canister, no chip, but laser exhaust and I get soot. I don't overfill oil. I just give the bike a monthly wash (sometimes) and forgetaboutit.

Bob Hancock · 03-24-2007, 09:56 AM

The charcoal cannister has nothing to do with soot. Mine gets a little sooty with the cat eliminator pipe and stock cans (without cannister but as I say....irrelevant). Don't worry about it. If it's really a rich problem you'll know by the gas mileage which should be around 40-45 mpg depending on how hard you run it.

boxercup · boxercup's Garage

Check your plugs!

stomp · 03-26-2007, 10:32 AM

checking your plugs would be a good idea, but it's most likely the result of engine mapping.

What the charcoal cannister does:

The little vacuum lines on the bottom of the throttle bodies pull the fuel vapor from the tank vent hose through the charcoal cannister, thereby cleaning out the nasty fuel vapors before it vents to the atmosphere. Pretty simple, but has absolutely nothing to do with how well (or not) the bike runs.

hawkeyejohn14 · hawkeyejohn14's Garage

Stock exaust and stock chip, no cannister=no soot.

I would have only moved or relocated the cannister, but the previous owner had already removed it.