Why would a 1957 Harley Davidson FL Panhead release a slightly black smoke after idling?

If the smoke is coming from the end of the exhaust pipe it's too rich on fuel so make sure your air-filter is clean/or replaced, and if that's not the case then adjust the mixture or do a carb rebuild.
If the smoke is from around the head itself you have a double problem in that it's still too rich but you also have an exhaust leak from a blown head gasket.
 
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