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Bird overheating.

J

john1978

Registered User
So, it’s been a while.

My bird has been in storage for 3 years and today I’ve take it out for a little spin and it’s overheating.

It was over revving on idle sort of 4/5k rpm at first but I think that’s settled down now.

It’s a North American import and was getting up to 250 ish degrees Fahrenheit and flashing at me.

May ideas before I start changing bits?

(Posted here as I do not have enough privledges to post elsewhere)

Many thanks

John
 
L

lee j

Registered User
Hi John - Several things could be the cause the problem. For starter - Check coolant level in rad is filled to top of rad and you have correct level in expansion bottle. Check that you are getting a coolant flow circulating through the rad, remove right fairing, remove rad cap (when cold) start bike and look in rad for water movement. If OK then stop engine replace rad cap, start engine and take hold of top rad hose. Start engine and when temp gets to 82 you should feel a rush of hot water through hose as stat opens to allow full circulation through rad. If non of these happen then you may have a blocked rad or faulty thermostat. Check that you do not have the exterior of the rad blocked as accumulation of road crap, spiders webs etc will block the fins making air flow very restricted. Check that radiator fan operates at correct temperatures and fan actually spins without any restriction.

Lee
 
J

john1978

Registered User
lee j said:
Hi John - Several things could be the cause the problem. For starter - Check coolant level in rad is filled to top of rad and you have correct level in expansion bottle. Check that you are getting a coolant flow circulating through the rad, remove right fairing, remove rad cap (when cold) start bike and look in rad for water movement. If OK then stop engine replace rad cap, start engine and take hold of top rad hose. Start engine and when temp gets to 82 you should feel a rush of hot water through hose as stat opens to allow full circulation through rad. If non of these happen then you may have a blocked rad or faulty thermostat. Check that you do not have the exterior of the rad blocked as accumulation of road crap, spiders webs etc will block the fins making air flow very restricted. Check that radiator fan operates at correct temperatures and fan actually spins without any restriction.

Lee
Click to expand...
Hi Lee

Thanks for your reply. I’ll check all of those. The fan is coming on as it should but it’s not bringing the temperature down. And the bike seems to get up to temperature very quickly!

I’ll try what you’ve suggested and report back

Thank you!!
 
andyBeaker

andyBeaker

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john1978 said:
So, it’s been a while.

My bird has been in storage for 3 years and today I’ve take it out for a little spin and it’s overheating.

It was over revving on idle sort of 4/5k rpm at first but I think that’s settled down now.

It’s a North American import and was getting up to 250 ish degrees Fahrenheit and flashing at me.

May ideas before I start changing bits?

(Posted here as I do not have enough privledges to post elsewhere)

Many thanks

John
Click to expand...


What model/year?

Previous post is good advice(y).

Thermostat stuck sounds like a good bet. Assuming the coolant level is correct.
 
Jaws

Jaws

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Reckon you have a stuck thermostat.. It MIGHT unstick its self but equally you may have to take it out and help it :)
 
andyBeaker

andyBeaker

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Anyone else want to hazard a guess that it might be a stuck thermostat?
 
L

Len Warren

Well-Known Member
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Hi John, just a thought, whilst you've got your thermostat out, might be a good idea to put some new coolant in. I'd recommend Halfrauds OAT (Organic Acid Technology) Pre- mixed. (It's reccomended for aluminium motorcycle engines.) I've bin using it for a couple of years now, with good results. If your bike has the older green stuff, you'll need to flush that out first ! (& dry thoroughly). If you're "topping up" or mixing the green stuff, DON'T use tap water. It's corrosive to cooling systems. Use distilled, water. Kind regards, Sircular.
 
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sr71caspar

sr71caspar

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Len Warren said:
Hi John, just a thought, whilst you've got your thermostat out, might be a good idea to put some new coolant in. I'd recommend Halfrauds OAT (Organic Acid Technology) Pre- mixed. (It's reccomended for aluminium motorcycle engines.) I've bin using it for a couple of years now, with good results. If your bike has the older green stuff, you'll need to flush that out first ! (& dry thoroughly). If you're "topping up" or mixing the green stuff, DON'T use tap water. It's corrosive to cooling systems. Use distilled, water. Kind regards, Sircular.
Click to expand...

'Ere, Lenny......why you signing off with Sircumcision? :nusenuse:




:gaydude:



:D
 
L

Len Warren

Well-Known Member
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Hi again John, If it's an infected bird the over revving could just be the auto choke. (Try some injector cleaner) If it's a carby, could be sticky needles, & after standing for 3 yrs, I'll bet a penny to a pound, your carb's need cleaning ! Get your carbs off, & give everything a good clean, including the needle valves & jets. Also, it may be, the air filter that needs replacing. Regards, Len.
 
Centaur

Centaur

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Len Warren said:
Hi again John, If it's an infected bird the over revving could just be the auto choke. (Try some injector cleaner) If it's a carby, could be sticky needles, & after standing for 3 yrs, I'll bet a penny to a pound, your carb's need cleaning ! Get your carbs off, & give everything a good clean, including the needle valves & jets. Also, it may be, the air filter that needs replacing. Regards, Len.
Click to expand...

Possibly all that could be true but with a simple problem like overheating the most likely solution is a "Stuck thermostat" I'll bet you Len, 100 pennies at a pound to the penny that it's a stuck thermostat. :D
 
L

Len Warren

Well-Known Member
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Centaur said:
Possibly all that could be true but with a simple problem like overheating the most likely solution is a "Stuck thermostat" I'll bet you Len, 100 pennies at a pound to the penny that it's a stuck thermostat. :D
Click to expand...
 
L

Len Warren

Well-Known Member
Club Sponsor
I agree , A stuck thermostat will cause the overheating. Excessive revs, after 3 yrs standing = faulty injectors, or dirty carbs ! Plus the fuel's probably gone off, leaving an oily residue, which will have blocked the injectors, or jets, & made the needle valves stick in the carbs !(depending if it's infected or carb'd ) that's why I said clean injectors or carbs. Also, a blocked air filter could cause it to over rev. If it's also over 3 years old, it's past it's sell by date, & needs replacing. Regards, Len.
 
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Cougar377

Cougar377

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Thermostat - a component which senses the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint.

Stuck - something (e.g. a thermostat) that is held or fixed in a particular position and is unable to move.

Seemples.jpg
 
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