Problem with me water
 

Got back from a short blast to get some chain lube(25miles or so)stopped to do lottery,got back on the bike and the temp guage was on 90,got home and the was coolant on the rear hugger and exhuast:( Popped the seat off ,no sign of split header tank,but there`s a hole in the filler cap,looks like there should be a valve or type thingy in it but it`s not there now the only thing I can think of is I might have over filled it last week.Now the thing is I want to go to Cadwell in morning,I`ve never had fluid come out before even on the hottest days,so I`m thinking the over fill could have caused this,if so should I plug it or run with it open?I have removed some fluid and checked for air locks.

That'll be the vent to allow excess coolant out when it gets hot if the bike has been overfilled.
Mine looks just the same
I'd put it back.........check your level tomorrow morning before you start the bike just to be sure your level is correct.

When you say vent do you mean valve or just a hole?There`s a valve type affair in the middle but the outside hole is"just a hole"

Just been out in the garage,ran the old gal till the fan cut in,about 100degrees,with the bottle cap off.No pressure build up,all hoses and radiator hot,just probably overfilled it.The temperature dropped after the fan cut in,then fan cut out,ran it`s some more fan cut in again,switched off,fan still ran for a minute or two,all seems ok.

Fingers crossed

sounds like the bikes a binner mate. :lol::lol::lol:

Cheers mate:P

Your bike is as it should be, just excess coolant more then likely. I had the same on my bike first big ride after service. I was paranoid so I cleaned up the rear cylinder, which also had coolant splatter on it just to make sure gaskets weren't leaking.

But if you decide to bin it I am after some bits... :sing:

Yep, tottaly agree, just slightly overful. Mine's done it too.


Ride on,

Rob

a coolant system should not have any open vent in it,
otherwise it would not be able to run under pressure,
and would therefore boil

There`s a pressurised cap on the radiator of course,I think there should be a release valve in the header cap,but there isn`t one:puzzled:there is still something not right,an airlock perhaps??Got home from DD,temp guage on about 80,switch off and the fan cuts in:puzzled:
How do you remove an airlock?Has anyone got a picture of there cap so I can compare?There is an allen bolt at the bottom of the rear cylinder which releases coolant when you undo it,but what`s the correct proceedure?

Sparkin,

Don't worry, it's all fine


As you rightly say, the rad has the pressure cap, the bottle is purely for overflow. Under pressure the water is pushed past the rad cap an into the overflow. As the system cools, it creates vacum and pulls the requisire amount of water back from the overflow bottle. That's why the overflow pipe feeds into the bottom of the overflow tank.

The fan cutting in when you switch off is due to heat soak. Many bike/cars do this; again, no problem, and to be expected on hot-ish day or after a town bimble.

Rgds, Rob

Rgds, Rob

Rob,understand what you`re saying,but the fan shouldn`t cut in `till 100degrees whether the engine is running or and the guage was only showing just over 80:puzzled: That`s why I think there`s an airlock or am I just paranoid:(

Once you've turned it off, the water will take heat from the engine and, to a certain extent, carry on circulating due to the heat (do I mean convection) the highest point will clearly be hotest - - oh, this is where the fan temp switch is - - so the fan starts.

Rgds, Rob

Hi Sparkin

To bleed the system do the following.. (from the manual)

With a 'cool' engine, top up the coolant through the radiator pressure cap (not the expansion tank cap). Allow the bike to tick-over and remove the bleed screw (see pic). Re-tighten this screw, and allow the bike to idle for another few minutes whilst propped up on its side-stand. Finally, top-up the expansion tank to the lower level mark.

(Have to say, the fan on my own bike never activates after the engine has been switched off. Mind you, I do live way oop north near the Arctic Circle (feels like it anyhow!)

Steve

Sparkin
there are a couple of bleed nipples on the inlets/outlets on the cylinder jackets they are 6mm allen bolts if your really sure theres an air block open these when its cool.
you have to take the tank off to get at the rear cylinder vent point though.
I can e-mail you a pic if you need as ive just put mine back together.
ian.

I have never understood why there needs to be any water in the overflow tank. The radiator cap is sprung loaded to 1.1 or 1.2 bar, depending on the age of the bike, and will therefore only allow water to pass in one direction. The overflow tank is what it says, an overflow, and there is no way for the water to get back into the engine. I have always kept the tank empty and no water has ever appeared.

Oh, why.

Tha fact that the cap is sprung loaded WILL allow water to flow in both directions, really.

I have had similar systems installed on many cars and bikes. After a good run, when the temp gets up there is a small amount in the tank, as it cools, it sucks is back in - honest.

Feel the small poppet valve in the center of the cap, that's what it's there for.

Rgds, Rob

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by rob41b]