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bike running @ 230F !

bullzeye81

bullzeye81

Joined Apr 2013
47 Posts | 4+
Indiana
BACKGROUND:
I just got my 36,000 service down at the shop to prepare for my cross country trip happening in 3wks.
Have ridden maybe 100mi since that service... when I noticed my cooling system wasnt holding.

Ive ridden through california desert valleys during summer and although it flirted with high 220's... it never hit 230.


TECHNICAL:
So I'm not a gear head...but I am thinking maybe the thermostat isnt opening?

I read on the manual there is an electric temp sensor.... I am hoping this is strictly informational and not tied into an electronically controlled thermostat?
I do know the radiator fans come on at a certain temperature.... and that is functioning correctly @ ~217F but them temps keep rising to 230F despite the fans.

Any help is much appreciated fellas!

230.JPG
 
Last edited:
Did both fans kick on? They have been known to stick if they never hit temps to spin. Both mine were stuck. I got really hot stuck in traffic when I first got the bike and needed up hitting the shoulder of the road and riding till the temp ce back down(one of the worse things to do is to just turn off when you hit high temps due to hear soak. Get some air flow over the radiator before shitting down). When I stopped to look I found both fans froze. I gave a little push and they have been good ever since.
Your thermostat might have gone bad.
 
Araitim said:
Did both fans kick on? They have been known to stick if they never hit temps to spin. Both mine were stuck. I got really hot stuck in traffic when I first got the bike and needed up hitting the shoulder of the road and riding till the temp ce back down(one of the worse things to do is to just turn off when you hit high temps due to hear soak. Get some air flow over the radiator before shitting down). When I stopped to look I found both fans froze. I gave a little push and they have been good ever since.
Your thermostat might have gone bad.
Click to expand...
Yes sir both fans came on and functioned at the 217F mark.
 
bullzeye81 said:
Yes sir. The shop replaced the coolant and I checked to make sure the marks on reservoir were met.
Click to expand...

What about in the radiator itself? The reservoir can be full and radiator not bled properly.
Could be stuck thermostat - did they replace it?

It should cycle between 210-217 and never exceed 220 as you know, something definitely not right.
 
kuksul08 said:
What about in the radiator itself? The reservoir can be full and radiator not bled properly.
Could be stuck thermostat - did they replace it?

It should cycle between 210-217 and never exceed 220 as you know, something definitely not right.
Click to expand...

I have another used thermostat coming in a couple of days and will swap it out.
I am a little suspect of the cooling system not working within such a short time of them working on the bike. But keeping an open mind.

When you say the reservoir can be full and radiator not bled properly.... what are you leaning toward as the problem and what would be the solution? Like if they didnt get all of the old stuff out of the radiator maybe it is preventing the thermo from working ?
 
Sounds most likely a bad thermostat. That's how it usually played out with the cars I had. If the thermostat is inop, it won't open the circuit to flow coolant through the engine circuit. Check your radiator for damage as you could have a blocked channel but would mostly likely have a leak with that one.

I battled a damaged radiator for over a year and even during the summer, in traffic, it didn't approach 230.
 
Considering it happened after a service, I would be checking the easy things first.
Remove the right side covers and check the radiator is full (and bleed the system) as mentioned. Just because the reservoir is full, doesn't mean the radiator is full. If the radiator is not full, the air or fans cannot cool the water/coolant and it overheats.

I attached a diagram of the location of the bleed screw.
 

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gatdammit said:
Sounds most likely a bad thermostat. That's how it usually played out with the cars I had. If the thermostat is inop, it won't open the circuit to flow coolant through the engine circuit. Check your radiator for damage as you could have a blocked channel but would mostly likely have a leak with that one.

I battled a damaged radiator for over a year and even during the summer, in traffic, it didn't approach 230.
Click to expand...
WhiteHyper said:
Considering it happened after a service, I would be checking the easy things first.
Remove the right side covers and check the radiator is full (and bleed the system) as mentioned. Just because the reservoir is full, doesn't mean the radiator is full. If the radiator is not full, the air or fans cannot cool the water/coolant and it overheats.

I attached a diagram of the location of the bleed screw.
Click to expand...

BAD THERMOSTAT!
Just finished replacing the thermostat with a new one, running it through 2 heat cycles. Temps controlling at 222F.
Thank god. Wasn't too bad to replace either.
When I get a chance I am going to be cutting the old one open and inspecting it just for my own curiosity. I'll post some pics/info if anyone is interested.

Thank you all for the help!
 
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