Overheat question

[gdeangel]

My bike's been sitting for a few weeks due to lousy weather, but I wanted to run it a bit to keep the battery up, so I started it in my garage and went to do some chores. I can't remember if the choke was open or not. I came back about five minutes later and shut it down, but I smelled burned plastic smell. One of the ties had melted to the right exhaust cover. I figured it just touched the pipe and melted.

Then the other day I wanted to go for a ride, so I started it up with the choke closed and went to get something inside the house. When I came out a few minutes later, the pipes were cherry red and at least two more ties had melted and dripped to the ground. The frame was so hot, it was actually melting the ties.

I shut it down and let it cool down to the middle temp reading. When I started up and opened the choke, it was still idling on the fast side, around 4000 RPM. As the temp got up to 3/4 to H, the fan came on for about 30 seconds and then shut off. After another minute or two, it came on for about 30 seconds again and shut off again.

I readjusted the idle screw and shut down for the day. The next day I ran it again with choke open and it idled at 1200 fine and the fan did the same intermittent thing at about 3/4 to H.

Does this sound like something wrong with the fan / cooling electronics, or did I just screw up by letting it idle too fast?

Thanks!

[Blaine]

Sounds like there is something wrong with the sending unit at the bottom of the rad,or the coolant is not circulating.The bike should never get that hot.The fan should come on when the temp is a little over half way,and stay on longer than 30 seconds.It's not a good idea to let the bike idle to long,even a water cooled one.If you left it running with the choke on (bike reving) it will overheat regardless.When it got that hot,you will lucky if you didn't do more serious damage.Good Luck.

[wanchesenative]

Check the ground wire on the sending unit. It could have a short. If it has not got good connection, the fan may cut out when the wire gets hot.

[ride]

Hi just got the my bike on the road and it also is running hot the fan is on a switch and runs well temp will keep going up as I ride it.
The bike had been sitting for about a year.
Im thinking that it may be the water pump any help would be great ?

[eaglerider]

Need to flush the cooling system really good....most likely crud in the system, and maybe a partially clogged radiator.

[wanchesenative]

Had a similar problem when I put mine back on the road. There are several threads on this site if you look back through them that discuss some options for flushing. I think some of the guys recommend using CLR. I used a different, more drastic measure that I won't mention, but a good flush made ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I almost don't need to run my fan at all now. especially now that it is cooler.

[ss]

Same problem here.

My fan worked, no leaks on the radiator, running water pump.....

BUT this one had a broken water reservoir i changed. (tip ... new is better and cheaper than ebay)

Also, my thermostat valve was faulty, it didn't open. Meaning it was always on warming-up setup. I took it off.

Also, I got a leak on one of the water pipes that go beside the sparkplugs. they were rusty and leaking (not good when they leak over the sparkplug).

I think my bike covers many causes of your sympthoms

Hope it helps.