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2012 Txt 280 Poss Overheating Question


leeson660
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Hi guys

Got a 2012 Txt Pro Racing - my first trials bike so I'm not yet familiar with what is normal and what isn't.

Went out for a quick ride tonight and after about 20 minutes practising in work car park with a few pallets (very slow - trackstands, endos etc) I noticed that steam was coming out quite fast of the radiator overflow pipe and the odd spit of coolant. I immediately turned the bike off and the vapour continued to come out for about 15 seconds then stopped. The fan hadn't come on once during the ride.

This actually happened on my first ride on the bike a few weeks ago. Last week I spent probably 4 hours in 20 minute stints doing again pretty slow stuff and it was fine with the fan kicking in intermittently - I'd estimate 25% of the time.

At the weekend I replaced the existing coolant with Putoline Coolant NF - topped right up. Ran the bike on the stand for 10 minutes on tick over and ran perfectly.

Only other info that may be relevant is I'm currently running 50:1 as per the manual. However I understand that most people run a little leaner so I'm going to try 60:1 on the next tank.

During both times where steam has come out the bike hasn't smelt hot, has been running sweet with no loss of power.

My first thought is that the thermostat may be faulty so the fan isn't kicking in when it should allowing the coolant to get too hot? I may be talking complete rubbish there though!

Any help / info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

James

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Hi

If you filled the rad to the top you will get some steam and coolant out of the overflow, the coolant needs room to expand, once the correct level is reached it should stop. Normally the coolant is just above or level with the cooling fins as you look into the rad, when the bike is cold.

Edited by jfc
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Hi

If you filled the rad to the top you will get some steam and coolant out of the overflow, the coolant needs room to expand, once the correct level is reached it should stop. Normally the coolant is just above or level with the cooling fins as you look into the rad, when the bike is cold.

Ok thanks very much I will have a look and make sure the coolant is now down to that level. Hopefully that's the answer!

50:1 is mental for a trials bike, particularly if you just ride clubman without being on the road, and yes I know it says that in the manual, but all that will do will choke the bike sooner or later.

Cheers for the info.

Seems absolutely bizarre to me that using the ratio in the manual is so bad for the bike. Not doubting what your saying as I've done a lot of research on it and have seen everything from 50:1 to 100:1. As I said on the next fill I'll be running 60:1 and go from there.

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If you filled it to the brim with coolant you can expect some to blow out first time it gets hot.

To check you fan is working blank the radiator off and run the bike at a fast idle (in neutral) if it blows more coolant out without the fan coming on either thermostat or fan is probably faulty but it could be a loose wire or electrical supply to them.

Running at 50:1 or 60:1 will have virtually no effect on coolant temperature.

It is up to the owner to choose what fuel:oil ratio he runs his bike at but I really would like to see an end to the false assertion that rich oil ratios dirty the engine, they do not. Dirty engines are due to poor (or inappropriate) oil, poor petrol or poor carburation.

In fact more oil gives a cleaner engine because it seals the piston / rings / bore better and reduces blowby. Blowby carries combustion by products into the crankcase where they settle as deposits, when they should be blown out with the exhaust gases.

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If you filled it to the brim with coolant you can expect some to blow out first time it gets hot.

To check you fan is working blank the radiator off and run the bike at a fast idle (in neutral) if it blows more coolant out without the fan coming on either thermostat or fan is probably faulty but it could be a loose wire or electrical supply to them.

Running at 50:1 or 60:1 will have virtually no effect on coolant temperature.

It is up to the owner to choose what fuel:oil ratio he runs his bike at but I really would like to see an end to the false assertion that rich oil ratios dirty the engine, they do not. Dirty engines are due to poor (or inappropriate) oil, poor petrol or poor carburation.

In fact more oil gives a cleaner engine because it seals the piston / rings / bore better and reduces blowby. Blowby carries combustion by products into the crankcase where they settle as deposits, when they should be blown out with the exhaust gases.

Absolutely spot on really appreciate this detailed info / advice, it makes perfect sense what you have said.

I'm using Shell V Power with Putoline Trials Oil which has been recommended to me by quite a few people. I believe the previous owner knew his stuff and really looked after the bike so hopefully everything is OK.

Thanks again

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Thanks for that.

Just thought I would add that is is good practice on any liquid cooled bike, trials, mx or enduro to fit a longer vent tube on the coolant system and position it where you will see steam or water coming out if it starts to overheat.

I know several riders who could have saved £several hundred, and one a trip up the road on his backside with this easy mod.

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Hi guys.

Thanks for the replies.

I what you said jfc and made sure the coolant was at the correct level. Went for a last night for a good 1hr 1/2, absolutely no problems at all with the fan working as it should :)

Thanks again for all your help very much appreciated.

Cheers

James

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi chaps

Just a quick update for anyone searching for a solution.

With coolant at correct level steam started coming from the radiator overflow pipe again without the fan coming on.

After a bit of further investigation and knowledge it turned out the thermostat was faulty.

New one fitted, tested the bike tonight and the fan kicks in much quicker and much more often than before.

Thanks again for all the help.

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