Over the last couple of weeks I've started seeing steam coming out around the top R/H fairing cover and sometimes coolant splattered on the fairings. I thought I'd found the problem where one of the hoses off the thermostat was a bit loose but have now discovered that the problem appears to be the rad cap letting by causing the reserve tank to fill up and overflow. I synched the carbs yesterday and saw what was going on with the bike hot and static, the latter of which it certainly hasn't been lately.

The radiator cap washer appears to be slightly perished and worn at the contact point with the rim of the thermostat housing.

Assuming I don't have a blown head gasket, can anyone think of anything else I might be missing which could be causing the overflow symptom.

I've ordered a new cap from the good folks at David Silver which will arrive in a couple of days. I'll let you know if that fixed the problem.

H

 

A check of the oil,colour,etc. Mine too was a little incontinent recently, but that was due to loose hose clip. I suppose a quick compression check would reveal all...maybe.

 

I think you're on the right track with the cap Henry, particularly if the seal is perished. They're a 1.1 bar cap aren't they? That's still a bit of pressure that a minuscule split will allow hot water/steam through.

Cheers, SB

 

Gawd,
nearly three months past and I didn't bother finishing the story. Don't you just hate that?
Quickest major repair in the book, changing the buggered rad cap. So quick in fact that you can forget you've done it.
Yep, problem gone. When rubber gives out it happens in the blink of an eye. One day it's good, the next day.... Such a fine line.10,500 miles later, so many other things have happened but.....
Change the rad cap if you see steam under your screen, that's the moral of this story.
Case closed, unless your pipes are pensioners too.

H

 

Aaaahhhhh! I love a happy ending Henry!

Good to see you 'round these parts again.

Cheers, SB