I need to see if anyone has had a similiar "overheating" and who has the solution.

'04 CBR 1000rr---20k on the odometer. The problem started after losing a chain. Replaced water pump due to small leak, and flushed system. Now I am running a race coolant w/o the thermostat.(ICE coolant).

The bike runs fine, but heats up every turn of the wheel, and fan runs fine. Only option I can come up with is something that sounds too simple, but wouldn't surprise me. Radiator cap. Any suggestions?

 

Give me some numbers -- how long does it take to get up to operating temp and then how high does it go? Does it keep getting hotter regardless of whether your riding or the fan is on? Seem without a thermostat you'd initially run cooler and take longer to warm up. There are some bikes (haven't changed my coolant yet) that the radiator must be 'burped' when adding coolant -- add a little and run bike while leaning side to side as far as it'll go to get out bubbles that can form and give you odd temp readings.

What sort of race coolant is Ice (ethelene glycol?) and what sort of mixture are you running. I suppose you could have gotten a bum replacement water pump.

Another question -- why'd the chain let go? Was it the stock D.I.D? I've never heard of them taking a crap.

 

What is the first rule of troubleshooting, start w/the simplest solution and work your way up. I have had a sportbike since '96 so know a little, but talk about dumbass mistakes.

1. In response to your question about Ice, it is ethelene glycol and can be mixed with coolant. DO NOT ADD WATER. I believe it comes in a clear 1/2 gal clear container. Picked up at a dealership or go to a bike shop. Racers usually run in their bikes.

2. It does work, so far. I am running 30-40 degrees cooler. That result is after my 1hr ride to work this morning, and remember I have taken out my thermostat.

3. I am running a 1/2gal of the Ice and the rest is mixture of 50/50 Prestone mixture.

4. Water pump good.

5. Bike was stock and replaced chain at 20k, it needed replacement, due to noise.Apparently did not mushroom the master link enough.Replacementchain still in excellent condition replaced master and mushroomed the hell out of it.

Bottomline I put in the ice and that's it, keep in mind when I pulled bottom hose nothing came out, and didn't think it would be a problem due to the resovoir being full. RADIATOR MUST BE FULL TO CREATE THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO MOVE IT THROUGH THE ENGINE. Thanks

 

When you take out the thermostat in some cars they will over heat because the water doesn't stay in the radiator long enough to cool off. Maybe bikes are the same. Why did you take out the thermostat anyway?

 

Sounds like he fingered it out -- must've been air in the rad. Generally you'd only have to worry about overheating without a themostat if you had a high flow water pump. A stock pump shouldn't generate enough pressure to keep it from cooling. I know most bikes I have owned seemed to run better when they were hot -- especially the Zooks. The 1kRR has the best manners -- semi-choppy when cold / flawless when warm.

 

Thermostat was taken out to allow a constant cooling, like bikes that run on the track, instead of waiting on it to open at a designated temp. My bike seems to have better response at cooler temps, and with having a stop and go commute for the first leg of my commute it has helped greatly and has kept the temp to a max. of 235, with the help of the ice, during the 1hr commute.

For myself, I would rather run cooler vs. hot, and create more stress on the engine.

I will have to re-install when we hit 30-40 temps for a few months in Dallas, due to no self control and having the urge to run in the winter months.

I have not thought about running a high performance/pump in it. Next step.

Thanks for the feedback.