1987 Honda 600F Hurricane, just got carb cleaned, new fork seals, new brakes done....

When I left the repair shop, test rode it around the neighborhood, runs great like new! But... When I hit the highway going 50+ mph, my Thermostat needle jumped from near the C right over to the border line of the H,

When I finally got home, checked for any leaks, there were none, but can smell some antifreeze and very little smoke came from the bike.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Call the dealer and ask if they removed the radiator to do any of the work you described. If they did they probably filled the radiator without burping the cooling system. If they only filled the radiator with out burping the system there is probably air in it thus not allowing it to function properly. Burping a bikes cooling system amounts to removing the radiator cap, running the engine and revving the throttle a couple of times, filling the radiator and overflow tank then putting the radiator cap back on. This process gets all the air out. I personally let the engine get up to operating temperature just to make sure the thermostat is opening and regulating the water temperature but I don't believe that is necessary.

If the dealer did have the radiator off the bike or was into the cooling system at all I’d have them fix it unless you don’t want to wait and try to tackle the problem yourself.

 

+1 05Tribal

 

Yeah, I checked with that mechanic (independent contractor (due to the fact it's a 1987)), he said it might be the head gasket? I'm leaning more towards your way and probably going to try to burp the radiator myself, according to your advice, hopefully it won't be to difficult...

Appreciate your help =)

 

I tried what you said and followed the manual to "burp" the cooling system, I took the radiator cap off, drained the coolant system and a reddish pink substance came out, (not coolant color), must of been old coolant, wonder why it's reddish? anyways, hit the throttle to 4-5 rpms 4-5 times and refilled coolant at the radiator cap and put back radiator cap, took it for a ride and instead of heating to the "H" in 5 minutes, it took me about 10 minutes. I've been told to check the Thermostat, any other suggestions on what it could be?

Thanks.