Radiator

[BrianEb]

Ok I have a Toomey Radiator no leaks, Toomey T-6 Pipes I dont have that coolant bottle anymore just the hose running down my steering stem like Toomey suggest

Question why is my Radiator fluid still finding its way out of the radiator. does it just get so hot it still spills out.

[akita8]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the purpose of the overflow bottle is to give the hot radiator fluid a place to go when the temperature rises and as it cools it gets sucked back into the radiator. If you removed the overflow I guess you will have to check it more often.

[BrianEb]

Ok let me try this again. Trying to get the right facts.

 

I have two different variables here

a.

My Banshee has Toomey Radiator Toomey Pipes(T6) No coolant bottle, Radiator fluid nearly gone. Honestly I have not been checking the Rad. fluid in about five other rides.

 

b.

My friends banshee has a stock radiator, T6 pipes, has the coolant bottle still in the back. Bored .30 over with a .20 milled head, he too is spilling fluid. The hoses seem to be connected tight. we know its not a leaking radiator.

 

both run engine ice.

 

what is the cause and the solution.

I did a search on radiators on this forum and it just debates the coolant res.

 

how are the guys out in Glamis avoiding these problems.

 

peace

Lil'E

[deckheight]

If the rad fluid is not leaking externally and is nearly gone as you say... And it has not contaminated your trans fluid... Way better than average chance you have a blown head gasket or bad head/cylinder O-ring. Drain it and pressurize the cooling system or at least remove the head take a look. What you don't want to do is let it sit there with coolant in the combustion chamber and/or cases.

[BrianEb]

no its not a bad o-ring or a head gasket, I just changed the oil and did not see anything strang in there.

I thought the Banshees where prone to this problem

Is there any experts on this situation that have been where me and my homie are at

[sinisterboo]

I have been without a water bottle on my bike for over a year, and my coolant is always at the top when I check it.

[notsed]

head gasket, or evap. maybe

[Tim Potteiger]

I have burned 2 or 3 motors with water leaks. The first was from burned O-rings in the head which allow the combustion pressure in the cylinders to actually pressurize the water system and thus blows the water out the overflow and out the puke tube. This puke tube would normally have the reservoir connected, but I removed that about 8 years ago when I switched to larger carbs and reed spacers. It simply won't fit anymore. You do not need it. It only holds overflowed coolant, and as far as I know, unlike a car, it does not siphon back up through the cap. It merely serves to preserve the environment by not allowing the coolant to spill out on the ground.

 

I have also emptied my radiator by boiling it all out with a broken water pump impeller. With no circulation, it obvious just turns the water jackets around the cylinders into a pressure cooker.

 

Bottom line, there are only a few things that can cause it to overflow: leaking head gasket or o-rings, melted or broken impeller, excessive heat (lean motor condition, constant over rev, just plain riding the shit out of it).

 

I would suggest you remove the cap and rev the motor and observe what happens, both hot and cold. If it boils up rapidly and overflows while cold, you have a head gasket issue. If it takes a while to start boiling over, you have a circulation issue. Other than that, in the hot months, excessive riding might boil a Banshee regardless. You likely wouldn't lose much each ride, but a little here and there adds up. I always check my coolant level about every 2 rides in the dunes, or every hour on the track. Tell us what you find.

[deckheight]

O.K. never mind then...

[locogato11283]

your coolant system is being pressurized somewhere. either the pressurization is pushing the coolant out of the overflow, or the coolant is being sucked into the cylinder and burnt up.

 

what does your exhaust smoke look like? normal or a whiter color? if its normal, then i would say you have a bad o ring in your head. how do you know for sure thats not it? it doesnt take much for this to happen.