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csharg
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« on: December 06, 2011, 01:15:22 PM » |
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I just got back from a short ride and noticed steam and water coming out from under the spark plug boots on three of the six cylinders (one on the left side and two on the right). My only guess is that I have a bad head gasket and some coolant got into the combustion chamber and was boiling off. Anyone ever run into this or have any suggestions?
A little background..
The bike has only 1600 miles on it, as I bought it from the original owner last year with only 400 miles. It had been sitting for 8 years and then the PO took it into the shop and dropped over $3000 getting it running again. The shop changed the ignition system and cleaned the carbs and tank, but that is all that they did. I have put over 1000 miles on it with no issues until today.
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csharg
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« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 01:22:15 PM » |
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Forgot to mention that right before I turned the bike off the water temp light came on, and I noticed that the fan did not kick on. I am assuming that if the bike overheated it could have caused a HG problem?
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2011, 01:30:00 PM » |
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It would be unusual to have a head gasket problem with so few miles. Now there are drain holes in the spark plug wells that can get clogged up, water can then pool in there and then that could be the source of the steam (sounds more logical to me) as far as the temp light coming on. Most of the reports I have seen of the temp light coming on, it was the sending unit not an over heat situation at all.....Check those two things
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Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
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« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2011, 01:34:14 PM » |
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Is the water green?
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 Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
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tank_post142
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« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 01:35:05 PM » |
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Chris is right. you'd have to blow a spark plug out of the head before steam would come out there. the drain holes a notorious for plugging. the whole spark plug well will fill up with water. this also causes enough rust on the plug that it can be a problem removing them. be careful not to allow and rust to drop into the cylinders when you pull plugs in the future.
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I got a rock  VRCCDS0246  |
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csharg
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« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 01:39:08 PM » |
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That sounds much more logical.. Thanks. It was rusty water that ended up baking on my valve covers, so that sounds about right. I'm assuming if the bike has been sitting for years that the cooling system may need to be flushed and/or inspected? I am wondering why the fan does not kick on when the temp light comes on.
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 02:23:48 PM » |
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That sounds much more logical.. Thanks. It was rusty water that ended up baking on my valve covers, so that sounds about right. I'm assuming if the bike has been sitting for years that the cooling system may need to be flushed and/or inspected? I am wondering why the fan does not kick on when the temp light comes on.
Because it may be a false light (bad heat sending unit) Not over hot at all therefore no need fan |
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« Last Edit: December 06, 2011, 05:33:25 PM by Chrisj CMA »
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bscrive
Member
Posts: 2539
Out with the old...in with the wooohoooo!!!!
Ottawa, Ontario
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« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 04:37:45 PM » |
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A couple of years ago I purchased a temp sensor for the fan that would come on a little sooner than the oem one. Works great, especially when you get in heavy traffic.
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 If global warming is happening...why is it so cold up here? |
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Patrick
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Posts: 15433
VRCC 4474
Largo Florida
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« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 03:58:23 AM » |
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I believe Chris is correct.. Remove the plug wires and blow out the holes before removing the sparklers.. There are drain holes which are probably plugged and should be cleaned out before reinstalling the plugs..
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csharg
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« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2011, 07:31:46 AM » |
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Thanks for the help. Now I just have to track down this temp light issue. It is a 2001 so I don't think it has the problem that I read about that involves the early bikes, and the light doesn't blink, it just stays on, so I will have to read up on how to check the sending unit.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2011, 09:13:26 AM » |
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Once it is all cleaned up, make sure you use some copper anti-seize on the spark plug threads before reinstall.
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