Valk over heating.

[GREENDRAGON]

I was invited to ride my Greendragon in the CSU homecoming parade on Friday. So of course I accepted. I knew there was going to be a few other bikes, but I didn't know how many.I figured a few Harleys for sure. Well a total of 11 bikes 10 of them Harleys of course.I was the last to show up for staging, when I pulled up and backed in to park and shut it down all the Harley riders walked up to my valk, looked it  up and down and told me "that not a bike, thats a car". Any way they all really liked the way it sounded. After I bragged about it for a while the parade got underway.It was a slow prosession, Walking the beast most of the way. Bystanders were yelling "RAP IT UP" so of course we all got carried away. I had my high beam on and my lower 65 watt pilot lights on so right in the middle of everything the Valk died. I kept walking it while still sitting on it just trying to keep up while trying to figure out what happened. Not my kill switch. Put it in 1st and tryed to pop the clutch but I couldn't get going fast enough. I looked back to a group of CSU students that were gaining on me quick and asked them to push me. This worked, it started and all was good for about 10 minutes and it died again. This time I was able to start it my self. Another 10 mimutes I noticed it was getting pretty hot. By now I'm pretty imbarassed but by this time all the bikes were getting pretty hot.A couple of the Harleys started dying out so now I dont feel so bad. It has never overheated on me before this.Anyway at the end we were all just glad we got to the end without anyone overheating to bad.

[big turkey]

Fuses for Cooling Fan.

Was the battery low, or did the charging light illuminate.

Check your antifreeze coolant level.

Main Fuse, if it blows the bike will not charge, it's the odd long one in the fuse panel area.

But another thing has it got gas in it.

Could be the same thing that happens to a lot of Valks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

PETCOCK DIAPHRAGM IS SHOT AND IT WON"T LET GAS OUT OF THE TANK TO THE CARBAHOOTERS.

Is most likely the problem.

Diagnosis to the problem,,,,,,,, a petcock rebuild kit.

No Charge .

AL

[Momz]

A friend of mine had his water pump fail due to a bad bearing on the propeller shaft.

[Challenger]

My guess,  Battery could not run lights and cooling fan at parade RPM, Alt could not keep up until voltage low enogh the coils quit firing, The fact that you could push start confirms that. YMMV

[GREENDRAGON]

You are right Challenger. It was just the parade RPM.Just to slow for a Valk I guess. After it was over I just let it idle for about 10 minutes or so then as soon as I started riding she cooled right down and I havn't had any problens since. I did check the antifreeze,it is fine.
Whoda thunkit 

[Firefighter]

How did you determine the bike was getting pretty hot? I was in a one hour traffic jam the other day and I had no trouble with over heating, at least not the bike.  At times I could hear the fan cycle on and off. Was in the upper 80's, was happy I didn't have a temp gauge to watch! I don't have extra lights, but I would question your battery or alternator.

[Hoser]

I suspect the fan quit because of all the drain on the battery from the low rpm,  lites, extra lites, fan, until finally the ignition would no longer fire, push started, as stated earlier, and recharging after cool down pretty much bears that out.  How's the missus, GD?  Maggie wants to know.  Member us from IZ 9?  Hoser

[Valkahuna]

I suspect the fan quit because of all the drain on the battery from the low rpm,  lites, extra lites, fan, until finally the ignition would no longer fire, push started, as stated earlier, and recharging after cool down pretty much bears that out.  How's the missus, GD?  Maggie wants to know.  Member us from IZ 9?  Hoser

I'd check to be sure the RPMs are set to specs (1,000). The Valk has such a brute of an alternator that it should handle the electrical load if all is up to snuff. Put an AMP gauge in series and check what you are getting. Also check for voltage output.

Liquid cooled bikes are designed to not overheat if everything is working properly. 

[czuch]

Glad its Ok. I'll remember parade rpm for PGR activities.
If youre gonna "pop-start" it dont use first. Its too much compression all in a very short time and will usually only drag the rear tire.  Use third. The motor spins slower and still has the revs to lite off. You can also bust the crank.

[R J]

I would say you had more draw on the battery than the alternator was putting out.

Anything under about 1,000 RPM's the alternator doesn't kick anything out.

Had that happen a few times on our KZ1000 CHP bikes from setting and idling too slow.   HEAVY draw on the dang radio, Motorola, antique,

Once they came back to our shop for service the RPM's got raised.

[GREENDRAGON]

Hoser, of course we remember you and Maggie.Lupe asks if I have heard from the two of you every now and then. She broke her wrist About 3 months ago and is still having problems with it after 2 surgurys.Thats her excuse not to ride with me. hope the two of you are doing well, hope to see you again soon.  

[GREENDRAGON]

Thanks evryone for the suggestions and advise. I best check into some of these things soon. I guess I can't just ride comfortable until I check into some of these issues.
Thanks everyone