Possible Bandit overheatage?

[Antallica]

Hey all,

It's been a few days so I could be paranoid, but I feel the GSF is getting a tad too hot. Did a short journey to a few houses around town then to BK and home. I could feel the heat through my pants, almost burning to the touch and I only did approx 10km. May have had something to do with the pillion perhaps?

Also the coolant system on this thing, anyone know anything about it? Such as it needs new fluid after so many km's etc.?

I have no idea if that radiator fan works too so I guess I must get that checked.

[curious george]

erm... got any numbers with that temp, Ant?
You could change the rad fluid for good measure....

[Antallica]

Sadly I have no temp guage, same with the lack of fuel guage *sigh*. Where's a good place to place a sensor?

Then again, I do have a Temp light on the main panel that has never gone on.

[merv]

Without seeing it it is hard to help you, but do the usual things - check the fluid level, then start the bike and run it down the road to get it warm, back to your house and just park it idling. With no air flow they heat up fairly quickly and at some stage your fan should come on - you'll hear it and feel the air flow from it then. If you feel it is getting uncomfortably hot and the fan hasn't come on, stop the engine and get the fan and switch checked out. I'm guessing the engine should be at about 100 - 110 deg when the fan comes on, so they are pretty warm by then and you will feel heat through jeans especially if you are sitting forward a bit to accomodate your pillion. If there is a problem with your cooling system it will need fixing as overheating is the death of engines especially with alloy parts - gaskets go and coolant can start getting into the cylinders.

[jrandom]

Hmmm, yes, do the idling fan test.

The only time I've ever noticed the fan on my Zeal turning on was when I spent several minutes drawing a smiley face on the driveway at work with my GT501s, then rode it (slipping and sliding around on the semi-liquid rear tyre) to Mt Eden MC for the Sport Demons. I parked up at Mt Eden, killed the engine and noticed that the fan was still going.

It was a very hot day.

I've noticed the same heat thing you describe on the Zeal, recently. I think it's just the weather. A 10°C difference in ambient temperature will make a big difference in the heat your legs notice coming off the engine. Doesn't mean the engine is running wrong.

[XTC]

my legs would absolutely cook when the dual fans on my VF1000R would come on at traffic lights in the summer...... The fans suck air through the rad and direct it back at your legs. Could just be this. As long as your fans are coming on their shouln't be a problem.

[John]

do a change it dropped my temps by about 20deg average, I was noticing the same things as You, make sure you fully drain the engine and bleed all the air out, I'll give you a hand if you like I have experience in fok'in up waterchanges.. .lol