Loss of engine power when using lights

[quickbuck]

But I'm headstrong and also need the bike to get to work tomorry

Funny that, our rider/ Owner of the ZXR Race bike is very head strong too.... Thankfully he realised there was no point risking the engine when he saw the temp gauge climb...
To be honest, the fault in the 450 was one of those things that was probably going to happen anyway.... You can't re-use head gaskets.

It is a bugger you need the bike to get to work...

Oh, and just because you don't have oil in the coolant doesn't mean the head gasket is not blown.....

[Grasshopperus]

Funny that, our rider/ Owner of the ZXR Race bike is very head strong too.... Thankfully he realised there was no point risking the engine when he saw the temp gauge climb...

Maybe there's something about ZXR riders that draw the headstrong to it

Oh, and just because you don't have oil in the coolant doesn't mean the head gasket is not blown.....

BUGGAR! I thought I was off the hook there.

[quickbuck]

Maybe there's something about ZXR riders that draw the headstrong to it

You could be right... Kawasaki tended to be the underdog....

BUGGAR! I thought I was off the hook there.

Yup, I thought you might have thought that....
So, any further diagnosis? Or have you called it quits for the night?

[Grasshopperus]

Well, the radiator cap was in pretty shit condition, the rubber 'pressure seal' is pretty ragged on one side, lots of bits of rubber (that I thought was dirt) had been flaking off.

Just FYI I made another post at 11:04 about 2 minutes before your post, perhaps you didn't see it because you were replying to the thread when I posted? There's some more diagnosis there.

I'm done for the night. I've got a 6 week old boy who I know is going to wake me up a couple of times before 6am Will stay online for another 20 mins or so though. Just reading as much as I can about cooling systems and the like.

[quickbuck]

Yup.. Missed the post, as I was too busy typing, and surfing.... Sorry.

Anyhow, after reading that, and now hearing your cap isn't in very good knick, I actually think you are VERY lucky!
See the cap has to hole about 8 psi? From memory, and this raises the boiling point of the fluid.
If it can't hold the pressure, the fluid boils at a lower temp, guess where the fluid goes!

So, I think you can try for a new cap..... Well, you need one anyway.

[Grasshopperus]

Yeah, I'm hoping mate, I'm hoping!

I assume that rad caps are all of a generic size and that all I have to do is find one that matches the PSI relief rating (93-123KPa, 0.95 - 1.25kg/cm2, 14 -18psi) and then I'll see how it goes.

I'm definately going to keep an eye on the temp gauge and will pull over if it goes high again.

Will keep you posted mate, thanks for helping me through this

[quickbuck]

Yeah, I'm hoping mate, I'm hoping!

I assume that rad caps are all of a generic size and that all I have to do is find one that matches the PSI relief rating (93-123KPa, 0.95 - 1.25kg/cm2, 14 -18psi) and then I'll see how it goes.

I'm definately going to keep an eye on the temp gauge and will pull over if it goes high again.

Will keep you posted mate, thanks for helping me through this

14-18 psi... Yeah, must have been thinking of the ute.... Or .8 Bar... the 400 might be??
Yup, as long as you get one int he range, and it fits the Rad neck, it is all good.

No worries for the help. I hate to see somebody with a broken bike, when I know I can help them fix it...

Yes, if your gauge goes high, definitely pull over to let it cool off.

[Grasshopperus]

Went into Drury Performance Centre today and got a new radiator cap. The guys had a quick look at the bike and said that it probably was just the cap. I've attached a good photo of the radiator cap for you to take a look at.

Today's 35Km ride each way to work was fine, the temp gauge was only just above the minimum on the motorway, and went to around halfway when I got into heavy traffic and had to stop at sets of lights. At this point the fan turned on, ran for a little bit and then turned off as the temp decreased.

Fingers crossed it's just been the cap all along.

Seriously though, this bike has been sent to teach me about mechanicing. Once every two weeks (or more often) since I've had it I've had some sort of problem. In chronological order:

1. chain and sprockets
2. brakes pads
3. stuck + stripped screws all over bike and especially in airbox and carb bowls
4. carburettor clean
5. rejet main carb jets to original specs (was running too rich and hesitating under heavy throttle)
6. brake piston seizure
7. Fork seal blowout
8. running poorly when raining (needed silicone sprayed over stuff)
9. suspension changes; more suited for my heavy arse.
10. regulator/rectifier rectified
11. radiator cap

There's probably more that I'm forgetting. Each problem has had me spending hours learning and trying stuff out. Bloody good instructional stuff though.

Luckily I've managed to do most of that work myself so it hasn't cost too much.

DAMN I LOVE BIKING

[FJRider]

Welcome to the world of motorcycling ....

[quickbuck]

LOL FJRider....

You have done very well Grasshopper....
Any less of a person would have cut their losses and chucked the bike over a bank, or in the back of the shed at least.... never to let it see the light again.

You, my friend are what true motorcyclists are made of...

NOW, I hope the ZXR has had enough of a birthday party, and behaves for you for a very long time.

Stay safe, and enjoy.

[FJRider]

Seriously though, this bike has been sent to teach me about mechanicing. Once every two weeks (or more often) since I've had it I've had some sort of problem. In chronological order:

1. chain and sprockets
2. brakes pads
3. stuck + stripped screws all over bike and especially in airbox and carb bowls
4. carburettor clean
5. rejet main carb jets to original specs (was running too rich and hesitating under heavy throttle)
6. brake piston seizure
7. Fork seal blowout
8. running poorly when raining (needed silicone sprayed over stuff)
9. suspension changes; more suited for my heavy arse.
10. regulator/rectifier rectified
11. radiator cap

There's probably more that I'm forgetting. Each problem has had me spending hours learning and trying stuff out. Bloody good instructional stuff though.

Luckily I've managed to do most of that work myself so it hasn't cost too much.

DAMN I LOVE BIKING

Better hang onto it for a bit yet ... there's still a few bits on the parts list that HAVEN'T been replaced yet ...

[Grasshopperus]

LOL FJRider....
NOW, I hope the ZXR has had enough of a birthday party, and behaves for you for a very long time.

Me too mate. It's definitely had its fair share. Did I mention the bike got lost in transit for a week or so when I first bought it?

Better hang onto it for a bit yet ... there's still a few bits on the parts list that HAVEN'T been replaced yet ...

Cheeky buggar! You should see the condition of the side mirrors though, they're absolutely immaculate.


Thanks heaps for all your support guys, I really needed it.

I don't think I'll be able to sell this bike when I get my full license, it's got too much of my blood, sweat and tears holding it together. I bet heaps of people wish they could've kept their first bike too eh?

Oh well, it'll be a good bike for someone who's similarly interested in learning basic mechanic skills.

[FJRider]

I bet heaps of people wish they could've kept their first bike too eh?

usually .... not untill about thirty years after we've sold it ...

[quickbuck]

usually .... not untill about thirty years after we've sold it ...

You got that right....
My first bike has even created a bit of a disease on here..... and YES, i am talking motorcycle... Come to think of it, the other one cures diseases...

One thing it is great to do, is jump back onto a 250 after years of experience on a bigger bike, and then see how much fun they are...
You then realise, they aren't as slow as people make out....

[motorbyclist]

Refilled coolant. Idled bike for 20 minutes in the garage. A little white smoke at the beginning (may be due to using choke) then no smoke for the next 15 mins.

seeing as you're learning these things:

that white smoke is just steam (another byproduct of combustion) which you'll only notice on cold days or while the pipe is cold enough to let the water vapour condense. perfectly normal.

Black smoke is soot/carbon from a rich mixture - commonly seen on poorly tuned boyracer cars

Blue smoke, one the other hand, is oil. If blue comes from a four stroke you have a potentially expensive problem

eventually you'll learn to identify these and hot coolant by smell
shit I can even tell the difference between 2 stroke oils by exhaust smell now

I've attached a good photo of the radiator cap for you to take a look at.

that's the new one, right?

I reckon (fair bit of experience here with learner bikes that need work) that its in your very best interests to check your oil for any signs of water, and DO go get a compression test to see if any one cylinder is noticeably down on the others. I'm not a fan of the guys at drury (who sold you the bike and how much for?) but as has been said earlier, head gaskets are cheap to replace, heads/cylinder blocks are not, nor are all the bearing surfaces.