Triumphrat

SportTBird · 05-12-2006

Hi All,

I am looking for advice on my Cooling System.

Some Background info:

At the end of last season I took my TBS to the local dealer for the 6K service + tires.

During service, technician noticed that the thermostat had stopped working and that the coolant was rust colored, and not green. He replaced it and flushed the system.

Rode it home without incident.

Here are the symptoms:

a. In late March, I was letting the TBS warm up in the garage, as it started to get warm I noticed that there was some coolant dripping down from under the tank.

b. Finally got back to it 2 weeks ago, and pulled off the tank to get a closer look. The first thing I did was tighten the hose clamps. Then ran until it got warm at which point, the coolant started dripping again, not from the hoses, but coming out of the expansion tank, working out from around the lid..

c. I let it run some more suspecting maybe the expansion tank had been over filled. While looking over the situationthe coolant starts running out of the expansion tank over flow hose, onto the floor of the garage.

d. After shutting the bike down, and cleaning up the mess, I tried again. I ran it until warm and more coolant is expelled from overflow hose, but only about an ounce or two. ( this time into a container

)

e. I shut the bike down again let it cool down a bit. The expansion tank now appears to be empty, and when I pop the radiator filler cap off, there is no coolant visible.

Could this be a problem caused by an air bubble in the cooling system? It doesn't seem like something that would be caused by a faulty thermostat. Would it make sense to remove the thermostat and run it that way as a test or is there something easier that I should be checking first? I.E. refill the system and run it again to see if it repeats the problem?

Thank for your help and suggestions.

Regards,
Shane

[ This message was edited by: SportTBird on 2006-05-12 09:21 ]

05-12-2006

Perhaps check that all drain plug outlets are clear.
Does the bike stand over winter? food for thought.
Are you releasing the Thermostat bleed screw when filling?
Remember to run it (short time only) to expell air then refill.

No expert - Just brainstorming.
Mark

Speed3 · 05-12-2006

First thing I would do is flush the system with prestone rapid flush or something like that, to clean out the system. And replace your coolant with new. I use a waterless coolant from www.evanscooling.com, which has a high boiling point, and won't corrode your system. check them out. Sometimes when the coolant is overfull, it will spew coolant and find it's own level. But I would try flushing first to clean it out.

13 · 05-14-2006

Might sound silly but check radiator cap not loose (it happens). Otherwise, monitor that bike's not overheating, radiator itself's full and don't loose sleep over it. Could've just been overflow.

And are you sure that was rust? The antifreeze I use is orange and can appear rust colored (without rusts presence) over time.

Expansion tank on my Triple ALWAYS bone dry and won't hold anything, no matter how often lines checked or topped off (never overheated, even in Death Valley, Ca). I replace antinfreeze about annually (the stuff in antifreeze gels over time). I've heard it said not to chem-flush unless rust in system, as yours had (chem-flush seems to eat water pump seals, hoses quicker). If chem-flushed, be certain to top off w/ distilled water/ run/ do final flush w/ distilled water (after chem-flush). Also use distilled water when mixing antifreeze (mix 60water/ 40 antifreeze for optimum cooling).

I use Havoline antifreeze/ coolant, Wal-Mart, $7 a gallon (Use caution if adding to anything like an old car with "stop leak". From a friends experience, the inhibitors in this antifreeze appear to eat stop leak).

Further, NAPA sells a "stop-rust and water pump lube" (or, if you have some water soluble cutting oil, it's the same). Add about eighth cup to bike radiator (half cup for cars). I haven't used this in my Triple, but plan on it next coolant change.

Just checked my coolant at radiator btw (last change little over year ago). Topped off, no rust, nothing in expansion tank. Runs really cool.

Hope this helps!

robadele · 05-15-2006

Your coolant fill cap may be bad. The cap must hold pressure of 8-15lbs before allowing coolant to go to the overflow tank.

If the cap is not holding pressure or loose, too much coolant will be forced out of the system.

SportTBird · 06-16-2006

Thanks for all of the suggestions, it turned out to be air in the system as Oddball suggested. As I did not fill the system originally, I would have assumed the Triumph technician would have bled the system properly. In anycase, things seem to be sorted out. I refilled the system and let it run, checked the levels and it seems to be fine now.
I also appreciate the information on flushing the system. I think that will be a worthwhile bit of maintainence for me to perform at the end of the season to make sure there is no more rust showing up in the system, and make sure it is flushed clean.

Thanks All! :chug: