Triumphrat

stunod66

I ran my Tiger up to 110 today for about 2 miles and it started to overheat. I pulled over and waited for it to cool. The coolant overflow bottle was spewing a bit. I took off again and was able to ride about 20 miles with the temp fluctuating between 6 and 7 bars on the indicator. (5 is where it normally runs and 8 is overheat) I stop again and sit for 1 hour so I can pull the cap. Coolant is full, overflow tank level has gone down indicating coolant is returning to the radiator. Take off again and everything is ok till I slow with traffic. I downshift and run at 6k rpm and the temp drops back down. I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this one. It seems like a coolant flow issue. Looks like I get to test out Triumph's warranty. UGH... Just in time for great riding weather.

Tiger-G

Hi,

Although I don't have any experience of the 800, just the 955, you may have an air lock in the system, or may just be low on water ??

The same thing happened to me on a long trip round Europe in very hot conditions. There was water in the expansion tank, but the water in the system had evapourated over time in the heat (I think ??)

So there may be water in your expansion tank, but that doesn't mean there's any in the system. In my experience, when there is extra load on the engine, and there's not enough water in the system, then the bike will overheat and spew from the expansion.

Check the obvious first like blocked vents on the radiator, kinked pipes, leaks, etc. Then take a hose off and fire the engine to check the water pump is working. Then fill the system again, ensuring you have checked and double checked you've got rid of all the air and see how that goes.

Good luck old chap, and keep us posted as to how you get on

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Safe riding.
Regards,
Graeme.

stunod66

Here we go again. Thought it was an air pocket but that's not it. Ugh.

Cuchulainn

I had the exact same issue with mine. Dealer drained, flushed and bled the system. The problem has not re-occurred since (knock on wood)

amanger

Is the thermo fan kicking in ?

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Two is Poo, Fours a bore, Three is glee.

stunod66

The fan is working as it should. The bike has to be ridden for an hour and a half before it will overheat. It has no leaks and no air in the system. It's at the dealer now.

Cburt

If it over heats at a 110, it's not the fan.

Cuchulainn

So far it is sounding exactly like a carbon copy of what mine was doing.

A couple examples of how mine was acting. Began overheating about an hour and a half into a ride. Shifted into 6th and it cooled down. Didn't act up again the rest of an 8 hour day.

Road around all day with no issues, but noticed it began to overheat on the way home. Pulled over and had a cup of coffee, got home with no further overheating issues.

I took it to the dealer and they could not repeat the issue, but they did flush, drain, refill, bleed the system. It hasn't acted up since, and that was back in late August. They thought maybe it was a bubble in the system from when they did the flush at the 18K service, they really don't have any other/better explanation.

Prior to them doing that, the issue was common enough that I was spending way too much time watching the temp gauge. Likely to the point of distraction, but was making me really paranoid, because I would keep checking and it would be fine, and as soon as I would relax it seemed to overheat.

I was recently stuck for a couple of hours in traffic moving 0-5 miles per hour for 2+ hours due to a police chase/accident in 80+ degree temps. While the temp gauge went up a couple bars from where it normally sits, it never overheated. I have put about 5K on the bike since the last incident of it. It does appear to be resolved. Keeping my fingers crossed.

- Sean

LBJM

How many bars should appear at normal operating temp?

framebinder

I never counted the bars, but mine's just below half way up.

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Framebinder
coastal Maine
2012 800XC