Triumphrat

matchbox · 08-23-2009, 05:46 PM

Can anyone advise what might be the problem with my 07 Tiger.

In the 2 years I've had it ... no trouble.
However, I went for a run last week - very warm evening. After half an hour stopped, turned off engine and hot water poured out of a pipe just at the back of the engine above the brake lever - is this the overflow from the expansion tank?
I turned on the ignition to see if the engine had been running hot but the temp gauge said normal.
After engine had cooled down I drove home as normal with no apparent trouble.

I have topped up the expansion tank with about 200ml of water as the level had dropped.

Any thoughts on the cause, please - and what should I check now, if anything?

Thanks

RedBird · 08-23-2009, 11:35 PM

How many miles on Tiger?

If you haven't drained, flushed, flushed, and reflushed the cooling system, you probably are way past due for this service. In my experience, any liquid cooled Triumph needs this done before 3000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. This being said, I'm sure there are 1 in 1000 dealers that put quality coolant in the new bikes--I haven't found that one yet.

Once you have flushed the bike using distilled water until it runs out clean, then fill the bike with a premixed 50/50 coolant that is for aluminum blocks (meaning it has the additives for aluminum). Some favor Honda coolant (I have not heard anything bad about any of the Honda fluids). When draining and filling the cooling system, it is best to have a service manual and follow the procedure step by step to keep from getting a pocket of air in the system. The drain plug sealing washer (copper) can be used again--just don't over-tighten it!

Once you are through with the above and you still have some coolant loss problems, purchase a new radiator cap--preferably one that is 1.2 bar instead of the stock 1.1 bar.

biketraveller · 09-06-2009, 05:50 PM

Hi Matchbox

This is a known problem and RedBird is correct in suggesting that a new radiator cap will cure your problem.
The cap spring tends to wear over time. They usually give up after approx. 30000 km and your problem is unlikely to go away until the cap is replaced.

johnparjr · 09-07-2009, 11:35 PM

I just replaced mine the new cap looks a little diffrent than the one that came with the bike

matchbox · 09-10-2009, 04:41 PM

Thanks for those thoughts.

I was sort of hoping the problem would go away!! Perhaps I should try a new radiator cap - do you think it could be that even after only 3000 miles??

biketraveller · 09-10-2009, 05:58 PM

Mine lasted about 20000 miles each before they went bad. However, the symptoms you are describing are exactly the same I had when the caps turned "tired".
Given the cheap price for a replacement cap I wouldn't hesitate purchasing a new one.

matchbox · 09-10-2009, 06:03 PM

Next Question!!

Where is the radiator cap and how do I get to it?!!

biketraveller · 09-10-2009, 06:16 PM

955 or 1050?

matchbox · 09-10-2009, 06:32 PM

955 !

biketraveller · 09-10-2009, 06:49 PM

You find the cap behind the top right side of the radiator if you view the radiator from the front of the bike - it is partly hidden by the tank, but if you view it from below you can clearly see it. The cap sits on top of the plastic thermostat housing
It is rather difficult to remove the cap without at least partly lifting up the tank (after removing the relevant bolts of course).

It is about where the red arrow points in that picture.