Triumphrat

Jamo · 05-22-2005

FOr those of you following my progress with my new yesterday Tiger, It spilled out some coolant when the radiator hose and clamp failed.

I, of course, thought this could be peplaced via addition of coolant into the expansion tank. When I rode the bike afterwards, it immediately overheated. I need to get coolant directly into the radiator.

How? THe book says 'via the thermostat housing'. Where's that? If it's that little center flange on the top of the radiator, how do you get at it to remove it?

THen how do you then introduce coolant into the radiator?
Do you just stand on the seat and piss down through cowling or is there a better technique to get at it?

Help, please.

guydan · 05-22-2005

To get to the cap the fuel tank must come off. Not too bad to do, the manual is pretty clear here (if you have one). If you need more info/help, PM me.

Jamo · 05-22-2005

If the manual you're talking about is the Owner's Handbook, I don't see anything about tank removal generally or any topic under fuel or fuel tank or tank in the intex.
Could you give me what info you have on tank removal or where to find it in the Owner's Manual?
Thanks

BigStripey · 05-22-2005

Quote:

On 2005-05-22 11:48, Jamo wrote:

THen how do you then introduce coolant into the radiator?
Do you just stand on the seat and piss down through cowling or is there a better technique to get at it?

Help, please.

The thermostat housing is on top of the radiator on the left hand side of the bike as you sit on it. You will need to lift the tank up or off to be able to fill the radiator. It is not a difficult job to lift the tank:-

1. Disconnect and remove the battery
2. Undo the three torx bolts that hold the battery box in and remove that. (Watch for the main engine fuse which is mounted to the right hand side of the battery box)
3. Undo the bolt that holds the back of the tank down.
4. Undo the allen bolt that holds the front of the tank down just behind the headstock.
5. Undo the three bolts that hold the black plastic cowlings on each side of the fairing.
6. Remove the side panels and the black knee panels
7. Disconnect the fuel lines (do this carefully)
8. You can now lift the back of the tank up and over the frame cross member and rest it there a moment. You can then raise the front up and chock it up with something. This should give you enough room to remove the radiator cap and fill the radiator.

CAUTION....make sure the engine has cooled before you do this. It is a pressure cap and you don't want a face full of steam

Fill the radiator up then give all the rubber hoses a good squeeze all round, and check the level again.

Refit the tank in the reverse of the above and then run the engine up to temperature. By frequently feeling the hoses, you will feel when the thermostat opens and the water starts to fully circulate. When it does, give all the hoses another squeeze to be sure.

Finally check your expansion tank level and don't fill it more that n half full, or it will probably belch the excess out anyway!

Getting the tank off is the one big pain with the tiger....followed by changing a bulb in the headlights!!!

Hope this helps,

Jamo · 05-22-2005

THose are great instructions. I can't thank yo enought for going to the trouble to post them.

Now, what seems to have happened is that by filling the expansion reservoir up and running the bike up to heat, then turning it off until the coolant in the expansion reservoir is sucked into the radiator, then repeating until no more fluid is sucked into the radiator from the expansion reservoir, about two times, I think I have filled up the radiator. Is that possible? It's not overheating and the reservoir is staying full.

BigStripey · 05-22-2005

That is possible, but if you have got small hands you can check by taking the radiator cap off and sticking your finger in (When cold obviously!!)

If you have not got small hands then you are stuffed :-D

It is always prudent to double check i guess, but if it seems ok then watch it for a while and see how it goes.

Q...When the bike is up to temperature, have you felt all the hoses, are they all hot, and do they feel 'firm' or can you squeeze them easily (sounds a bit pervy i know :razz: )

If they are then all is well.

Jamo · 05-22-2005

Quote:

..., have you felt all the hoses, are they all hot, and do they feel 'firm' or can you squeeze them easily ...
If they are then all is well.

You mean that if the hoses are hot and feel firm then the coolant is flowing properly and the radiator is filled up to capacity?

Tassie_Tiger · 05-22-2005

Jamo,

I don't understand why you are fiddling about with this problem yourself. It's a brand new bike which you've had for less than a week. Rather than risk doing some damage that could invalidate your warranty call the dealer and make him fix it properly under warranty.

Just my AU$0.02's worth!

Jamo · 05-23-2005

NOt one week, the first day, first ride. I can't get it to the dealer's, about 25 miles, without fixing the problem. Also, it's been over the weekend and the shop's closed.

Jamo · 05-23-2005

BigStripey,

The hoses are hot but not firm. They're squeezable when I turn the engine off. But the oil temperature guage ins't showing the temperature rising into the red zone like it did that one time (before I started adding to the radiator by dribbling into the reservoir). The guage shows the temperature rising normally low into the normal zone.

Also, the cooling fan isn't coming on when I shut off the motor.

So long as the oil temperature guage isn't rising and the fan isn't coming on, I'm all right, aren't I? (Or is the thermostat fried?)

[ This message was edited by: Jamo on 2005-05-23 10:45 ]