Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2002 7:06 pm**

It pains me so to have to appeal to the list due to a 'fix' that most listers recommend earnestly against, but at least you can all feel that much more righteous: 2000 miles ago, I used Prestone's all-engine safe "Super Radiator Cleaner" in hopes of solving a mild overheating problem on my A12. HUGE mistake. After an hour of running with it in the system (the bottle recommends 3-10 hours of use) I noticed that my thermometer was suddenly pegged. After quickly turning off and allowing the system to cool somewhat, I popped the radiator cap and there it was. The entire contents of the system had turned into a thick grey frothing, gooey-pastey goop. After immediately flushing the system 8- 10 times with distilled water, the flushing output ran clean but the goop was still tenaciously caked to all surfaces. A few hundred miles later, I flushed again and added a water/coolant/water wetter mixture. The bike has ran hotter than it should in many conditions since, but never pegged the meter. Recently (1500 miles or so later) I drained the system again, hoping that most of the residue would have mixed with the coolant/water and life would be worth living again. But the flushed coolant looked wholly unaffected. I pulled the thermostat- caked (but tested within service limits). Looked in the cylinder casing- caked. Checked the water pump rotor and seal- they look ok (only the metal surfaces keep the sludge.) I can easily scrape the sludge off with my fingernail to reveal clean metal, but my finger is most unfortunately of the short, fat and non-prehensile variety. I've tried contacting Prestone by e-mail, they responded the same day asking for more basic details (which I had already included... read: they didn't even read the whole message) and then haven't responded to numerous inquiries in the 3 weeks since. Will continue to press the company through various means, but doesn't look like it'll be too fruitful. Did I use too much of the product? Probably. Should I not have used this crap at all in the first place? Definitely. I know these things, but right now all I want to do is fix the problem. I know it's going to haunt me even worse down the road if I don't clear it out. So pleeeeaaase...any ideas on how I can get this crap out of my system? Ryan A12 San Ramon, CA

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2002 9:56 pm**

> Did I use too much of the product? Probably. Should I not have

used

> this crap at all in the first place? Definitely. I know these > things, but right now all I want to do is fix the problem. I know > it's going to haunt me even worse down the road if I don't clear it > out. > > So pleeeeaaase...any ideas on how I can get this crap out of my > system? > > Ryan > A12 > San Ramon, CA

Hey Ryan, I am going to give this a shot for you. There is a product out there called "Marine Clean", made by POR-15, inc. You can go to their website, www.por-15.com and look for it. It is an industrial strenth cleaner, alkaline based. They say right on the bottle "Perfect for cleaning engines, fuel tanks, holding tanks, grease traps, bilges, galleys, canvas, vynil, nylon, clothing, water line scum, turbine overhauls, mildew, algae, musty odors". Now, I have used this stuff to clean almost everything around here that was too tough for regular cleaners. It cleans varnish off of carb parts 10 times faster than regular carb cleaners. I know someone will scream about using an alkaline cleaner for carb parts, but my carbs for YEARS have ALL been cleaned this way, with no harm watsoever. I have put floats, both brass and nylon in it and had no ill-effects. Hasn't hurt any rubber hoses that I have dunked into it and left submerged overnight, either. The stuff is highly concentrate, and can be diluted with water up to 10 times it's volume and work great. Look on the website and see what you think. That is the only thing that I can think of that might work. I hope that helps! Brian A12

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2002 10:24 pm**

Thanks Jim. I may drill a couple of holes on the top side. Where do you buy these UNI inserts? Ray

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., TexasThumpin@a... wrote: > In a message dated 2/14/02 8:30:12 AM Central Standard Time, > DSN_klr650@y... writes: > > > > Hello, > > I know that this has probably been asked a number of times before, > > but are all KLR650 built with the same type of air box? I've heard > > numerous recommendations about removing an inner plate to drilling > > holes in the side wall, etc. I have an 2001 A15 and the airbox looks > > fine to me, so I'm curious what if anything is recommended to improve > > performance. (I already reset the air mixture to 2 3/4 turns out - > > much better!) > > Thanks for your help. > > > > Ray > > Upstate NY > > Hi Ray, > > A lot of guys have removed a wire mesh screen that separates the air filter > from the flow tube to the carburetor. I haven't, probably won't. With all the > pebbles I find in my air box, I don't want to take any chances. Other riders > have removed the side cover of the airbox, then you have to be a bit > concerned with water crossings, heavy rain, and thick fog. I have not done it > yet, but I intend to put several holes in the top of my airbox. These holes > will either be .750" or 1 inch. Then I will insert UNI's small filter inserts > designed specifically for this mod. On my 94 KLR, I installed 6 and was > pleased with the result. The choice is entirely up to you and what your > riding criteria is going to be. For me, I like to play in the water when I > can. Therefore, I put the UNI filters on the top of the airbox. Hope this has > helped you. > > Jim > TT > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wilsons Sandbox

nklr: stock airbox

ridding one's cooling system of pastey gunk

ridding one's cooling system of pastey gunk

nklr: stock airbox