Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "ACGLASS" wrote:

> About 15 minutes into it I noticed the temp gauge pushing the

extreme H red zone on the right and fuel spewing out of the key lock and cap seal on the fuel tank. It also felt like the fuel was creating a type of vapor lock (vcuum) causing the motor to surge and sputter, surge and sputter, surge and sputter. --- I've been experiencing mild vapor-lockish type symptoms lately also. Frankly, I've been riding in 115 degree ambient temps so I am not surprised. Given that there's plenty of summer left, I did a couple of inexpensive things to try to help: I added a heat shield tube to my fuel line, converted the vacuum petcock to a manual (in case it was vacuum related), and added some inexpensive adhesive heat shield to the underside of my fuel tank. Seemed to have helped, though I couldn't tell you which contributed what since I did them simultaneously. Plus the high-temps might have boiled my brain and any improvement might well be all in my head. I also broke down and bought an inexpensive evaporative cooling vest. First time I tried it I thought: "What took you so long you idiot? You live in the frickin' desert..." Anybody else find some low-cost mods/gear that helped prevent heat- related problems with their bike (or themselves)? As an aside, I've also had good results using a product called Water Wetter. I don't know how it works, but I run cooler water temps and use it on all three of my bikes. 'Course I don't usually have to worry about cold temps, so I leave it in year-round.

On Jul 24, 2005, at 8:28 AM, ACGLASS wrote:

> Is this machine not capable of this type of riding or is there > something else going on with mine?

It sounds like your motor got hot enough to boil the gas in your gas tank, a la MikeT's recent experience. As long as you've changed your coolant regularly and your thermostat is working correctly, your system should be fine. A mix of 70% coolant to 30% distilled water provides the best boilover protection with conventional coolant. Water Wetter and distilled water (no coolant) works even better during the heat of summer, but don't let your bike get anywhere near freezing or the water in your cooling system will freeze and break many expensive parts of your engine. Here's some good reading on the topic: http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/overheating_causes_and_cures.htm>. According to the research Bill Watson's done, it seems that the cooling system on the KLR is a little less than optimal. IIRC, I think he's going to try some changes to the system and see if they help. It's probably work worth keeping an eye on! -- Blake Sobiloff San Jose, CA (USA)

I don't know what kind of gas you are using, and there will probably by several contradictions to this but, I was under the impression that you could put lighter fluid in the KLR and go. I have found that not to be the case. I have had many positive things come from using 93 octane gas. The temp guage usually runs just under the half way point, and even while slow ditch riding on a hot day it never went past the 2/3 point. It never pings anymore. The engine runs smoother and just feels more relaxed. I am not claiming any more power, just a happier engine. I am wondering if you gentlemen using 87 octane gas have ever road without a hemet. Maybe there's pinging going on down there you can't hear. Anyway ACGLASS, what can it hurt to run the tank to reserve, and put a tank of premium in the KLR and see if it makes a difference when you are flogging the beast. Go get em Rick A 17 ACGLASS wrote: I was following some motoxers up a trail the other day, on my KLR 650, eating their dust (the largest bike they had was a 230 cc). Nice day, about 90 degrees F. About 15 minutes into it I noticed the temp gauge pushing the extreme H red zone on the right and fuel spewing out of the key lock and cap seal on the fuel tank. It also felt like the fuel was creating a type of vapor lock (vcuum) causing the motor to surge and sputter, surge and sputter, surge and sputter. Needless to say I turned around and went back to the canyon roads where engine temp returned to just above half on the gauge and apparent vacuum in the fuel dissappeared. Is this machine not capable of this type of riding or is there something else going on with mine? Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 09:43 AM 7/24/2005, Rick McCauley wrote:

>I don't know what kind of gas you are using, and there will probably by several contradictions to this but, I was under the impression that you could put lighter fluid in the KLR and go. I have found that not to be the case. I have had many positive things come from using 93 octane gas. The temp guage usually runs just under the half way point, and even while slow ditch riding on a hot day it never went past the 2/3 point. It never pings anymore. The engine runs smoother and just feels more relaxed.

FWIW, years ago we would run premium gas in our air cooled VW's because it would burn cooler than regular gas even though they motors did not have high compression ratios. I think it has something to do with premium burning slower than regular but it's been so long ago I honestly do not remember. What I do remember was you could see the difference on the cylinder head temp guages. Jon...

If you fill your klr up with lighter fluid. Rest assured you'll be going all right. Let us know what planet you land when you get ... thanks Dave Oregon Telescope Ready

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> On Jul 24, 2005, at 8:28 AM, ACGLASS wrote: >> Is this machine not capable of this type of riding or is there >> something else going on with mine? > coolant regularly and your thermostat is working correctly, your system > should be fine. A mix of 70% coolant to 30% distilled water provides

Err, 70% distilled water to 30% glycol, you mean. The other way around gives you only 30% of the cooling capacity of distilled water.

> the best boilover protection with conventional coolant. Water Wetter > and distilled water (no coolant) works even better during the heat of > summer, but don't let your bike get anywhere near freezing or the water

Note that glycol is not a coolant, it is an anti-freeze/anti-boil agent. Any glycol in your system is not cooling your bike. (Note that I use the term 'glycol' because there's two different ones used in anti-freeze/anti-boil agents, the traditional ethylene glycol that makes cats die, and the newer propylene glycol that lets cats live). Given how limited the KLR's cooling system is, you probably want to avoid using too much glycol in your radiator in the summertime. I'm about to try that water wetter stuff myself... certainly can't hurt. Another thing I'm thinking of doing is fitting another fan onto my KLR. I have access to a large 12V low-profile muffin fan with a high CFM rating, if I add that and a switch I may be able to move enough air to keep the KLR from overheating like that. -E

On Jul 24, 2005, at 10:34 AM, Eric L. Green wrote:

> On Sun, 24 Jul 2005, Blake Sobiloff wrote: >> coolant regularly and your thermostat is working correctly, your >> system >> should be fine. A mix of 70% coolant to 30% distilled water provides > > Err, 70% distilled water to 30% glycol, you mean. The other way around > gives you only 30% of the cooling capacity of distilled water.

Argh--thanks for catching that! Yes, 70% distilled water and 30% coolant is the better ratio. 70/30 coolant/water does actually result in a slightly higher boiling point, but it dramatically reduces the cooling capacity, ironically making it *more* likely that you'll overheat. If I hear too many more stories about folks having trouble with very hot KLRs, I'll probably drain my current 50/50 mix and use Water Wetter, too. An ounce of prevention... -- Blake Sobiloff San Jose, CA (USA)

I have heard that water wetter has sludging type side effects. Has any one else heard that, or is it a myth? Rick A17 Blake Sobiloff wrote:

On Jul 24, 2005, at 10:34 AM, Eric L. Green wrote: > On Sun, 24 Jul 2005, Blake Sobiloff wrote: >> coolant regularly and your thermostat is working correctly, your >> system >> should be fine. A mix of 70% coolant to 30% distilled water provides > > Err, 70% distilled water to 30% glycol, you mean. The other way around > gives you only 30% of the cooling capacity of distilled water. Argh--thanks for catching that! Yes, 70% distilled water and 30% coolant is the better ratio. 70/30 coolant/water does actually result in a slightly higher boiling point, but it dramatically reduces the cooling capacity, ironically making it *more* likely that you'll overheat. If I hear too many more stories about folks having trouble with very hot KLRs, I'll probably drain my current 50/50 mix and use Water Wetter, too. An ounce of prevention... -- Blake Sobiloff San Jose, CA (USA) --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > > If I hear too many more stories about folks having trouble with very > hot KLRs, I'll probably drain my current 50/50 mix and use Water > Wetter, too. An ounce of prevention... > --

--- For what it's worth, I run my water wetter in regular 50/50 distilled water/coolant mix. So does everyone else I know who uses it. It's only the track guys around here that run water wetter in straight distilled water. I understood that there were anti-corroision additives in coolant and I want those in my cooling system. Plus, I want antifreeze in there in case I get an unexpected temp drop. I notice a significant effect running water wetter with the normal colant/water mix, so I see no need to go to straight water. Just my experience.