my quick fork oil change results

[Mike Hagen]

I was just looking at the nice big KRL650 wiring diagram (Professor Jims) and noticed that the temperature sensor to the gage is separate from the sensor switch that turns on the fan. So in the post that someone noticed the fan was NOT running when the gage was way over the middle makes some sense. They are independent of each other. Just a thought when troubleshooting the problem. Has anyone tried printing out the wiring diagram BIG? I have a color printer that goes to 24" X 36". I wonder what it would cost to get a big print laminated? Mike Crestline, CA Ebay Red - A18 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Kokola]

Around here it'd be a couple of bucks -- most places that laminate only have one machine, and it'll laminate up to either 24" wide or 30" wide. --John Kokola -----Original Message----- From: Mike Hagen I wonder what it would cost to get a big print laminated?

[n2260v]

Hey all! I had the pleasure of doing the IBA's Canada to Mexico Border to border ride this late summer on Flame. The digest version (so I can get to the ?)is this: We began at West Poplar, SK and rode to Auora, CO in 13.5 hrs. Absolutly no problems at all! I love that KLR! Slept for 4 hrs and off we went again...Stopped for fuel in Pinon, CO and noticed an oil leak somewhere...I figure it wasn't bad enough to get worried yet(risky, yes!) We stopped again in Springer, NM. and noticed it had gotten a little worse but not pouring out yet. I pinpointed it coming out of the left side of the case from the bolt that holds the little rubber coated wrap that holds those little wires. Hmmm, no tool kit with an 8mm...dumb!!! At a quick- lube got a nut-driver and sure enough that was the one and only leaker...cool! Only prob so far, if you can call it a problem. About 35 miles North of Las Cruces, NM the KLR began hiccuping. Not really bad at first but the closer we got to Las Cruces the worse it got. She was surging pretty bad when we pulled into Las Cruces for some gas and a 20min rest. We were completing a 135 mile leg from Sorroco, NM. It had gotten considerably warmer as we traveled further south. We left Denver that morning it was 58. Now it was 90+ and the air was like a blast furnace. I'm not sure what happened. She wasn't overheating by the guage and the fan started running only after we stopped at the stop sign at the off ramp. Pulled up to fuel, did so, drank a litre of water and we were off again after 20 min. She started just fine and ran great 60 miles into Mexico and back to El Paso. In fact the little bugger ran great all the way until we were South of Billings, MT about 50 miles. It was around 85deg. Then the surging began again, except this time she threatened to quit while going down the road. When we pulled into the Flying "J" she was barly running. I was kinda freaking out a little acct I didn't think she'd pull out of it. Fuel and a litre of water, about 10 or 15 min and I decided to pour some water out of a hose over the radiator and into the fins. Seemed to cool off some. We headed for home...she started and ran flawlessly the last 300 miles. Sorry for the half story(Half???). But what gives? I've been part of this group for a while and don't remember the KLR being an overheater. Was the fuel somehow vaporising? I did have a pair of Aerostich tank panniers on, could that be part of it? Any help would be great. Any other IBA members ride their KLR's long in the heat? Thanks. I rode yesterday both Flame and Oskar('04 Suzuki Hayabusa) for a total of around 126 miles...today it snowed 4"...crap!!!

[James L. Miller Jr.]

Well, if you can rule out loss of oil and the associated problems, we can start on the fuel and the cooling system: Just because the coolant tank is full, doesn't mean there is coolant in the radiator. The cross over hose has been known to plug and the overflow tank nipple has been know to melt shut. Now for the questions: Is the waterpump doing it's thing, is the radiator full, is there a hose kinked, is the thermostat working/plugged. Lots of things to look for. The hic-upping would tell me fuel problem, but. In my experience..... running overly lean (blocked or partially blocked jet) will make it heat up, even running WFO into a partially arctic headwind. I'd say check the coolant levels on both sides, start the bike and see if there's coolant moving in the radiator, drain the carb and look for sediment. If it persists, pull the carb and do some serious cleaning, but most likely you partially plugged the main jet for a while. Keep an eye out, and ride. millerized Oh, and NEVER pour water over a hot radiator if you can help it. Don't ask...... When the plastic (no, not the KLR) cracks, it really flies far and sticks in things.

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "n2260v" wrote: > > Hey all! I had the pleasure of doing the IBA's Canada to Mexico > Border to border ride this late summer on Flame. The digest version > (so I can get to the ?)is this: We began at West Poplar, SK and rode > to Auora, CO in 13.5 hrs. Absolutly no problems at all! I love that > KLR! Slept for 4 hrs and off we went again...Stopped for fuel in > Pinon, CO and noticed an oil leak somewhere...I figure it wasn't bad > enough to get worried yet(risky, yes!) We stopped again in Springer, > NM. and noticed it had gotten a little worse but not pouring out > yet. I pinpointed it coming out of the left side of the case from > the bolt that holds the little rubber coated wrap that holds those > little wires. Hmmm, no tool kit with an 8mm...dumb!!! At a quick- > lube got a nut-driver and sure enough that was the one and only > leaker...cool! Only prob so far, if you can call it a problem. About > 35 miles North of Las Cruces, NM the KLR began hiccuping. Not really > bad at first but the closer we got to Las Cruces the worse it got. > She was surging pretty bad when we pulled into Las Cruces for some > gas and a 20min rest. We were completing a 135 mile leg from > Sorroco, NM. It had gotten considerably warmer as we traveled > further south. We left Denver that morning it was 58. Now it was 90+ > and the air was like a blast furnace. I'm not sure what happened. > She wasn't overheating by the guage and the fan started running only > after we stopped at the stop sign at the off ramp. Pulled up to > fuel, did so, drank a litre of water and we were off again after 20 > min. She started just fine and ran great 60 miles into Mexico > and back to El Paso. In fact the little bugger ran great all the way > until we were South of Billings, MT about 50 miles. It was around > 85deg. Then the surging began again, except this time she threatened > to quit while going down the road. When we pulled into the > Flying "J" she was barly running. I was kinda freaking out a little > acct I didn't think she'd pull out of it. Fuel and a litre of water, > about 10 or 15 min and I decided to pour some water out of a hose > over the radiator and into the fins. Seemed to cool off some. We > headed for home...she started and ran flawlessly the last 300 miles. > Sorry for the half story(Half???). But what gives? I've been part of > this group for a while and don't remember the KLR being an > overheater. Was the fuel somehow vaporising? I did have a pair of > Aerostich tank panniers on, could that be part of it? Any help would > be great. Any other IBA members ride their KLR's long in the heat? > Thanks. I rode yesterday both Flame and Oskar('04 Suzuki Hayabusa) > for a total of around 126 miles...today it snowed 4"...crap!!!

[Keith Saltzer]

> 35 miles North of Las Cruces, NM the KLR began hiccuping. Not

really

> bad at first but the closer we got to Las Cruces the worse it got. > She was surging pretty bad when we pulled into Las Cruces for some > gas and a 20min rest. We were completing a 135 mile leg from > Sorroco, NM. It had gotten considerably warmer as we traveled > further south. We left Denver that morning it was 58. Now it was

90+

> and the air was like a blast furnace. I'm not sure what happened. > She wasn't overheating by the guage and the fan started running

only

> after we stopped at the stop sign at the off ramp. Pulled up to > fuel, did so, drank a litre of water and we were off again after 20 > min. She started just fine and ran great 60 miles into Mexico > and back to El Paso. In fact the little bugger ran great all the

way

> until we were South of Billings, MT about 50 miles. It was around > 85deg. Then the surging began again, except this time she

threatened

> to quit while going down the road.

I'm going to guess that it's your jetting. Where do you and the bike normally reside? Is it up in elevation? Is the bike and it's carb settings stock? Did you notice you MPG going up while you were in lower elevations? A bike will run leaner once when the motor is warmed up, compared to when you start it cold. It runs leaner yet when you go DOWN in elevation. It will run leaner yet as the temp goes up, and as the air gets drier. As this happens this WILL effect temp, but only if your really lean. When it's too lean, the bikes will act up, but it will still run. Then it normalizes as the conditions change back the other way, either the temp, humidity, elevation, or any combination of the above. Did you start off with the bike in stock form and at a higher elevation? I've noticed that if you have the KLR dialed right on the edge of too lean (like they come stock), you can notice the things that you mentioned quite easily. You do NOT want to dial in a KLR's jetting spot on for high elevation and then go riding down to sea level. A quick adjustment on your fuel/air mix screw will fix this if it is in fact the culprit. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2004-12-21 9:40:10 AM Pacific Standard Time, k.saltzer@... writes:

> > You do NOT want to dial in a KLR's jetting spot on for high elevation > and then go riding down to sea level. A quick adjustment on your > fuel/air mix screw will fix this if it is in fact the culprit. > >

I beg your pardon Moose. That is exactly how my bike is jetted since I live at high elevation. Over the years I have taken many weekend trips down to sea level without any problems. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Keith Saltzer]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, kdxkawboy@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 2004-12-21 9:40:10 AM Pacific Standard Time, > k.saltzer@c... writes: > > > > > You do NOT want to dial in a KLR's jetting spot on for high

elevation

> > and then go riding down to sea level. A quick adjustment on your > > fuel/air mix screw will fix this if it is in fact the culprit. > > > > > > I beg your pardon Moose. That is exactly how my bike is jetted

since I live

> at high elevation. Over the years I have taken many weekend trips

down to sea

> level without any problems. > > Pat > G'ville, Nv

Ok, let me be more specific. If your bike was jetted using the "high altitude" jets and/or settings, and you are quite a ways up in altitude (8000 ft or more?) OR if you have played with the jetting, leaning it out to the upper end of the rich/lean scale so that you can get the very best mpg while not giving any thought what so ever for lower elevation riding, and/or the temp gauge needle is riding in about the middle of the gauge during normal riding (like a lot of KLR's) at high altitude with a bit of lean surging here and there, then coming down in elevation could lean out the mix to the point of "too lean". I told you it was just a guess though. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2004-12-21 2:35:23 PM Pacific Standard Time, k.saltzer@... writes:

> > Ok, let me be more specific. If your bike was jetted using the "high > altitude" jets and/or settings, and you are quite a ways up in > altitude (8000 ft or more?) OR if you have played with the jetting, > leaning it out to the upper end of the rich/lean scale so that you > can get the very best mpg while not giving any thought what so ever > for lower elevation riding, and/or the temp gauge needle is riding in > about the middle of the gauge during normal riding (like a lot of > KLR's) at high altitude with a bit of lean surging here and there, > then coming down in elevation could lean out the mix to the point > of "too lean". > > I told you it was just a guess though. > >

Moose, I'm jetted for about 5500-6000 feet. I live at 4700' and the majority of my riding is done at 6000' or higher. Watching the temp gauge when I've dropped into the Sacramento Valley it's never gone above the mid point and I haven't noticed any surging. My plug shows good color, no blistering. As a reference, this is with Dynajet jets/needle. The one thing I have noticed with the jetting is that the bike runs better with fewer discs in my IDS exhaust. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[clint lee jin yew]

just my 2cents guys , but through my experience with klr's , hicups also happen when, the jetting gets lean ( dirt stuck in carb or a broken air filter , a loose or broken pipe) or an electrical problem. ( battery connected properly? if its kinda loose, detonation happens instead of the plug sparking ) mechenical problem such as burnt valve(s). an overheating engine will just die off. hickup hickup and die. thats what heppens. clint

[Nige]

G'day all, I have a 2004 A18 that I've owned since November 2005. I had the 6000 km service done when I bought it, and it now has 8000 km up. The bike seems to me to be overheating. The temp gauge shows quite low when I'm on the open road doing 80 km/h or more. When I ride at 60 km/h or so the gauge goes up to almost halfway, and when I'm sitting at a standstill, say in traffic, the gauge rapidly goes way up to the right. I have topped up the coolant it had used approx 200 ml in the 2000 kms I have ridden on it. The engine oil is right in the middle of the window. Does this sound normal? Also, I'm thinking of getting a Clymer Workshop manual, but it only covers models to 2003. Would it be OK for a 2004 model? I'm assuming there would not be many differences apart from the large tank. Thanks in advance Nige