Air Lock?

[AxeGrinder]

Hi...

I've just blown the head gasket on my Dakar, less than a week before I'm due to go tour Europe on it...Misano being actual destination.

I have had a temp light issue since Friday, which I thought I'd sorted...I may still have, but too late for the poor head gasket...see this thread http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156068 if you're interested in the symptoms etc...

I believe it was caused by an air lock in the cooling system...which has not been drained certainly in the 3000 or so miles I've owned the bike.

The bike has mainly been used for my 50mile commute and a couple of 300mile weekends...some laning etc...and never had an issue.

Untill this morning (after 25 miles to work) all fluids are blended to a gooey mess.

I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem...is it an air lock, and how has this happened.

Fluid levels and condition have been fine...till today!

 

[John Armstrong]

http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/Overheating_FAQ.htm

Starting to work out that the F650 FAQ's is a usefull tool

Hope you get the bike sorted ok, and quickly / cheaply too.

 

[AxeGrinder]

http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/Overheating_FAQ.htm

Starting to work out that the F650 FAQ's is a usefull tool

Hope you get the bike sorted ok, and quickly / cheaply too.

Yup...FAQ's have been pretty useful, if you give the correct search...I didn't try the obvios "overheating" one!!!

Not had a chance to look yet today...just got back from work...am heading back with trailer!!!!

Cheers for the info...will check it out after

 

[John Armstrong]

Noticed that there's "Classic" and GS & Dakar ones, and the answer to your Dakar may be in either one

 

[Flipfly]

Bollock

Sorry to hear of your probs Ian, hope you get it sorted. Anything I can do to help just let me know

If you lend me the XR I'll lend you my Dak for the trip if you can't get it fixed

 

[AxeGrinder]

Bollock

Sorry to hear of your probs Ian, hope you get it sorted. Anything I can do to help just let me know

If you lend me the XR I'll lend you my Dak for the trip if you can't get it fixed

I would have been very happy to do that (could still happen!!!!)...that's a very kind offer, however...see next post

 

[AxeGrinder]

Hi...

I've just blown the head gasket on my Dakar, less than a week before I'm due to go tour Europe on it...Misano being actual destination.

I have had a temp light issue since Friday, which I thought I'd sorted...I may still have, but too late for the poor head gasket...see this thread http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156068 if you're interested in the symptoms etc...

I believe it was caused by an air lock in the cooling system...which has not been drained certainly in the 3000 or so miles I've owned the bike.

The bike has mainly been used for my 50mile commute and a couple of 300mile weekends...some laning etc...and never had an issue.

Untill this morning (after 25 miles to work) all fluids are blended to a gooey mess.

I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem...is it an air lock, and how has this happened.

Fluid levels and condition have been fine...till today!

Well...when I got to work this morning after a great ride (the new Iridium plugs have made a noticable difference in performance) I decided to check the oil...just to make sure all was OK...

Upon inspection, I was dismayed to see emulsified oil on the cap...I quickly replaced it, turned my back and went into the office thinking the worst...

Cut a long story short...it seems the deposit I had noticed is just from a little condensation...the actual oil and coolant are clean, and the bike seems fine...

I did think it strange that the bike had run so well, and yet had sympom of blown head gasket...I guess I'd been a little paranoid about after this weekends issues

So...the trip shall go ahead, all being well, and when it arrives I'll have a spare head gasket if anyone needs one!

I think I'll take it with me for luck

 

[John Armstrong]

I think I'll take it with me for luck

Hope the trip goes well. You have got the EU breakdown cover sorted, just in case

 

[rc mad]

Sounds like you were expecting something else to go wrong and thought you'd found it.

Always best to be on the safe side tho. And you at least know the bike is as ready as it'll ever be for the trip, the ammount of fiddling you've done with it.

Don't worry about it, have a great trip and like john says, hope the euro cover is upto date

 

[Ian916]

I had a girlfriend once who would get an airlock in certain positions...., - first time I heard what happened next it made me jump out of my skin, thought it was me at first!

 

[AxeGrinder]

I had a girlfriend once who would get an airlock in certain positions...., - first time I heard what happened next it made me jump out of my skin, thought it was me at first!

 

[michael d]

if you have boiled the bike severley , i would get the head and barrel checked as they may of warped , its quite a job changing the head gasket ,even more so if you have to strip it again to get the head /barrel skimmed

are the exhaust gasses presurising the coolant ?

its not just the water pump seals is it ? (mind you mine are still original after 45,000 miles)

cheers mike