Keeping my cool

Message

katie1 · #1 Post by **katie1** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:34 pm

Or not, as the case may be. Following a recent service, I started getting the EFI message while I was riding (not at a stand still).
Duly researched it (thanks to everyone on here), sprayed the air duct sensor with some GT85 and off I went. Seemed to fix the problem for a day but then it started doing it again.

This time, riding through awful traffic on the M25, the EFI message came up but intermittently flashed back to the steadily rising temperature. Traffic cleared, problem went away.

Next day, after stopping for petrol near work (had ridden 60+ miles), the fans came on when I turned the bike back on! Bit weird thought I.
Anyway, coming home, the EFI message and rising temperature started to happen big time and hit 118c when I was filtering

So, checked the bike today and coolant was dripping out of the hose leading to the coolant tank. It looks like the clip (one of those horrible 'should use some special tool to get them off' things) was no longer gripping tightly enough. After much faffing around, breaking the old clip, trying a jubilee clip (too big), I've used a cable tie and am now waiting till tomorrow to see if it leaks...

Such fun!

Dalemac · #2 Post by **Dalemac** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:59 pm

Definitely don't rely on a cable tie long term. Get a better fitting jubilee clip and fit that instead.

fatboy · #3 Post by **fatboy** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:02 pm

I hate those fucking things,they are seen as industry standard but they are sub standard.
A cable tie will do a better job than a poorly fitted winkywanky type clip but it it is not a long term fix, proper hose clip is the real fix

katie1 · #4 Post by **katie1** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:40 pm

fatboy wrote: poorly fitted winkywanky type clip

Makes it into this months 'Top 5 expressions' list

Gio · #5 Post by **Gio** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 10:34 pm

I am guessing you mean those dreadful spring clips. One went on mine (my BB) and it was because the clip rusted eating a hole through the rubber (or whatever it is). bought a mixed box of jubilee clips from an autofactors , will change the rest when I take the plastics off.

blinkey501 · #6 Post by **blinkey501** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:53 am

If you get a jubilee clip make sure it is the genuine one.

After market knock off ones don't compare.

And certainly don't ride the bike with a cable tie holding it, or it will be a walk home!!!!

Greg · #7 Post by **Greg** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:35 pm

Fatboy .. Please define "WinkyWanky" ...

FWIW I replaced the crimp clips on the oil cooler with some jubilee clips - I got a set from Lidl (yes, I know, I know...) which are ok for the moment, but which will soon be replaced by a set of decent stainless jobs from my local marine factor..

fatboy · #8 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 7:39 pm

'winkywanky' a definition of..

Made by Blackspur.
Bought in Poundland.
Stupidly cheap.
Dogshit quality.
Popular brand but really still is dog shit.
Take a look at anyone else's, you won't find these fucking things on here, they may be shiney but they are still dogshit.
Shiney but only will work on a limited time basis,dogshit.
Choice may be specified in manual but really is dogshit.
Won't buy these again, absolute dogshit.
Whoever designed these things must have sniffed a big line of dogshit'
Dogshit

'

katie1 · #9 Post by **katie1** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 9:33 pm

fatboy wrote:'winkywanky' a definition of..

Made by Blackspur.
Bought in Poundland.
Stupidly cheap.
Dogshit quality.
Popular brand but really still is dog shit.
Take a look at anyone else's, you won't find these fucking things on here, they may be shiney but they are still dogshit.
Shiney but only will work on a limited time basis,dogshit.
Choice may be specified in manual but really is dogshit.
Won't buy these again, absolute dogshit.
Whoever designed these things must have sniffed a big line of dogshit'
Dogshit

'

I sense a theme...

katie1 · #10 Post by **katie1** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 9:44 pm

Ok, EFI and melty engine problems all fixed.

After a fairly nerve wracking commute this morning, this afternoon I dropped into a small set-up called Bike Aid in Chessington (near work).

Rick (the owner) swapped out the original pipe for a piece of fuel line which fits perfectly and used a couple of fuel line clips to hold it in place. I've lost the sight tube aspect but I can always take the lid off and check the old-fashioned way. Total cost, £25. Was very happy with that, especially as he sorted it at short notice

Oh, the reason everything was running hot? The sight tube was broken 3/4 of the way through! It was near the top where I couldn't get the fairing off (the crash bung was too tight for me to undo) and when I topped up the expansion tank, it was dripping enough into the knackered tube to make me think it was full

He only topped up the tank a little bit but I reckon the main radiator filler took nearly a litre of coolant!

So, my lesson for today? The expansion tank can be full but the rads can be crispy, so check both! Was very nice to see the temperature stay in double figures all the way home

JeanLucRidehard · #11 Post by **JeanLucRidehard** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 9:51 pm

blinkey501 wrote:If you get a jubilee clip make sure it is the genuine one.

After market knock off ones don't compare.

And certainly don't ride the bike with a cable tie holding it, or it will be a walk home!!!!

Katie, get one off Blinkey he has thousands in his van, I would know I pay for them

Greg · #12 Post by **Greg** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:51 pm

Ahhh so I've not been the only one with a knackered coolant tank sight tube - mine was completely broken in two, but oddly my temps were never anything to worry about ...

fatboy · #13 Post by **fatboy** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:07 pm

Katie, you are so perceptive

Glad you got it sorted avoiding the dogshit

katie1 · #14 Post by **katie1** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:41 pm

Ok, the last (hopefully, cross-fingers and all that) update on the burning bike issue

Having had the sight tube replaced and the system fully topped up, all the coolant went again.

Following a trip to the garage (who manage to sort this out this morning), it turned out the coolant was also pouring out from a join at the t-pipe at the top of the system. Trouble is, it was only doing it when everything got warmed up so there were no tell-tale puddles (and nobody likes them) to say that it was still leaking. There was also a kink in the coolant pipes following the recent service so the overflow wasn't going into the expansion tank. The guess is, the back pressure is what caused the t-pipe clip to force itself off.

Anyway, all fixed again!

Oh, and the dodgy starter button was cleaned out. It's not as pretty inside anymore (lovely shade of green) but it should actually work every time

So big thanks to GP Performance in Berinsfield for the urgent fix!