86 125 Water Usage?

FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121
Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 1:12pm
My 1986 CR125 uses or looses about 1/2 to 1" of radiator fluid out the overflow hose every moto. Is this normal and if not what could be causing it? It was just rebuilt? Thanks!
|
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/13/2017 7:59am
4/13/2017 7:59am
Just picked her up a few days ago!

Rocky739
Profile picture for user Rocky739
Posts
302
Joined
1/9/2017
Location
Indianapolis, IN US
Rocky739 4/13/2017 1:18pm
4/13/2017 1:18pm
Normal. Expansion of the hot water then once it's cool it looks low. As long as it stays above the the core consistently and doesn't change it's good.
wpark89
Profile picture for user wpark89
Posts
1116
Joined
12/9/2009
Location
Mattawa, WA US
wpark89 4/13/2017 1:35pm
4/13/2017 1:35pm
Using it or losing it are two different things.

If it's just coming out the overflow maybe you are overfilling it a bit every time you check it. Leave it alone and see if the level stays the same.

Have you drained your oil to see if that's where the coolant is going? If your oil looks milky you have a bad seal.

FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/13/2017 1:43pm
4/13/2017 1:43pm
I have not drained the oil. Bike runs extremely good but seems to be a little rich on the low end, pulls hard on the top end and plug is dark and wet? I will not fill the radiator after the next ride and see if it stays the same. If it doesn't, I will drain the oil. Thanks!

The Shop

See All »
kruspy378
Profile picture for user kruspy378
Posts
130
Joined
11/9/2016
Location
Hawley, PA US
kruspy378 4/13/2017 5:25pm
4/13/2017 5:25pm
Yep normal. There is no recovery system like on a car.
kruspy378
Profile picture for user kruspy378
Posts
130
Joined
11/9/2016
Location
Hawley, PA US
kruspy378 4/13/2017 5:26pm
4/13/2017 5:26pm
Second the notion on the milky. But come to think about it an inch is avbiy much
wpark89
Profile picture for user wpark89
Posts
1116
Joined
12/9/2009
Location
Mattawa, WA US
wpark89 4/13/2017 6:30pm
4/13/2017 6:30pm
Just to add...when you are messing with it next time turn the air screw out and see if it cleans it up on the bottom. You might need a smaller pilot jet.

Personally I like to have a 125 run really clean off the bottom so there's no hesitation getting to where you need to be (mid/top)
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/14/2017 5:42am
4/14/2017 5:42am
Have not checked jet sizes yet, but last night found out the air screw was set at 1-1/12 and the needle was on the middle notch. I ended up with the air screw at 2 out and the needle at the 2nd from the bottom and it feels pretty strong but still has a slight bog of the bottom?
Mouse153
Profile picture for user Mouse153
Posts
548
Joined
2/16/2013
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
Mouse153 4/14/2017 7:01am
4/14/2017 7:01am
The 80s CRs had magnesium clutch & water pump covers that corrode over time. Check to make sure you're not losing water or it's getting into your engine. Drain the oil and check.
mxracer106 4/14/2017 7:07am
4/14/2017 7:07am
Since you just bought this bike, first thing I would do is pull off of the water pump cover and inspect it, as it looks like it has the original water pump cover on it. All of the early CR water pumpers ('81-'88) had water pump/clutch covers that were made from magnesium, and in time, the magnesium breaks down and rots from the coolant/water. It also sends the material through the radiators potentially plugging them up. I would make sure you are not loosing coolant due to this rot, or it is blowing coolant out of the overflow because the radiators are restricted.


FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/14/2017 7:37am
4/14/2017 7:37am
All good advice! A little more info, the clutch cover is an aftermarket from Australia? and the radiators are suppose to be new? The water pump cover is stock. All the Hoses are new and the motor was said to be just rebuilt. The guy is a trusted racer and said he never could figure out the water consumption but never road the bike after the rebuild? How can I test the Radiators for flow?
Kidkawie
Profile picture for user Kidkawie
Posts
1129
Joined
8/31/2012
Location
ქუთაისი GE
Kidkawie 4/14/2017 8:16am
4/14/2017 8:16am
Pressure test the engine and cooling system.
cvm
Profile picture for user cvm
Posts
150
Joined
9/7/2016
Location
Monrovia, MD US
cvm 4/14/2017 9:06am
4/14/2017 9:06am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2017 9:10am
FRANK121 wrote:
All good advice! A little more info, the clutch cover is an aftermarket from Australia? and the radiators are suppose to be new? The water pump...
All good advice! A little more info, the clutch cover is an aftermarket from Australia? and the radiators are suppose to be new? The water pump cover is stock. All the Hoses are new and the motor was said to be just rebuilt. The guy is a trusted racer and said he never could figure out the water consumption but never road the bike after the rebuild? How can I test the Radiators for flow?
That's Frickin SweeeeeT. I use to race one.

W/ the old school hose clamps on the resovior that you would think we all would be safety wiring or something
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/16/2017 8:01am
4/16/2017 8:01am
Well the someone replaced the oil drain plug with a custom 7/16" allen head? I was finally able to get it loose and planned on replacing it with a hex head bolt. Nobody has a 9/16" fine thread around here so I'm down until the socket from Snap-On arrives so I can re-install the allen head drain bolt. I did find that the oil was clean and NOT Milky so that was a relief. I drained the radiator fluid and thought it may be low? It was somewhere between 550 and 600cc? I laid the bike over to each side and blew through the radiator to try and get it all out? I plan on putting in Engine Ice as a replacement. I'm still not sure why the bike pukes outs fluid through the over flow and may pull the radiators off to check to see if both are flowing free? Is there a possibility that the pump is not turning and how would you know or check? Any thoughts? Thanks!
Rocky739
Profile picture for user Rocky739
Posts
302
Joined
1/9/2017
Location
Indianapolis, IN US
Rocky739 4/16/2017 10:53am
4/16/2017 10:53am
Take water pump cover off and kick engine over. Watch to see if impeller turns.
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/17/2017 5:44pm
4/17/2017 5:44pm
Ok I can't get the cover off. Apparently they glued the dam thing on! I've tried heat and even tapping on it with a rubber mallet .... no go! So I can't check the pump right now but the radiators appear to be fine.

Pit Row

See All »
Mouse153
Profile picture for user Mouse153
Posts
548
Joined
2/16/2013
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
Mouse153 4/18/2017 8:44am
4/18/2017 8:44am
Hey Frank, not to change the subject but where did you get the pipe and the radiator hoses? I need both for my 85 CR125.
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/18/2017 8:50am
4/18/2017 8:50am
Sorry I can't help you, they were on the bike when I purchased it.
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/18/2017 1:08pm
4/18/2017 1:08pm
If the pump wasn't working wouldn't it get hot REAL quick? The last time I rode it was for about 20 minutes and it didn't get hot but did spew out some fluid. I can't get it apart so I'm putting the Engine Ice in it and riding it. I don't have the time, the gaskets or the know how before my upcoming post vintage race. Hopefully it and I will make it thru .... LOL
mxracer106 4/18/2017 1:30pm
4/18/2017 1:30pm
The cooling system is a closed loop, so the coolant is going somewhere. I would pull the head off and see if there is any signs of an issue with the head gasket, and make sure the head itself and top of the cylinder are completely flat with a straight edge. I had a '84 KX125 that the head somehow got a little warped, and it would start burning coolant into the cylinder when it got warmed up. It too was loosing a little bit of coolant each time I raced it, and I discovered it by noticing the spark plug had a green tint around the electrode instead of a light brown color. Had the head milled, put on a new head gasket, and never had another issue.
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/18/2017 1:59pm
4/18/2017 1:59pm
I know where it is losing it, it goes out the over flow hose. I have tried a stock radiator cap a 1.1 and now a 1.6 and they all have the same results. a 20 minutes ride drops the fluid from the bottom of the cap to the top of the fins.
kruspy378
Profile picture for user kruspy378
Posts
130
Joined
11/9/2016
Location
Hawley, PA US
kruspy378 4/18/2017 2:00pm
4/18/2017 2:00pm
Motoseal... Both a blessing and a curse...☺try a piece of wooden dowel to catch any kind of casting protrosion from the side cover or whatever cover you are trying to remove and tap with a soft mallet from the opposite side. BE PATIENT AND GENTLE. Also make sure all required fasteners are removed. That SHOULD break the seal... Whatever you do, no flatblade screwdriver should be within reach...If it's running decent I would change the fluids, top off as necessary during the event and then proceed to fix it correctly. You should be able to keep it going in the race..
If it is running for 20 min at a time that's a good thing... Btw the right thing to do is fix it beforehand, but sometimes other means dictate...
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/19/2017 7:06am
4/19/2017 7:06am
Got it apart and even more confused? Everything looks good! The Cylinder is clean the Head is clean the side looks brand new along with the water pump, the hoses are new, the radiators are good, so I don't understand what is causing it to run fluid out the overflow tube? The pump turns with the motor as its suppose to and I have tried a 1.1 cap and a 1.6 cap? Any Ideas?










mxracer106 4/21/2017 7:21am
4/21/2017 7:21am
The only thing I see that is suspect, is the surface on the cylinder head. It is it grooved and uneven as it looks in the picture? It should be perfectly smooth and flat (see pic below) If your head gasket was not sealing properly, you could have compression leaking into the water ports and pressurizing the cooling system, thus water puking out of the over flow. Doesn't look like it was burning any coolant, which is a good thing.



sandman768
Profile picture for user sandman768
Posts
6094
Joined
3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY US
sandman768 4/21/2017 12:02pm
4/21/2017 12:02pm
Yes, good idea to surface the head & top of cylinder while you have it apart, little bit of work now, you will be glad when it's back together.....when you removed the coolant did it smell like 2 stroke exhaust? That could be another indicator of system being pressurized by a slight leak from head into water jacket. Use a straight edge on head & cylinder top to measure for warpage...
MaxPower
Profile picture for user MaxPower
Posts
2647
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
NJ US
MaxPower 4/22/2017 6:35am
4/22/2017 6:35am
I'm with the opinion of possible leak at the head pressurizing the coolant system. That head surface looks funky. Id fix that issue by having Tom Morgan mill the head and reshape the dome. He cut the head on my KX to run on race fuel. I'm so happy with the engine on that bike.
And stay away from aftermarket head gaskets. There are a few parts I won't use anything but OEM. Head gaskets are one of them.
The rest of your engine looks to be fresh
FRANK121
Profile picture for user FRANK121
Posts
103
Joined
4/11/2017
Location
Bourbon, MO US
FRANK121 4/22/2017 12:39pm
4/22/2017 12:39pm
Ok got the bike bike together after the scratches in the head got removed with some 600 grit on a glass table. Fresh gaskets, fired her up and let run for about five minutes occasionally blipping the throttle. No leaks and checked no radiator fluid loss! Yeah!
Now I'm going thru the bike prepping it for its first race and notice the rear chain slider is GONE? I nedd to find the plastic slider that goes in the guard by the sprocket. I have searched everywhere with no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks!



Rocky739
Profile picture for user Rocky739
Posts
302
Joined
1/9/2017
Location
Indianapolis, IN US
Rocky739 4/22/2017 12:49pm
4/22/2017 12:49pm
FRANK121 wrote:
Ok got the bike bike together after the scratches in the head got removed with some 600 grit on a glass table. Fresh gaskets, fired her...
Ok got the bike bike together after the scratches in the head got removed with some 600 grit on a glass table. Fresh gaskets, fired her up and let run for about five minutes occasionally blipping the throttle. No leaks and checked no radiator fluid loss! Yeah!
Now I'm going thru the bike prepping it for its first race and notice the rear chain slider is GONE? I nedd to find the plastic slider that goes in the guard by the sprocket. I have searched everywhere with no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks!



Hotfoot moto and or DC plastics will have them.

Post a reply to: 86 125 Water Usage?