15 KTM 350sxf overheating

Panic_Rev
Profile picture for user Panic_Rev
Posts
688
Joined
7/13/2012
Location
Fayetteville, AR US
Panic_Rev
Just purchased a used bike for the first time. I've been lucky enough to buy new, but decided this looked like a clean bike(17 hours). Bike was on in the garage for 3-5 minutes to warm oil for a change and started boiling coolant out the over flow and one of the lower tubes that connects to the bottom of the radiator.

Has anyone had this experience? Just overheating because there was no airflow? My 250f never did this. Bigger issue I should look into?

Before I bought the bike I ran it for a little while, but was moving.
|
Panic_Rev
Profile picture for user Panic_Rev
Posts
688
Joined
7/13/2012
Location
Fayetteville, AR US
Panic_Rev 7/27/2016 5:25pm
7/27/2016 5:25pm
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
No air flow will over heat one real fast.

Paw Paw
That's what I'm hoping.

CarlinoJoeVideo
Profile picture for user CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7358
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2339th
CarlinoJoeVideo 7/27/2016 5:29pm
7/27/2016 5:29pm
5 minutes is a long time. Also make sure the idle wasn't on, that will make it overheat even faster.
LeMay_848
Profile picture for user LeMay_848
Posts
95
Joined
7/20/2016
Location
Grand Blanc, MI US
LeMay_848 7/27/2016 6:13pm
7/27/2016 6:13pm
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and it did what your bike is doing

The Shop

See All »
Panic_Rev
Profile picture for user Panic_Rev
Posts
688
Joined
7/13/2012
Location
Fayetteville, AR US
Panic_Rev 7/27/2016 7:11pm
7/27/2016 7:11pm
LeMay_848 wrote:
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and...
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and it did what your bike is doing
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to put engine ice in it tomorrow and will check for bubbles. If I see bubbles I assume that's bad.
CarlinoJoeVideo
Profile picture for user CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7358
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2339th
CarlinoJoeVideo 7/27/2016 7:31pm
7/27/2016 7:31pm Edited Date/Time 7/27/2016 7:34pm
LeMay_848 wrote:
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and...
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and it did what your bike is doing
Panic_Rev wrote:
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to put engine ice in it tomorrow and will check for bubbles. If I see bubbles I assume that's bad.
oops double post.
CarlinoJoeVideo
Profile picture for user CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7358
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2339th
CarlinoJoeVideo 7/27/2016 7:34pm
7/27/2016 7:34pm
LeMay_848 wrote:
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and...
I'd check for bubbles coming in the radiator with the cap off idling just to be safe, had a bad base gasket on my crf450 and it did what your bike is doing
Panic_Rev wrote:
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to put engine ice in it tomorrow and will check for bubbles. If I see bubbles I assume that's bad.
Becareful with a engine ice, if you don't flush the water and old coolant out, the Engine ice will turn into a white-ish sludge. My engine guy who also builds many top level pros bikes told me not to use it. Just normal regular ol antifreeze. Just my 2 cents.
racinstation
Profile picture for user racinstation
Posts
807
Joined
5/18/2013
Location
Driggs, ID US
Fantasy
1921st
racinstation 7/28/2016 9:59pm
7/28/2016 9:59pm
On a four stroke just idling for three to five minutes with be smoking hot. It is best to ride it around for a bit, so you have some airflow. If not, a minute or two is all you need.
xnationalwrench 7/29/2016 5:14am
7/29/2016 5:14am
If you need to warm it up that long put a box fan in front of the bike to aid in cooling.
Panic_Rev
Profile picture for user Panic_Rev
Posts
688
Joined
7/13/2012
Location
Fayetteville, AR US
Panic_Rev 7/29/2016 6:32am
7/29/2016 6:32am
Thanks for the replies.

I flushed the radiators and ended up going with engine ice. I also checked for bubbles as recommended and only saw vibration in the fluid so hopefully all is good with the head gasket.

I never had this issue with my Yamaha's so I freaked out. Chalking this one up as a dumb mistake.

Post a reply to: 15 KTM 350sxf overheating