High temperature, fan not helping?

Moderator: Moderators

Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

Hello again beautiful people.

What a beautiful Saturday morning! My battery arrived and first thing I whacked her on and went for an amazing ride. Sat at some lights I notice my gauge 3/4 the way up, so i lean the bike look down to the left, the fan is sat still?? Hmm. So I pull up short the fan cool her down. Wiggled the fan switch plugs, felt the rad (hot) everything seems fine. There's coolant in the expansion bottle. So anyway head home, on the way back I'm sat still and i hear the fan kick. Brilliant! Look at the gauge and it's almost in the last red bit! So I sit and wait, urging the fan on but it wasn't getting any cooler! So off I get, short the fan cool it down to halfway and got her home.

That was 2 minutes ago.

So, fan is kicking in, although in my opinion it seems far too late. When the fan is running it's not cooling the bike.

Now to me, this shouts 3 possible things that it could be/be a combination of:

1: Dodgy fan switch (OMFG £76 from Cradley)
2: Low/no coolant
3: Air lock.

Any ideas people? When she has cooled down I'm gonna pop rad cap off double check the coolant and run her up to temp with it off to get any air locks out.


Wanna get back out on her today!
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

Check coolant
Might need a new rad sensor on the back of the rad, left side, middle.
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

Hey,

Quick update, I took the rad cap of, topped her up and ran it till the bubbles stopped (except the bubbles from coolant travelling into the rad from the top hose).

Took her for a spin. It was bett but the temperature was still raising above a comfortable level.

The fan seems to kick in when it likes, sometimes when temp is half way an other time it comes on then goes off.before the temp has even gone down!!

I assume the fan switch (the big nut shaped thing with the two wires you short sticking in the left hand side of the rad as you sit on it) is just the same as a coolant temp sensor and makes the circuit when at a certain temp.

Does this also control the temp gauge? If so is there a possibility if the sensor is dodgy it would put the incorrect temperature on the gauge?

I just don't get why when it's hot and the fan DOES kick in it doesn't cool the bike down? Usually I'd say air lock, bur I'm pretty sure there isn't one I ran it with the cap of and the nose of the bike higher than the rear on my drive.

Another thing crossed my mind.... I thought my cct needed changing due to a noise under the tank, if it was the water pump bearing making the noise would coolant still get to the rad? Just a thought.

Kinda stuck scratching my head. She is running sweet as a nut. Just high temp :/

Maybe a coolant flush and a longer bleed maybe? What are these bike like for air locks?
He who dares, Wins.
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

Just flicking through other threads, saw you say this cansa:
"**DO NOT DO THIS ON A HOT/WARM ENGINE***
really
***DO NOT DO THIS ON A HOT/WARM ENGINE***

Pull the rad cap off, start the bike and look down the filler hole.
if you see a steady stream of bubbles then the head isnt seated correctly and the gasket isnt sealing."

There was a steady stream of bubbles where you fill the rad :/ I assumed it was just the moving water :(

Gonna have another go at getting the air out if not then it's head gasket time...

FFS!
He who dares, Wins.
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

However, I did this on a warm engine? Would that make a difference or is that just a warning for taking rad cap off?
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

If its a hot engine you run the risk of steam and coolant melting your face when you take the rad cap off.
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

CaNsA wrote:If its a hot engine you run the risk of steam and coolant melting your face when you take the rad cap off.
Ohhhh yeah I see. Disclaimer. Lol.

Right update 2

Emptied coolant.
Refilled
Ran up to temperature with cap off.

I think I have the bubbles you speak of cansa, mind having a quick look at this short video? Let me know what you think?

http://youtu.be/FYe9ChY_DoA
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

Yeppers, looks like the coolant system is being pressurised, i had the same problem on my 1st zxr.
The gaskett was seeping between cylinder 2 & 3 and causing exhaust gases to get into the coolant system.

After a decent ride do you hear the coolant overflow bubbling?
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

CaNsA wrote:Yeppers, looks like the coolant system is being pressurised, i had the same problem on my 1st zxr.
The gaskett was seeping between cylinder 2 & 3 and causing exhaust gases to get into the coolant system.

After a decent ride do you hear the coolant overflow bubbling?
I can here it doing something in the expansion tank, sounds more like sucking or blowing and trickling water. Never really looked tbh. Im trying not to ride it and warp the head. It's definitely using coolant. I just when and checked and I can't see the water level.

I would have thought with it burning water there'd be white smoke?
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

It doesnt burn water, just vaporises it.
It wont be vaporising enough of it for you to see the steam, unless it completely blows the gaskett and shits all over the place.
I know where you are right now, stop living in denial and accept it.
Get it to a grease monkey.
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

CaNsA wrote:It doesnt burn water, just vaporises it.
It wont be vaporising enough of it for you to see the steam, unless it completely blows the gaskett and shits all over the place.
I know where you are right now, stop living in denial and accept it.
Get it to a grease monkey.
Paha! Fair point. Accepted. Head gasket has gone :smt010

Grease monkey? F*** that. I'll do it!

@Cargo

Same difference. You knew what I meant.

Sooo.... Plan is:

Order gaskets (exhaust, and head)
Soak up the exhaust manifold bolts extensively with wd40.
Drop engine out.
Replace gaskets.

So with a car, it's always best to replace the cam belt whilst you're in there. Same thing with the cam chain I take it?

Anything else worth doing while the engine is out? Anything to watch for whilst doing head gasket aside the obvious (correct timing etc)
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

Yeppers, use a Genuine Kwak gaskett.

If the cam chain needs it then swap it out.

But check the head isnt warped before you fit the new gaskett otherwise you will be doing it all over again in a weeks time.
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

CaNsA wrote:Yeppers, use a Genuine Kwak gaskett.

If the cam chain needs it then swap it out.

But check the head isnt warped before you fit the new gaskett otherwise you will be doing it all over again in a weeks time.
Yeah, will be using Cradley for all my bits.

Yup engineer straight edge and some feeler gauges on the ready.

Not sure when I'll get round to it as I'm moving house in the next couple of weeks but I'll keep the site updated.

Might even do a write up with some pictures for it.

Is it possible to do it in the frame or is it just easier to whack the lump out?
He who dares, Wins.
User avatar
CaNsA
zxr400 oc member
zxr400 oc member
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:02 pm
My Bike: ZX6R F1
Location: Liverpool

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by CaNsA »

Drop the lump, no need to make things difficult for yourself.
Moderator & Skilled Ban Hammer Operator!
Has this forum helped you out? Say thanks by donating some of your hard earned cash towards running costs.

:: <=-LOADED TELLY BOXES - NO CONTRACT - NO SUBSCRIPTION - PM ME-=> ::
Madderz
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri May 02, 2014 6:59 pm
My Bike: 1992 Kawasaki ZXR400
Location: Bournemouth

Re: High temperature, fan not helping?

Post by Madderz »

Huh?

A genuine one's £19 from Cradley.

No point going cheaper than that is there? Or was that your point?

With something like a head gasket no point going cheap. Do it right or do it twice. Lol.

Edit: I have a feeling something just went over my head... Paha.
He who dares, Wins.
Post Reply