Overheating!

[Sammy-jo68]

Hi Everyone!

I have a ZXR400 1992 L model

I'm a novice to all things technical so hope someone can help!

With the nice weather one day last week i wanted to take my bike out so i left it ticking over to warm up for about 15mins thats when i noticed it was overheating.. i did not go out on it to see if it would cool down as i wanted to check thats its okay and simply due to the bike not being in motion and getting no airflow to cool it down.

the temp gauge showed it was inbetween the middle line and the red (hope that makes sense) but still above where it should be.

I have checked the water and the oil seems fine.

Can anyone advise?

[RedexRobB]

Shouldnt really let it idle for as long as that, i used to let mine run till it was out of the blue box at the bottom. Usual operating temperature is about quarter to half way up the gauge, it will usually go higher than that if in traffic.

But for it to sit there and idle it will go as high as it likes until the fan kicks in which i think is roughly 3 quarters up the gauge.

[rover220]

did you have it on the sidestand for all that time?

[Sammy-jo68]

No wasnt on the side stand i was actually on the bike chatting to a friend the whole time thats why it was idling for so long..

so its nothing for me to worry about.. just dont let it tick over for that long?

[rover220]

shouldnt idle for that long, wont do massive harm but if done for extended periods you can glaze the bores etcetc. not too much of an issue on a zxr that revs to 14900rpm though.

[Sammy-jo68]

Okay thanks for your help.

[MillaMeter]

Hi,

Blimey! an engine idling for 15min! Did the fan kick in at all? The fan should of been on at that temperature! If I remember rightly, the fan kicks in just over half. When I plan on going out on me bike, first thing I do is fire her up and then get my leathers on. By the time you've got your condom on, the bike is nice and warm ready to ride away!

Regards

Rich

[Vard66]

I've found a cure for my fan problem.

I just ride a bit faster.

[Wabby]

I'm agree witgh the guy above.

Myn sits around mid way at all times - Unless in traffic, where it creeps upwards.

Best way to keep it down is to ride faster!

[MillaMeter]

Hi,

I've been having some symptoms of over heating aswell. My carbs are all set up up so it can't be a weak mixture. The water was flushed and re-topped back up. Basically I only have to get to work which is what... 3 miles away? and the bike is like half way on the gauge. I've noticed that this new engine I've fitted seems to warm up pretty dam quick. I only have to get to the end of my road and the needle is out of the blue. It's not the head gasket because the water doesn't boil and over spill etc... Could it be a dodgey/sticky thermostat? Or a naffed water pump?

Regards

Rich

[masterofinsanity]

could be just a n airlock in the coolant system, have you checked the level recently?

[zimm]

Hi,

I've been having some symptoms of over heating aswell. My carbs are all set up up so it can't be a weak mixture. The water was flushed and re-topped back up. Basically I only have to get to work which is what... 3 miles away? and the bike is like half way on the gauge. I've noticed that this new engine I've fitted seems to warm up pretty dam quick. I only have to get to the end of my road and the needle is out of the blue. It's not the head gasket because the water doesn't boil and over spill etc... Could it be a dodgey/sticky thermostat? Or a naffed water pump?

Regards

Rich

warm is different to overheating mate .. stop looking for problems and just ride it

could be a mismatch between the temp sensor and the gauge, ZX4 has completely different clocks.