Overheating Help

So I took my 2007 TE450 out to Ocotillo Wells this weekend. The first day I was on a ride to Soops. I have a trailtech vapor computer on the bike that has an inline radiator temp sensor. As I was taking off on the ride, I noticed it was not working, but I decided that I would fix it when I got back.

We were traveling at about 40-50mph along the pole line road, so airflow shouldn't have been an issue. We stopped for a minute to let everyone catch up, and I looked down and saw coolant spilled over the chain and rear shock of my bike. I got off the bike and took my helmet off and then I could hear the radiators boiling. Upon further inspection, I could see that the fluid had come out the reservoir cap.

I took the tank off, and inspected all hoses and lines, as well as the radiators, and there were no leaks. No fluid was coming out of anywhere else except the reservoir cap. The engine was HOT. Part of the sheath that wraps around my wiring harness, that was touching the chain tensor screw melted. After I heard the radiators stop boiling, I waited a while longer and took the radiator cap off. The fluid looked clear blue (I run Engine Ice) and was full to the top. The oil through the sight glass looked fine, not milky or foamy. It was filled to the correct level. After trying to troubleshoot this on the trail, I decided that it may be the water pump, but I started the bike with the rad cap removed, and I could see the fluid moving. I revved the bike a bit and it started to pump more, so I don't think it was the water pump. I got the Temp sensor working and decided to limp it back.

I got the bike back to camp without it going over 180 F. I topped everything off with coolant (radiators and reservoir) and took it for a ride that night. In the evening It seemed to run fine, and only got over 200 F once, but for the outside temp and the speed we were riding at, that seems higher than normal.

The next day was really windy and a little cold. We went on a 40 mile ride and once again the bike ran fine and only got over 200 F twice, but never more than 220 F. But once again I feel like that was hot for the conditions. Good speed and plenty of wind and a little cold.

I kept feeling the clutch cover on my bike against some of the other 4 stroke bikes and there was a significant difference in temp from my bike and the others. My bike still felt hot.

I still have not figured out the problem and am looking for ideas and some help on what to trouble shoot, and how to test this. With the Baja ride coming up I don't want to be stranded down in Mexico. The bike has never had this problem before, and I didn't do anything recently to the engine or radiators.

Please help! Thanks!

-Blake

i had a similar problem but with a sportsman 500 fourwheeler and i was reading in the winter time temps in NY...i cleaned the radiator and thought i did a good job and everyone kept telling to i didnt clean it good enough without even looking at my radiator and i didnt believe them so i took my radiator right off and took the fan off and it was still really dirty..it looked clean but after seriously looking at it there were a few spots were dirt was plugging the radiator causing it to over heat....maybe u have a similar problem

Thanks for that. I will make sure to look really closely at that tonight, and report back what I find.

Once my hot start was out just a tad after using the choke. It ran almost the same but ran hot/idled low. I caught it after scratching my head wondering what I did...

I have the same bike.

Maybe you have something causing a lean condition somehow? (kinda along the lines of the hot start idea)

Good luck

Blake,

Have you checked the rubber carb-intake manifold boot for cracks that could cause a lean condition?

overheat

check your jetting.

Does your TE have the radiator fan and temp. switch in the back of the cylinder next to the intake manifold?
If not, maybe you can buy the OEM fan and just switch it on manually when the Vapor shows hi temps.

dave

Did you resolve your overheating problem?

dave

Not sure. I cleaned the Rad's really good. Checked for any lean situations (the rubber carb boot & the decomp lever) Everything looks good. Bike runs fine, and driving around the neighborhood seems not to overheat. Guess we'll see how it does down in Baja. Good news is that if anything happens, I have a bunch of guys down there who know Husky's and how to fix them, especially Mike and George!

-Blake

So I changed my oil tonight (first time after I was having this issue) and found that I put the small oil filter (allan head) in backwards. I believe this had a LOT to do with the overheating problem. Not sure thought but I think that was restricting oil flow through the engine. I guess that's what happens when I don't pay attention when changing oil. We'll see if that solved the problem this weekend.

Oh my! If the motor was overheating because of restricted oil flow and survived several rides including 2 days in Baja, wow what a testament to this engine design! Though I wish the smaller bag filter would only go in one way.

A call to George is in order to find out what parts would have been starved for oil. Just to know what to listen for and perhaps replace proactively.