RLW
Husqvarna
AA Class
Little event history first:
During our Idaho Trail Machine State Ride in July, I washed out on a rocky trail, guard protected radiator slammed hard into rocks.
Bent it all back to the water pump smashing a small section of radiator from the backside and put a small slice in lower hose.
Without really looking, got up, attempted to pull radiator back out a bit and take off down the trail. Coolant quickly sprayed everywhere.....I use Engine Ice and gee, no Engine Ice dealer on the trail at 7500ft, so after near worthless tape job on hose, in goes the drinking water to top it off and I limped back to camp.
(FYI: many wraps of electrical tape will only slow tiny hose leak....now pack a roll of radiator repair tape, which slows to a small drip just in case)
On the ride out I dead engine coasted where I could to keep water in and heat down.
(actually kind of fun coasting down single track at 15-18mph....& almost run into a wolf doing so)
Once back at camp was able to find some heater hose and auto antifreeze, some of the guys use, and water flow thru tanks appeared good, so it keep me riding the next two days.
During that time I learned that our coolant overflow tanks work pretty much like a car. When it gets hot it blows out to overflow tank, on cooling sucks it right back up and gurgles when empty as if asking for a drink (which it got my water again)......but when it blows too much out, that very hot fluid sprays out the overflow tank vent like Old Faithful right on the inside of your leg......real attention getter. I quickly learned how to stop on our tight single track with my left leg up over the bar.
My bike boiled over several more times during the those 2 days, which is very unusual for this bike
Now the Problem/Concern:
Since replacing radiator, hose and refilling w/Engine Ice, I've been on two, more or less advanced mtn trail rides and the bike is boiling over.....again - not typical for this bike, and has not done that before on these trails. Most I ever needing in the past was an ounce or two in the recovery tank
My initial fear was a blown water jacket seal in the head gasket, but no coolant in oil, no oil in coolant, clean plug, clean pipe and bike runs great, except for the boil overs happening too quickly once on slow single track.
I'm now thinking it's not getting that hot and after a couple years and extra abuse it took on the State Ride, that my stock radiator cap has weakened and blowing off at low pressure.........anyway I have order a new CV4 20psi (1.4) cap.
Thoughts??
During our Idaho Trail Machine State Ride in July, I washed out on a rocky trail, guard protected radiator slammed hard into rocks.
Bent it all back to the water pump smashing a small section of radiator from the backside and put a small slice in lower hose.
Without really looking, got up, attempted to pull radiator back out a bit and take off down the trail. Coolant quickly sprayed everywhere.....I use Engine Ice and gee, no Engine Ice dealer on the trail at 7500ft, so after near worthless tape job on hose, in goes the drinking water to top it off and I limped back to camp.
(FYI: many wraps of electrical tape will only slow tiny hose leak....now pack a roll of radiator repair tape, which slows to a small drip just in case)
On the ride out I dead engine coasted where I could to keep water in and heat down.
(actually kind of fun coasting down single track at 15-18mph....& almost run into a wolf doing so)
Once back at camp was able to find some heater hose and auto antifreeze, some of the guys use, and water flow thru tanks appeared good, so it keep me riding the next two days.
During that time I learned that our coolant overflow tanks work pretty much like a car. When it gets hot it blows out to overflow tank, on cooling sucks it right back up and gurgles when empty as if asking for a drink (which it got my water again)......but when it blows too much out, that very hot fluid sprays out the overflow tank vent like Old Faithful right on the inside of your leg......real attention getter. I quickly learned how to stop on our tight single track with my left leg up over the bar.
My bike boiled over several more times during the those 2 days, which is very unusual for this bike
Now the Problem/Concern:
Since replacing radiator, hose and refilling w/Engine Ice, I've been on two, more or less advanced mtn trail rides and the bike is boiling over.....again - not typical for this bike, and has not done that before on these trails. Most I ever needing in the past was an ounce or two in the recovery tank
My initial fear was a blown water jacket seal in the head gasket, but no coolant in oil, no oil in coolant, clean plug, clean pipe and bike runs great, except for the boil overs happening too quickly once on slow single track.
I'm now thinking it's not getting that hot and after a couple years and extra abuse it took on the State Ride, that my stock radiator cap has weakened and blowing off at low pressure.........anyway I have order a new CV4 20psi (1.4) cap.
Thoughts??
