Radiator boiled over

[roadhawg]

Bike week, going down Main Street, Daytona, much standing in traffic, smoke coming from bottom, fluid leaking out overflow hose! Pulled over, let bike cool down maybe 15 minutes, checked the fuse, bike running fine but I don’t hear the fan come on. Topped off coolant level, it didn’t take much, and rode the 85 miles home, no problem. Plan now is to test fan to see if it’s ok, and drain radiator and refill with Engine Ice. Any other suggestions,
advice appreciated!

[recumbentbob]

Engine Ice coolant is great.
It's probably the fan, when was the last time the coolant was changed?

If you want to flush the system use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water.
From Gadget's page:
Go to your local grocery store and buy "White Distilled Vinegar" and mix that 50/50 with some distilled water.
Fill the system with the 50/50 mix, run the bike until warm, let cool, drain and then run clear water through to wash out the vinegar. It's the same idea as cleaning your coffee maker. The vinegar is acidic enough to remove any scale or impurities, but not so harsh that it will harm your delicate seals and gaskets.

[recumbentbob]

One other thing to check is the radiator cap. My 07 nomad overheated and boiled over and it was the radiator cap; it was weak and not keeping the system pressurized.

[Spondulas]

Probably either a loose electrical connection or a blown fuse for the fan.

After you've fixed the problem, take the garden hose with spray nozzle and spray it through the backside of the radiator (toward the front wheel). You'll likely be amazed at the amount of dirt, grit and dead bugs that were blocking the radiator. air passages and reducing the air flow. Don't spray from the front or you'll drive the crud deeper into the radiator fins.

I do this to all my cars, trucks and bikes and have never had an overheating problem.

[roadhawg]

Update
Drained radiator, put engine ice in, checked fan with jumper wire, fan ok, when i idle bike fan wont come on. Had some fluid come out of cap, so i am thinking my cap is bad . and most likely the switch?

[MAS Tequila]

I put a toggle switch in my Nomad that would kick the fan on
if I was in bad traffic on a hot south FL day.

[roadhawg]

Hey great idea MT ! A toggle switch, yes, you dont need the fan on open road, only in stop and go traffic.

[DragonLady58]

MAS has a great idea....As I run a complete seperate system that shadows the origional cooling system.
The cooling systems on these bikes, while they work great, is marginal. Engine Ice, water wetter, and others are good, make sure they are compatible with your coolant. I have a temp. gauge in my fairing, I also have a led that lets me know when the fan comes on. The over-ride switch is great when caught in heavy traffic, or when a accident occurrs.
These bikes cooling systems are very marginal, so anything that helps with cooling is a +....
Its good to replace your radiator cap every 3 to 4 years, like when you change your coolant.
I have a secondary fan system that allows mine to come on alot earlier. I have mine set to come on at about 175 to 185. It really helps....
Coolant change every 3-4 years with cap. Flush cooling system every 3rd cool. chng. Replace hoses every 6 to 7 years....

[roadhawg]

When i drained radiator it looked very clean , no dirty rust, so i just ran clean water thru it then a full bottle of engine ice, it only holds 2.4 quarts, so im running all engine ice, no other coolant, my Clymer manual said not to use anything with silicates in it.

[roadhawg]

All hoses look good
Would like to know more about adding a temperature gauge?

[DragonLady58]

Well, Gadgets site has a nice little write up on how to install a gauge set.
On the temp. gauge, I use a Moroso lower rad. hose block, which has temp. probe hole, mine was rather long, threw it into a lathe, turned the nipple ends back towards the holes. Summit carries one for metric cars that look slighntly better.
Anyway, the rest is like a normal gauge hookup. I had to cut about 3" out of the hose, about 4" from the water pump....

[Bud2rat]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

I put a toggle switch in my Nomad that would kick the fan on
if I was in bad traffic on a hot south FL day.

+1 on the switch. I was in the mountains of NC when mine started overheating while caught in traffic. I straight wired, installed switch until I got home and repaired. Left the switch installed encase it ever happens again.