Radiator Overflow Spewing Smoke

[CAMDIDDY]

Hello, I have an 01' 426. I havent ridden it in a couple monthes, and started it up today. After letting it idle for about 10 min. The radiator overflow hose started shooting out coolant. Then it started shooting out white smoke and whistling. I immediately shut it off. It dumped out some serious stuff though. Any idea what might be causing this? Im a newb so any help is appreciated. thanks.

[ForsheeMS]

Allowing a 4 stroke to idle for more than a couple minutes will cause it to overheat and boil out the coolant. Try topping off the radiators with more coolant and see what happens. If it doesn't boil over you should be fine. If it's still puking coolant you probably have a blown head gasket. Generally 2 to 3 minutes idling and it's at operating temperature.

[MIKE ANIMAL]

have you let it run like that befor. i have seen some over heat from no air flow through the radiators. if you have. you need to remove water pump cover. grab hold of the pump blades. liteley push kick start down. one full spin of of the blades. and dose not stop spining. to insure pump is working correctly. if all is ok. next is head gasket.this one can be trickey. it can compress air in to the radiators and force water out of over flow. or send water in to exhaust pipe. out come. lack of water. in radiators.

[CAMDIDDY]

Allowing a 4 stroke to idle for more than a couple minutes will cause it to overheat and boil out the coolant.

Yeah this happened after I let it idle for about 10 min. So why doesnt the coolant boil when the bike is in gear and moving? whats the difference?

have you let it run like that befor. i have seen some over heat from no air flow through the radiators. if you have. you need to remove water pump cover. grab hold of the pump blades. liteley push kick start down. one full spin of of the blades. and dose not stop spining. to insure pump is working correctly. if all is ok. next is head gasket.this one can be trickey. it can compress air in to the radiators and force water out of over flow. or send water in to exhaust pipe. out come. lack of water. in radiators.

this is the first time Ive let it idle that long. I hope ForsheeMS is correct and I just let it idle to long. im not experienced enough to replace the head gasket.

Do these bikes use a special coolant or will any automotive 50/50 work? like the stuff i put in my truck?

Edited November 28, 2009 by CAMDIDDY

[MIKE ANIMAL]

Yeah this happened after I let it idle for about 10 min. So why doesnt the coolant boil when the bike is in gear and moving? whats the difference?

this is the first time Ive let it idle that long. I hope ForsheeMS is correct and I just let it idle to long. im not experienced enough to replace the head gasket.

Do these bikes use a special coolant or will any automotive 50/50 work? like the stuff i put in my truck?

50/50 is fine. if it is the head gasket dont worry. some one will walk you through it. lots of people on tt willing to help.

[grayracer513]

Yeah this happened after I let it idle for about 10 min. So why doesnt the coolant boil when the bike is in gear and moving? whats the difference?

Air flowing over the radiators is the difference.

[mxrayser]

idle it a couple minutes then ride. You need to do a minimum of 12 MPH to keep enough air across the rad. you just got it too hot. Top it off, and ride!!

[waipuk78]

mine has had a new water pump and all sorts before i bought it and then wasn't riden in about three months we did a top end rebuild and when i was riding it in noticed a heap of coolant on my boot over about 4 hours of riding we have put about 2 litres of coolant back in have had head and gasket check and was told they are all ok seems to start overheating after only about 2-3 mins of running any ideas?

[Wes Woodin]

Hello, I have an 01' 426. I havent ridden it in a couple monthes, and started it up today. After letting it idle for about 10 min. The radiator overflow hose started shooting out coolant. Then it started shooting out white smoke and whistling. I immediately shut it off. It dumped out some serious stuff though. Any idea what might be causing this? Im a newb so any help is appreciated. thanks.

Don't let it idle for 10 min. 2 min @max