2006 yz450f where is my coolent going

[Mike Martel]

I recently had the weep hole problem on water pump. replaced shaft bearing and seals. now doesn't leak out the weep hole but If I ride for 10 15 minutes the fluid is well below the radiotor coils. My oil seems to be ok, not milky. I don't see anything coming out the overflow when I stop riding.

Where the hell is the fluid going? blown head gasket?

bike starts up 3rd kick or so every time, idles for 2 seconds and shuts off. I kick it again fires on first kick same thing. third time it fires first kick and will idle ok for the rest of the day. The bike does not seem to have lost any power and runs pretty darn good but gets hot. the engine clutch cover is hot to touch in about 5 minutes of idling, hotter than I remeber it getting before the weep hole problem.

[byggd]

How does the plug look? Does it look "boiled" clean?

[Mike Martel]

that is a good question, I think the plug is about 2 years old. I will take a look. Would that be the cause of starting and then cutting off the first 2 times it turns over or do you think the plug is drinking the coolent?

[Col Psoas]

Does your exhaust smell sweet? any white smoke? That could be a sign its getting in to the combustion chamber via head gasket for example

[Mike Martel]

Does your exhaust smell sweet? any white smoke? That could be a sign its getting in to the combustion chamber via head gasket for example

I haven't smelled around the exhaust I have limited brain cells left can't chance loosing any more. I have had several people that were riding behind me say they smell radiator fluid or something. I am going to take a look at the plug. The bike did overheat when I first got it. (was use to 2 strokes and never needed to add fluid in new bikes) it actually melted the coil that fits over the spark plug. I had warranty at the time so they replaced it and said everything else checks out:smirk:. I ride in tight woods in florida, the yzf is probably not the best bike for this.

I am going back to a yz250 smoker for my next bike.

[Mike Martel]

just took the top end apart:

spark plug looked light brown as it should but was real rusty around the bolt, old.

1st I could possibly be the worst mechanic ever. The little retainer clip that fits over the intake cam came off and got bent up and pined against the inside of the middle of the head. It didn't seem to hurt anything to bad,scratched the underside of the bracket that holds the cam in. how long and how it even ran like that I don't know?

2nd The exhaust valves are white looking on the under side of the head. the intake valves are black. Does that mean my head gasket was blown?

The head gasket seems to be 3 gaskets pressed together because mine came apart in 3 seperate peices but didn't seem to have any tears or rips across it just seperated into 3 parts.

[mach1jonny]

Did you buy this new or was it used when you got it? The reason I ask is that it could have a crack in the cyclinder. The black on the intake valves is from an overly rich mixture, as in someone dialed it rich so it would start. I think I would do a leak down test.

[miweber929]

Without seeing it I would hazard a guess that what you are seeing as far as color goes is normal sounding.

Basically goes like this: what's the last thing you did, even small, before it started acting up? Waterpump

Can that effect the issue you are now having? Yup, you are missing coolant on the system you just worked on.

How do I fix it? What could I have done? From the last post of your mechanical luck, I'd say you missed something or put a seal in backwards or something similar. I'd REALLY watch the oil and maybe drain it as it's the logical place for it to go with a waterpump and peer g down a hole or looking at a dipstick really won't tell you much.

My advice is go back through the waterpump replacement to be sure. I think that may be the issue.

Was it a new pump? Just curious.

[Mike Martel]

I am the only owner of this bike. I bought it bran new in 2006.

The bike was running fine just started leaking out the water pump weep hole. I didn't notice and it got hot to the point the engine started making a knocking sound if you opened the throttle past 1/4 throttle (babied it back to the truck). I replaced all the water pump parts and the weep hole problem has gone away. I drained the oil it looked ok. Maybe a little tiney swirl of white color.

It is time for a new top end any way so I ordered all piston rings and gaskets. I got the head off the bike now.

Grayracer mentioned the seels so I was carefull to put them back in as the manual states. I don't doubt it is something I did to it, overheated, or my mechanical skills are about as good as my spelling skills.

Yes it is a boysen high flow water pump cover and impeller. It has been on the bike for about 2 years.

[Col Psoas]

if a motor gets Way too hot you can have things warp and that could cause problems in the head... but it doesn't sound like thats the case.

You can *usually* see if the gaskets were letting it leak into the combustion chamber... just think if its a pinhole sized leak you're not going to be losing a significant amount of coolant, if its big enough to lose much you're going to see it.

I'd normally say check seals but I trust you when you said they're right (of course) Sorry I really don't have an obvious answer. the black on intake sounds like rich to me, the white on exhaust sounds like you've been burning coolant. If the gasket it cheap you could just replace it with a new one and see if that fixes it...

[Robert Baldwin]

It may sound simple (which is where I usually start) Did you look for leaks in the radiators and hoses ?

I small pin hole can leak a LOT of fluid when under pressure.

[Mike Martel]

thanks for the advise. The last thing I need to worry about is my dirt bike working(riding keeps me sain). I have opened up the ebay flood gates and am selling all the extra IT equipment, work out equipment, and street bike parts I got. I am going to redo the top end: Gaskets, piston, rings, hoses, radiator cap(already replace waterpump stuff). just spent an hour and a half and 8 beers removing my exhaust and the post that holds the header on that stripped out. Besides the counter balancer baring that could be bad and cause the weep hole leak again per gray racers post is there anything else besides a warped or cracked head that could cause this issue.

Tomorrow is going to be the 00 KTM 300 while my girl sits in the garage waiting for parts.

Funny how the bike that is 6 years older is still running like a champ.

Maybe they were on to something with the 2 strokes!

[byggd]

thanks for the advise. The last thing I need to worry about is my dirt bike working(riding keeps me sain). I have opened up the ebay flood gates and am selling all the extra IT equipment, work out equipment, and street bike parts I got. I am going to redo the top end: Gaskets, piston, rings, hoses, radiator cap(already replace waterpump stuff). just spent an hour and a half and 8 beers removing my exhaust and the post that holds the header on that stripped out. Besides the counter balancer baring that could be bad and cause the weep hole leak again per gray racers post is there anything else besides a warped or cracked head that could cause this issue.

Tomorrow is going to be the 00 KTM 300 while my girl sits in the garage waiting for parts.

Funny how the bike that is 6 years older is still running like a champ.

Maybe they were on to something with the 2 strokes!

You mean to say you consume alcoholic beverages while working on your bike? ?

[Col Psoas]

You mean to say you consume alcoholic beverages while working on your bike? ?

I don't know why not! haha

[Mike Martel]

I don't know why not! haha

maybe because I forget to make sure all the little pieces and parts are installed right, attention to detail fails. Without it I would of tried for 5 minutes and said f it. Alcohol doesn't help your mind or reflexes just your bizals!

I am half English, I like beer.?

[byggd]

maybe because I forget to make sure all the little pieces and parts are installed right, attention to detail fails. Without it I would of tried for 5 minutes and said f it. Alcohol doesn't help your mind or reflexes just your bizals!

I am half English, I like beer.?

I was .... of course ...... joking :busted:

[Mike Martel]

if a motor gets Way too hot you can have things warp and that could cause problems in the head... but it doesn't sound like thats the case.

You can *usually* see if the gaskets were letting it leak into the combustion chamber... just think if its a pinhole sized leak you're not going to be losing a significant amount of coolant, if its big enough to lose much you're going to see it.

I'd normally say check seals but I trust you when you said they're right (of course) Sorry I really don't have an obvious answer. the black on intake sounds like rich to me, the white on exhaust sounds like you've been burning coolant. If the gasket it cheap you could just replace it with a new one and see if that fixes it...

? got that out of the way, it's cooked. seems that the exhaust side of the head or cam holding bracket is warped. If I tork down the bracket per manual the exhaust cam will not turn. This friction was causing the engine to heat up and blow all my radiator fluid out the overflow. The entire exhaust side of the head has a gold tint to it. With the barring side of the cam torked to spec I can loosen the oposite side and the thing turns like it should. intake side turns fine when torked. Unfortunately it looks like your first statement was right.

?:foul: I am going to buy some beer and get started on my new hobby, drinking!