baja 1000

[mikeypep]

I've got 20k miles on my KLR and the temp gage is acting a bit different lately. For the last 3 years it runs just below the center most of the time, regardless of the temperature, and only goes over center if I idle a lot in traffic on a warm day, over say 75F. This year I had a mishap and punched a hole in the radiator, which I patched. I also drained the system by pulling the hose off. I didn't drain the pump like the clymers says. I refilled the system and the reservoir. Now it seems to run hotter. Over 80F it is just over center and the fan kicks in when I stop, even for a light. Over 70 degrees it is right up to the top and only runs cooler below 70. Could I have a bad thermostat? Or could I have an air bubble? I check the antifreeze and its right up there.

[Richard Bessey]

Mike, I have a KLX themo and fan switch on mine, normally my KLR runs about ... 1/4 way up on the scale, just where I like it. Anyway, based on my automotive experience, I would flush out the entire system and resassemble. Is it possibly any of the patching material you used got in the system and is clogging the radiator? Happened on my Dads Ford Taurus, we ended up hooking the heater core to the garden hose and blew all of the crap out, been running fine since. Regards, Richard Bessey System Administrator Vivio Technologies mikeypep wrote:

> > I've got 20k miles on my KLR and the temp gage is acting a bit > different lately. For the last 3 years it runs just below the center > most of the time, regardless of the temperature, and only goes over > center if I idle a lot in traffic on a warm day, over say 75F. This > year I had a mishap and punched a hole in the radiator, which I > patched. I also drained the system by pulling the hose off. I didn't > drain the pump like the clymers says. I refilled the system and the > reservoir. Now it seems to run hotter. Over 80F it is just over center > and the fan kicks in when I stop, even for a light. Over 70 degrees it > is right up to the top and only runs cooler below 70. Could I have a > bad thermostat? Or could I have an air bubble? I check the antifreeze > and its right up there. > >

[Jeff Saline]

On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:35:06 -0000 "mikeypep" writes:

> I've got 20k miles on my KLR and the temp gage is acting a bit > different lately. For the last 3 years it runs just below the center > > most of the time, regardless of the temperature, and only goes over > > center if I idle a lot in traffic on a warm day, over say 75F. This > > year I had a mishap and punched a hole in the radiator, which I > patched. I also drained the system by pulling the hose off. I didn't > > drain the pump like the clymers says. I refilled the system and the > > reservoir. Now it seems to run hotter. Over 80F it is just over > center > and the fan kicks in when I stop, even for a light. Over 70 degrees > it > is right up to the top and only runs cooler below 70. Could I have a > > bad thermostat? Or could I have an air bubble? I check the > antifreeze > and its right up there.

<><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><> Mike, I can think of a couple of possible reasons for the higher temp reading. The first that comes to mind is the coolant/antifreeze ratio is high on the antifreeze side. I'd suggest you don't go past a 50/50 mix. The antifreeze will not conduct heat as well as distilled water so if you are high on the antifreeze your system may not be able to release heat as well as it could. Another reason might be the radiator repair has removed a bit of capability from the radiator depending on how it was repaired. I don't think it's a stat issue as once you get on the stat it's just open and you get full coolant flow. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Click to get 150,000 in student loans and find the lowest rates http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3m1pEPw4DSZPyD6dtQ8aME8H5oS7yJ4bQtzZy74UROpVqUD6/

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sulteck" wrote:

> > I want to complete the Baja 1000,,, not the race, but do the coarse. > It has been a life long dream of mine. Is there a group of guys like > me that get together to do the Baja? I'm a Forestry Technician from > Northern Ontario with zero desert experience. I fear nothing outside > the city limits, but would like some knowledge before I trailer my > KLR650 behind my Goldwing to Mexico. > > Is there a book, website or list that I can get info on doing this trip? >

I went to watch the last two Baja 1000s, one on my KLR. You will have a hell of a time in the silt beds on a KLR, especially loaded for camping. Check out http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=290307 That is the story of a team that competed in the 2007 Baja. I was at a remote pit for them, race mile 647 or so. About 40 miles south of Bahia de Los Angeles. Baja is beautiful. In my mind, Baja begins at San Felipe or Ensenada, the border towns are horrible, I suggest riding through there early in the day and as fast as you can. Thanks CA Stu PS If you want to ride the Baja 1000 race course, don't do it in the summer.