Running hot update

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bobhenry999
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 9:26 pm

Running hot update

Post by bobhenry999 »

All,

Just thought that I would give you an update as you have all been so kind to offer me advice on the cooling issue that I had.

I had the radiator tested at my local radiator specialists, and it had a couple of leaks, so they have sent it away to be re-cored as they couldn`t do it themselves as it is aluminium. In the meantime I have fitted one of the £60.00 aftermarket ones bought on E-Bay (See my comment below) along with a new radiator cap, thermostat and the 2 hoses that come from the expansion tank to the filler neck. I also took the opportunity to replace the main hoses with silicone ones, and then flushed the block out thoroughly. Once the original radiator is back I will put it back on as I want the bike to look as it should.

Started it up today and let it come up to temperature on the driveway and the gauge slowly went up to the middle and stayed there. I took it for a spin and it`s perfectly fine. I did some miles around town, in traffic, along with a cruise along a main A road at 55-60mph (Where it used to get hot) and the needle stayed around the middle mark and there are no leaks from the hoses or the head/barrel joint, so it looks as though I have been lucky and the problem is solved.

If any of you are thinking of getting one of the £60.00 radiators on E-bay, be warned that the plastic radiator guard won`t fit on them because the holes are in the wrong place, and are so far out of place that you couldn`t even file them a bit to get the guard to fit.

Thanks again for all of your help and advice, what a great forum.

Bob
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Alan H
Posts: 12104
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:38 am
Location: Wombwell, Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: Running hot update

Post by Alan H »

There's been one on my Hippo for years and it's certainly been ok while I've had it. A few thousand miles now.
Proof that four strokes are over complicated
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stevewharton
Posts: 2150
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:01 am
Location: Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Re: Running hot update

Post by stevewharton »

Had one on mine for a couple of years and several thousand miles now, after being unable to successfully flush the original blocked rad'. Very impressed with the £60 replacement and still can't understand how such a well made quality item can be bought so cheaply. Also impressed with the superior cooling and apparently better running engine, probably due to the rad's much larger capacity. Didn't have a problem fitting the plastic guard though, simply drilled new holes in the brackets and with a few spacer washers between the guard and brackets, job sorted. Did paint the guard black though to get the silver/black contrast reversed :D
HTH. Steve W.
Look, my paintwork hasn't got "Fish scales" :x they're "Dragon scales" right!!! However, after some thought, I will accept "Black Marlin" or "Swordfish", but definitely not "Haddock" or "Cod".
Davidcumbria
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 10:13 pm

Re: Running hot update

Post by Davidcumbria »

Just fitted the eBay rad to mine. Turns out I didn't need to becuase my running hot is just a misindication when tested against a digital cooking thermometer. There is no easy way to modify the brackets on mine so I used some carefully disguised zip ties through the shield and bracket holes and it doesn't look too bad. Also I had to chop a short length off the top filler pipe so the radiator would fit on the bike - I could see it had been manufactured wrong by comparing with original. Will be refitting the original at some point but for 60 quid you can't complain.
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Alan H
Posts: 12104
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:38 am
Location: Wombwell, Republic of South Yorkshire

Re: Running hot update

Post by Alan H »

I wouldn't use tyraps to hold anything structural or heavy. Make some brackets. The new rad will do a better job anyway, but make sure all the system is flushed, the old rad will be partially bunged up, I'm sure.
Proof that four strokes are over complicated
Davidcumbria
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 10:13 pm

Re: Running hot update

Post by Davidcumbria »

Plastic rad shield is neither structural or heavy but I agree some little brackets probably best as long term solution to bridge gap between shield and rad mountings. I needed to get rad protected for a few hundred imminent miles at kettle rally. Brackets Wouldn't look great or original though and I am going to retry the old rad. Indications didn't really change much with new rad so Iam guessing old rad flushed when rebuilt 1500 miles back. Getting expert at this job now !
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