It's obvious, but still gonna ask

That's one of the reasons to be associated with DBA is I feel I can ask "roll your eyes" kinds of questions. So here it is......
I started my bike just now (just so happy that it starts now & Love how good it sounds), the Temp is 76 degrees and I left it running for about 5 minutes. I came outside and went back to it and noticed it started leaking from looks to be the overflow....so I shut her down. It stopped leaking.
So my question/assumption is, since it has electric fan which means it's air cooled but still has a radiator, it will start to overheat if the radiator doesn't have air movement ? I never saw the leak the whole time while riding last weekend. Thx. 03 YZ450
 

SRAD97750

Moderator
Staff member
It is coolant right? Not fuel or anything like that?
It should take longer than 5 minutes to reach operating temperatures in the coolant system.
Radiator caps go bad slowly. It will leak more and more at lower and lower temperatures/pressures.
I would get a NEW one and see if the bike pukes anymore. -BIG DAN:thumb:
 
YZ's don't have fans stock.
You were probably getting coolant out of the radiator over flow, Especially if you left the bike sitting with the choke (higher idle speed) it could potentially heat up quite a bit more than it normally would during that 5 minutes. I have never timed how long I leave my bikes in idle, I avoid it for the plain and simple reason that the radiators need air passing through them in order to cool properly. This is not to say that theres not something wrong with the jetting or potentially the cooling system (bent/twisted low flow, water pump, water pump seal, head gasket, radiator cap) but I wouldn't immediately be alarmed by it.
 
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Correct, it is coolant. Went out there again and started inspecting the hose since it is cooled down, because I noticed the coolant was dripping "down" the hose and not inside. So I pulled it up and out in the open and noticed the reason why it is dripping on the outside. The head pipe (is that correct? The 1st pipe directly out is called the head pipe?) was melting the hose because it was too close, so I moved it to be more visible and rolled it out front. Started it again (Love that it starts right away btw lol) and let it run. While getting the 8 mm out and removing the seat to inspect the filter to see how dirty approx. 2 - 3 hrs hours would make it and installing the seat back, it started leaking again.
I am gonna take your advice and get a new cap. What size ? I trust you more than the local Ride Now, lol and want to see if they get it right...lol.
Thx for the response !
 
YZ's don't have fans stock.
You were probably getting coolant out of the radiator over flow, Especially if you left the bike sitting with the choke (higher idle speed) it could potentially heat up quite a bit more than it normally would during that 5 minutes. I have never timed how long I leave my bikes in idle, I avoid it for the plain and simple reason that the radiators need air passing through them in order to cool properly. This is not to say that theres not something wrong with the jetting or potentially the cooling system (bent/twisted low flow, water pump, water pump seal, head gasket, radiator cap) but I wouldn't immediately be alarmed by it.
Thx for the response ! That's what I figured about the air flow through the radiator....:thumb:
 
Correct, it is coolant. Went out there again and started inspecting the hose since it is cooled down, because I noticed the coolant was dripping "down" the hose and not inside. So I pulled it up and out in the open and noticed the reason why it is dripping on the outside. The head pipe (is that correct? The 1st pipe directly out is called the head pipe?) was melting the hose because it was too close, so I moved it to be more visible and rolled it out front. Started it again (Love that it starts right away btw lol) and let it run. While getting the 8 mm out and removing the seat to inspect the filter to see how dirty approx. 2 - 3 hrs hours would make it and installing the seat back, it started leaking again.
I am gonna take your advice and get a new cap. What size ? I trust you more than the local Ride Now, lol and want to see if they get it right...lol.
Thx for the response !
OEM or this
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/917/31855/Tusk-1.6-High-Pressure-Radiator-Cap?term=radiator cap
or this
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/917/31854/CV4-High-Pressure-Radiator-Cap?term=radiator cap
or this
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/917/38700/Mylers-High-Pressure-Radiator-Cap?term=radiator cap
 
If you take the cap to a NAPA, autozone, etc you can get a good cap cheaply if you can find a partsman that is willing to look. You can get different pressure relief specs in them, and if you trail ride slow you may like something in the 1.6 range.
 
Besides replacing the cap and a radiator flush, big motocross bikes need to breath. You can not let them sit there and idle or they will over heat and start puking rad fluid. You will even see them start puking fluid on slow trail rides if you are not getting enough air to pass through the Rads.
:ride:
 
Besides replacing the cap and a radiator flush, big motocross bikes need to breath. You can not let them sit there and idle or they will over heat and start puking rad fluid. You will even see them start puking fluid on slow trail rides if you are not getting enough air to pass through the Rads.
:ride:

I hope Palmer doesnt see this...you said overheat

LOL and "idle" too.

Gee, word search Palmer and/or Ass and there I am! Good stuff guys. Let them bikes idle and overheat, it's good for your bike to run over 200 degrees.
You could always just take your wife's bike and dunk it in a waterfall to keep it cooled off.
Let her idle guys and gals, it is good for the longevity of your bike.
It's like roasting Pig, never going to get all the worms out unless that pig is good and hot.
 
I already told you guys in another thread, I have six kids because I let her idle, should I have just pulled it out and spread the kids on the sheets? Hey, the end is near, last one is 18 on the 15th of May. :banana:
Must be why I have that aversion, little to late I guess.
I'm just fucking with you Mike, ask Pat! :P
I don't even own motorcycles, I'm just a troll that 2 smoke hasn't plunked yet. :wave:
 
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