Coolant sporadically spurting out overflow...

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TommyM

Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
5
Went for a ride on my FE450E in the bush for the first time on Sunday. Blown away by the performance and handling- much better than my Honda XR owned previously.

Had been riding for about 30 min when my mate noticed that coolant was flooding violently out of the overflow pipe. Immediately turned bike off and it continued for about a minute. Engine didn't seem too hot, but let it cool down totally before topping up with water from my Camelback. Took about 400ml I reckon. Then came thing happened about 30 min later.

Is this the radiator cap failing?? I just bought the bike so wasn't sure if maybe the coolant had been overfilled previously... THere's no overflow can on the bike, so it just pisses out onto the floor. Is this normal?!

Cheers, Tom
 
You may consider replacing the radiator cap. Replenish the coolant and bleed the system properly. There is an air bleed screw on the right side of the head.
If the problem persists, I would recommend a fan kit.
 
Thanks. I'll give that a try. Should the coolant level come up to just below the cap?? If I do replace the cap, is it worth getting a higher pressure version? Or will this lead to different problems? Cheers in advance
 
You want the coolant about 10mm above the core. You need to leave room for expansion.
I think the new cap will be an updated cap.
 
It's not overheating--you have the coolant level too high. Like you said, there is no overflow bottle. The proper level is coolant just covering the fins when the bike is level. This gives the coolant room for expansion when it gets hot.

Just for grins, make sure the air is bled out of the system. The bleed screw is on the top right side of the cylinder head. Crack it open until you get a stream of coolant flowing, then retighten. Set your coolant level as above, and I bet your problem will be cured.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see with Husabergs and KTMs--riders thinking they are overheating when they simply are running too high of a coolant level.

Edit: Berger beat me to the answer by being more direct!!
 
I highly recommend an overflow bottle. My radiator used to boil over all the time. I have also watched two of my friends' Bergs boil over. I suspect it has something to do with the Southern Nevada desert where it can get up to 115 degrees or so (around 45 Celsius). I installed an overflow bottle that holds about a cup of fluid. I have not had to add coolant since I installed the bottle.
 
welcome to UHE fellow bergite!

where are you from Tommy? can you put the area and model of bike in your nik and signature sometime please?

there is the chance that the headgasket has gone. the best way to find out is to fill it to the brim and run it up. you will find the tinniest amount of air bubbles finding their way to the cap.

don't look at me that way lads!

at least after this test he will know!

also start it up and feel the radiator and hoses to 'sense' whether the waterpump is working well.

otherwise the advice above is on the money.

regards

Taffy
 
Blasting 400mls out the overflow isn't over filling.
It's fuggin hot and boiling.
If you ride slow single track they get hot and boil.
Do what the boys say - good fresh coolant, don't overfill and bleed the air.
BTW the bleed screw only appeared on 04+.
I fitted an overflow bottle from a Yami WR under the right side rear guard on mine - works great.
It fits so good I swear it was made as a Berg OE part. Drilled 2 holes to mount it.

Coops
 
I agree. 400ml is a large part of the coolant and even more than I would hope to lose riding with the radiator cap completely removed! From what you say it was not so hot as to boil the coolant anyway.

Adding to Taff's sugestion, does it only blow after a bit of high-load high throttle? When it does blow is what comes out frothy as if having gas spurted into it? Does the inside of the radiator and under the cap look discoloured like it has rusty stuff in the water? Does it smell like good clean coolant or does it smell burnt? Can you nurse it at lower throttle openings & not have it blow?

If it does the combustion is blowing past the head gasket under high pressure, probably due to the head bolt pre-tension too low. At low throttle the pressure is not enough to lift the head off the gasket.

If it has leaked, simply re-tensioning the head studs is not likely to fix it reliably, but it will help tell if they are loose. I 'd still pull the head off.

I nursed a previous Husky for 2500 km once on a ride with the overflow pipe strapped to the handlebar so I coud tell exactly when this was happening. Up to about 1/3 throttle it was fine. Strangely after lots of problems it was the stator that finally stopped it - not the head gasket, collapsed wheel bearings, busted frame, shorted electrics, blocked carburettor or bent exhaust valves!!
 
I would like to mention one similar problem I saw on a friends FE550. The problem turned out to be an uneven seating surface in the radiator where the cap seals down in it. I used a 3/8" ratchet extension and a wood mallet to gently knock down the raised area. This was on a relatively new 2005 550, and apparently came from the manufacturer that way. It has held since the repair.
 
BundyBear said:
... does it only blow after a bit of high-load high throttle? When it does blow is what comes out frothy as if having gas spurted into it? Does the inside of the radiator and under the cap look discoloured like it has rusty stuff in the water? Does it smell like good clean coolant or does it smell burnt? Can you nurse it at lower throttle openings & not have it blow? !
Click to expand...

It only came out when the bike was stopped and I think had turned engine off. Certainly didn't notice it otherwise. Couldn't be certain, but pretty sure it didn't happen while moving. Coolant was certainly a bit frothy. Smelled like... hot coolant?? Didn't notice any oil-looking slicks in it so hopefully head gasket is intact :-/ No rust in the radiator
 
PS Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm in the middle of exams at the moment so don't have a chance to get onto it, but rest assured I will asap and get back to you with the results!

Cheers, Tom
 
well tom, as you are in the middle of exams i won't tell you that i'm 100% now that it is the head gasket.

can't be putting you off your stroke now can we?

regards

Taffy
 

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