Joined Jun 2008
1K Posts | 98+
Simi Valley Ca.
So about a month ago I went for a ride on my 06 650. I had just replaced the waterpump seal and it was holding fine.
After making a quick stop a few miles out to gas up I noticed the overflow bottle had been filled about 6 oz.
I thought this was a little strange to heat up that quick and overflow. It never overheated except stopping after a
big hillclimb once.
So I set out to the hills and rode for a little while. After stopping and letting it cool down I saw the coolant get sucked back into the motor pretty fast. That seemed a little strange too getting pulled back into the motor fast.
I then rode more hills and set back on the highway for about 10 miles to home with a few traffic lights on the way.
When I got home my boot was covered in coolant and the front of the motor looked like coolant had come out.
I think the hill climbing had over filled the coolant bottle and overflowed because it only holds about 8oz.
Then overheated on the way home causing the head gasket to leak.
The problem I found out later was a compromised radiator cap. The sealing rubber O-ring that seats inside the radiator had created a few bubbles and let by coolant way too early. It wasn't sealing flush.
When filling back up the radiator I was missing about 20 oz. About 2/3 of my coolant. And it was leaking out the front of the head. My new waterpump seal also weeps out the weephole a little but doesnt hit the ground. Just a few drops.
The motor fires up and runs fine so no major overheating.
I then removed the rocker cover to see if I could get a torque down on the head to stop the leak before removing
the head.
I torqued the head up to 40ft lbs from the 36 in the book. The bolts were below 36ft lbs. I Put it all back together,
adjusted the valves and bled the coolant. New radiator cap 1.4 bar
Rode it around the neighborhood an didnt see any leaks except a little weephole drip. Thats ok for now.
Head gasket seemed to be holding.
Went for a ride today 60 miles fireroads and single track. Checked it several times looked ok.
After getting back there was just a few drops that had come from the front of the head again. Very little.
Not enough to hit the ground and between that and my weephole I had 1.5 ounces missing from my coolant.
Not much.
So I want to keep riding it for a while before changing the head gasket because at 112 hours I am not ready to replace the camchain yet. Im pretty sure at this point I have several clicks left.
So questions are..
Should I go a little longer and carry extra coolant with me as I did today?
Should I remove rocker cover again and go for Taffy's recommended 46ft lbs on the head bolts?
Should I replace head gasket, timing chain and any other needed parts at this time?
I do have a another bike to ride but wanted to keep riding the 06 that has lower hours.
pollo
After making a quick stop a few miles out to gas up I noticed the overflow bottle had been filled about 6 oz.
I thought this was a little strange to heat up that quick and overflow. It never overheated except stopping after a
big hillclimb once.
So I set out to the hills and rode for a little while. After stopping and letting it cool down I saw the coolant get sucked back into the motor pretty fast. That seemed a little strange too getting pulled back into the motor fast.
I then rode more hills and set back on the highway for about 10 miles to home with a few traffic lights on the way.
When I got home my boot was covered in coolant and the front of the motor looked like coolant had come out.
I think the hill climbing had over filled the coolant bottle and overflowed because it only holds about 8oz.
Then overheated on the way home causing the head gasket to leak.
The problem I found out later was a compromised radiator cap. The sealing rubber O-ring that seats inside the radiator had created a few bubbles and let by coolant way too early. It wasn't sealing flush.
When filling back up the radiator I was missing about 20 oz. About 2/3 of my coolant. And it was leaking out the front of the head. My new waterpump seal also weeps out the weephole a little but doesnt hit the ground. Just a few drops.
The motor fires up and runs fine so no major overheating.
I then removed the rocker cover to see if I could get a torque down on the head to stop the leak before removing
the head.
I torqued the head up to 40ft lbs from the 36 in the book. The bolts were below 36ft lbs. I Put it all back together,
adjusted the valves and bled the coolant. New radiator cap 1.4 bar
Rode it around the neighborhood an didnt see any leaks except a little weephole drip. Thats ok for now.
Head gasket seemed to be holding.
Went for a ride today 60 miles fireroads and single track. Checked it several times looked ok.
After getting back there was just a few drops that had come from the front of the head again. Very little.
Not enough to hit the ground and between that and my weephole I had 1.5 ounces missing from my coolant.
Not much.
So I want to keep riding it for a while before changing the head gasket because at 112 hours I am not ready to replace the camchain yet. Im pretty sure at this point I have several clicks left.
So questions are..
Should I go a little longer and carry extra coolant with me as I did today?
Should I remove rocker cover again and go for Taffy's recommended 46ft lbs on the head bolts?
Should I replace head gasket, timing chain and any other needed parts at this time?
I do have a another bike to ride but wanted to keep riding the 06 that has lower hours.
pollo
