Doddy Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) ISSUE: overheating THINGS I'VE CHECKED: Jetting - OK Impeller - OK Drive Gear - OK Leak Down - OK And the Novel: The last couple times I took the Banshee out it has started overheating within 10 minutes of riding. It jumps up to 205-210 and I have to shut it down. It will cool down slightly to about 195 -200 if I am just cruising along the beach but as soon as I hit the powerband it jumps right back up again. It has only been about 75 out and I have not really ridden it hard (no tree shots or drag racing) so there is no reason it should be that hot from normal riding conditions. I took the bike back to camp and checked the coolant and it was pretty low, so I filled it back up with Water Wetter which is what I always run and went back out. It immediately started overheating and spitting an excessive amount of coolant back out the overflow. My First thought was jetting - I checked the plugs and they are both a nice chocolatey brown. I even tried race gas to see if that would cool it down thinking I wasn't running a high enough octane fuel and it was leaning out. So I got it home and tor into it thinking it was probably the impeller or drive gear. Checked them and the gear looks OK, normal wear, the impeller still spins although there is some resistance from the bearing not spinning freely, however I checked and it did spin when I cranked the motor. The impeller is pretty discolored (orange) but isn't cracked or really worn so I don't think that this is the issue. Next thought is the head gasket so last night I made a leak down tester and checked that. The only slight leak that I found was around the intake cross over and once that was tightened down it held fine for 6 minutes. So now I really am at a loss. It is always bad when you start working on your bike and you hope that you find SOMETHING wrong. Next step is the radiator and cap. I know that the radiator is pressurizing the line because like an idiot I pulled the coolant line prior to releasing the pressure and got a nice face shot from my banshee. It looks a little rusty in my radiator although the fluid wasn't discolored (probably because I just added it), it has been in the past. Could the extra iron in the water be causing my bike to boil over possibly? Sorry for the novel but I have exhausted everything that I can think of so any help would be appreciated. Please Help! Edited August 2, 2012 by Doddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starwriter Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Sometimes the water pump gear chews out where the drive pin sits in the groove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrockMoto Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Yes the slot in the back of the gear could be worn.... If your impeller is discolored that means its still plastic lol and you should get a billet impeller. How do the fins look on your radiator? And when you checked the plugs was that a fresh set ran and chopped or did you just check the ones you had in it? Something may have changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted August 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I know I should get a billet impeller, but that does not seem to be the problem at this time (I realize it will be at some point in the future). There is a little bit of play on the impeller shaft, but from what I can tell the grooves on the inside of the drive gear are in good shape and not stripped out. I put the case cover back up and put the kick starter back on and cranked it down a few times and it moved the impeller so I don't think that this is the problem, but it is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDYCITYJOHN400 Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) Well a billet impeller is kind of a must and making that move sure can't hurt. Also you can get the metal drive gear from Mull engineering and then you never have to worry about the pump not driving. (It's just damn good insurance.) After you do that you can rule out lack of water flow as the problem. Then I would try hand squeezing your hoses as you refill the system to be sure you don't have an air lock. Then run the bike and see if you get an exhaust smell in your coolant or any signs of oil floating at the top of the radiator. Possible head gasket leak only when motor gets hot. (Might pass leak down test.) Check exhaust for a plug up of some sort. (mouse nest...dead animal...it happens.) Edited August 2, 2012 by WINDYCITYJOHN400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted August 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 Went ahead and bought a new billet impeller and drive gear from Mull Engineering, figured I may as well since I have it torn apart. Still don't know what the real problem is though, I guess I will replace the head gasket as well for good measure and hope that the ghost disappears. I just hate fixing things and hoping that it is going to solve a problem that I haven't correctly identified. Oh Well. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coupelx Posted August 3, 2012 Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 so the radiator isnt important enough to warrant at least a look over maybe see how many fins are smashed or plugged? it never occurred to anyone in here that its heating up so fast because it cant shed the heat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted August 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 Radiator is in pretty good shape. It did occur to me, just doesn't seem to be the issue. There are a couple bent fins but a majority of the surface area is OK. It probably is a combination of a few different things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted August 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 (edited) Found the problem. Apparently we had some detonation. Time for a new topend to go along with the new impeller and drive gear. Edited August 4, 2012 by Doddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starwriter Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 Holy silicone sealer batman!! Ya think any of that got into the radiator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDYCITYJOHN400 Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 (edited) Found the problem. Apparently we had some detonation. Time for a new topend to go along with the new impeller and drive gear. Ummm no need for sealer like that on the head gasket. I agree....time to do some major cleaning and maybe pony up for a cool head with some O-rings. Looks like you have a little trouble doing the gasket thing. Detonation could be from a water impeller full of that sealer or blocked water passages causing the motor to run way too hot. Or....as usual the overheating issue could be jetting too lean. (I always lean towards this until something else is found.) Edited August 4, 2012 by WINDYCITYJOHN400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2otoofast4u Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 Id start with his avatar.. Obviously he's not smart... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakar Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 ah man ..... ...... .no wonder the shee was overheating.the passages look atleast 30% cloged . if your running a stock head gasket use the sealer that comes in the spray can ,liquid broonze,copper or somthing like that ,its been awhile since ive ran a stock head . jus slowly take your time and go through it & goodluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted August 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 Yeah I'm not too happy about it. I didn't setup the engine last time it was rebuilt, it was setup by the same shop who ported the motor (which worries me as well). I've already gone through and started cleaning all the silicone off the cylinders and head. Now I need to take some timte to make sure I get it all and blow the cylinders out. Luckily I caught it before it completely burned through and fucked up the cylinder walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2otoofast4u Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 Who built it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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