2-1 exhaust

[Mincehead]

Well if the flushing with the hose doesn`t clear any partial blockages (maybe the only other thing it can be), you`ll see the head gasket if it`s gone when you lift the head.
The liner might be less visibly but once the block`s (barrels) off you should be able to look down the bores and it will be evident too.

[HansJ]

I still think it sounds odd, but maybe we'll get an explanation once the head is off (and i don't mean the mechanic's...)

I've blown one gasket, hard to spot, but once i saw it, it was obvious. I did not have any deposits in the coolant, only evidence was the "boiling" water in the coolant reservoir. In my case, the gases were leaking into the coolant as you can see below. I'd suggest starting it up, and check for boiling in the reservoir, if so, then it's 100% a blown head gasket.

Not that complicated to lift the head off as Mince says, just be careful when re-tightening the bolts holding down the camshafts. There's plenty off warnings on this forum to read about (and i am behind many of them...)

[dandywarhol]

Is it an import TRX by any chance?

Its a problem in the import car world that Japanese and Euro antifreeze DOESN'T mix and can cause sludge build up , especially in the narrow passages in the radiator. The crystals also look like solidified glycol (80s Austrian wine comes to mind )

Any reputable Japanese car importer of older vehicles always drain off the coolant and reverse flush the cooling systems and refill with Euro antifreeze - the orange organic stuff is popular these days - to avoid overheating issues.

How many of us drain/flush/refill the cooling system every 2 years as Yamaha recommend (for non organic stuff)? I know I SHOULD

[phuk72]

Is it an import TRX by any chance?

Its a problem in the import car world that Japanese and Euro antifreeze DOESN'T mix and can cause sludge build up , especially in the narrow passages in the radiator. The crystals also look like solidified glycerine (80s Austrian wine comes to mind )

Any reputable Japanese car importer of older vehicles always drain off the coolant and reverse flush the cooling systems and refill with Euro antifreeze - the orange organic stuff is popular these days - to avoid overheating issues.

How many of us drain/flush/refill the cooling system every 2 years as Yamaha recommend (for non organic stuff)? I know I SHOULD

well you learn something new every day - thanks

I do tend to change the coolant every couple of years because it costs buttons and takes 10 minutes

[HansJ]

I was aware of the mixing problems (that's why i asked what he had filled it with), but thought it was the green and blue anti-freeze that didn't mix well. I asked at Audi (my car had a veryblugreen coolant, and i didn't know what to top up with), and they said it had been an issue, but claimed it wasn't any problems any longer?

[dandywarhol]

Some bumf here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze

[billy budge]

Is it an import TRX by any chance?

Its a problem in the import car world that Japanese and Euro antifreeze DOESN'T mix and can cause sludge build up , especially in the narrow passages in the radiator. The crystals also look like solidified glycol (80s Austrian wine comes to mind )

Any reputable Japanese car importer of older vehicles always drain off the coolant and reverse flush the cooling systems and refill with Euro antifreeze - the orange organic stuff is popular these days - to avoid overheating issues.

How many of us drain/flush/refill the cooling system every 2 years as Yamaha recommend (for non organic stuff)? I know I SHOULD

Cheers for the comments as ever guys, its not an import bike Dandy....I bought it brand new in 1999 and have only ever used the same coolant and its been changed every 2 years. Top tips though so will bear it in mind.

[billy budge]

Hello peeps

Well after some more faffing about im still no wiser on this but have found a few more things that I wanted to report here, hopefully someone can help me out. Ive got a spare engine lined up, possibly, in case its required but I dont want to mess them (Kayla )around anymore than they have been already but I dont want to buy an engine if I dont need it.

Fired it up without the thermostat in so that I could see the water flow without the rad cap on, all was working OK so I know the rad/hoses/waterpump is good. The temp still rose to 90+ degrees within minutes even without the stat in so im thinking there is a blockage somewhere as it doesnt seem to be circulating round the water jacket. When it got to around 92 degrees the water level in the rad began to rise and looked like it was boiling, when it reached 96 degrees I called it a day and killed the ignition....at which point the pressure was that high it blew loads of coolant out of the rad filler cap.

When it cooled slightly I wanted to see if it was in the block/water jacket and when I drained it, almost 800ml of nasty looking liquid came out. On futher thought though it hadnt been drained out of there in a while so I thought it was the old stuff. I decided to repeat the test but this time to make things more visible I used a pink coolant, first time round it was just water and a speedflush additive. I ran it as I did before and the same thing happened, water level began to rise around 92 degrees, killed the ignition around 96-98 degrees, it gobbed liquid everywhere, but then when I drained the block the pink coolant was there but only a spoonful came out. So it definately looks like its not circulating around the engine, i also noticed on the left hand side of the head that there is a small 6mm-ish hole, dont know if it was plugged or its a vent hole but I noticed steam and liquid coming out of it occassionally???

Any ideas please anyone?? Cheers.

[Kayla]

i also noticed on the left hand side of the head that there is a small 6mm-ish hole, dont know if it was plugged or its a vent hole but I noticed steam and liquid coming out of it occassionally???

Any ideas please anyone?? Cheers.

If it's the one on the left face of the head, at the front edge, the parts book shows it plugged with a flanged bolt

[dandywarhol]

Is that not the oil gallery plug for checking oil pressure after you've changed the oil/filter? (according to the H.B.O.L. )

[Kevtrx849]

Pretty sure that little hole is the drain for the spark plugs incase water gets past the caps.

[andyaber]

There is an oil gallery hole normally blocked by a bolt on the left hand side of the head near the front. slacken the bolt and start the bike, if oil dribbles from this within 30 secs then oil feed to this area is ok.

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

mmmm fluids in motors... On track days don't you dump the radiator coolant and replace it with a demineralized water. How long can you leave this in the motor with no detriment to the motor or alloy????