wrenching advice?

[WVdyhrd]

Of course I'm researching and checking my manual. But thought I'd plumb your depths of knowledge at the same time. :D

On some back roads yesterday my bike overheated. I don't mean it went from cool to really warm I mean it went from normal operating temp to omg smoke/steam/resorvoir boiling over craziness in just a few minutes.

I had been slabbing it for about 50mi earlier that day at umm fast speeds with no problem, and this happened lowspeed on a broken up back road.

I of course shut her down, let her cool a bit, made sure there was coolant in the resorvoir, and tried to get to a service station (my garmin lied it took me to a closed one) it overheated again on the way.

Finally nursed her to an operating fuel station. And let her rest a good 45min while I ate.

Decided that one last time I'd try to nurse her home before calling for help (aka a trailer on my uncle's truck). She didn't even make it 5mi before it all happened again. Pulled over shut her down for good and took her home behind my dad's f250      

Now my likely diagnoses is thermo problems, because of it overheating again so fast, if it's not cycling fluid out of the jackets because of a closed thermo switch...But I'm no mechanic....but I do wanna fix it myself obviously

1. Any feedback or thoughts on likely causes?

2. I want a new thermo but don't really wanna wait 2 weeks on bike bandit. Anyone know somewhere I can go faster?

Thanks guys

here's some bike porn for your troubles

[Timbox2]

When was the radiator cap last changed? Known weak point on the Girlies.

[Mustang]

take your thermostat out and drop it in a pail of boiling water .........if it's any good you will see it open as soon as it hits the hot water .
then you'll know if you need thermostat or rad cap.

check and see if there is coolant in oil ..........could've blown a head gasket too. for it to boil that fast .

[Patman1200]

As Mustang says above, check the thermostat as above.
You can run the bike without one fitted if you can't keep the bike off the road while you wait for one to be delivered.

[WVdyhrd]

I just fitted a honda rad cap a couple weeks ago to solve the peeing problem....

No water in oil, and it was the changed the day before, filter and all.

I may have to take you up on the taking cap off bit so I can get around as normal.

Anyone know if triumph shops will ship parts? I really really don't want to wait on bike bandit. Last time they took 15 days from time of order to get me some simple seals

[TigerTrax]

Contact Baxter Cycle  in Marne, Iowa...
They normally have parts ready to ship.
BTW: They have a lot of salvage AND vintage parts also

TEL:  (712) 781-2351

Baxter Cycle
Box 85
Marne, IA  51552

[Mustang]

I just fitted a honda rad cap a couple weeks ago to solve the peeing problem....

No water in oil, and it was the changed the day before, filter and all.

I may have to take you up on the taking cap off bit so I can get around as normal.

Anyone know if triumph shops will ship parts? I really really don't want to wait on bike bandit. Last time they took 15 days from time of order to get me some simple seals

Most dealers take 2 weeks too , it's not just bike bandit .
Like tiger trax says get ahold of Baxter Cycle .................

I just fitted a honda rad cap a couple weeks ago to solve the peeing problem....

I would start here as this may be your problem...........

[cbxtc6]

Or, from the Tiger parts cross-reference page:
------------------------------------------------------
"Radiator Cap

The Triumph caps are prone to weakening before their time, allowing vapor and coolant to escape, resulting in an overly hot Tiger.

The Triumph caps are $19 at a dealer, IF they have one in stock.

ArizonaKid discovered that a Stant 10227 radiator cap, a replacement for 80's Toyotas (as well as 1988-91 Honda Civic), is a perfect fit for a Tiger, available at auto parts stores 'round the world. About $7.




Edit for a new development:

walker wrote:


The stant 10227 (replaced by the newer 11227) is only a 13 psi cap. A good replacement might be the 11233 - it's 16 PSI, which is right at the 1.1 BAR that triumph specifies.

Same dimensions, just a different main spring.


To add...

flux wrote:


FYI:
This cap fits these cars:

ACURA (1989 - 2005)
CHEVROLET (1985 - 1988)
CHRYSLER (1995 - 1999)
DODGE (1995 - 1999)
EAGLE (1995 - 1998)
FORD (1989 - 2009)
GEO (1989 - 1993)
HONDA (1990 - 2007)
HYUNDAI (1998 - 2008)
INFINITI (1997 - 2007)
ISUZU (1985 - 2004)
KIA (2001 - 2008)
LEXUS (1992 - 2007)
MAZDA (1993 - 2008)
MERCURY (1989 - 2001)
MITSUBISHI (1995 - 2008)
NISSAN (1990 - 2008)
SUBARU (1999 - 2008)
SUZUKI (2004 - 2008)
TOYOTA (1994 - 2008)

YMMV

[Mustang]

just an FYI some of those stant caps the rubber seal doesnt go deep enough in the radiator to seal properly , which has caused some to continue having boil over probs with the STANT cap and folks have ponied up the 20 bucks for a triumph cap and problem solved .

There's a thread on here somewhere with pics that show the difference between the Stant caps and the OEM Triumph cap.

edit ****** found it read this thread to the end

http://www.tigertriple.com/forum/viewto ... diator+cap (http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,9074&highlight=radiator+cap)

you pretty much need the OEM cap to solve boil over probs on Girly bikes !

[jwray76]

you pretty much need the OEM cap to solve boil over probs on Girly bikes !

+1

[cosmo]

Since the caps fits a lot of Nissans, AND I work at a Nissan dealer, I can add this:

There are a LOT of these caps swapped for leakage and lack of pressurisation.

Not a bad idea to get a new one once in a while.

Cosmo

[walker]

yep - the stant is good as a temporary replacement in a pinch. the heavier one is better, since when installed, the spring isn't compressed as far as the OEM cap.

I ran the stant for a few months in the summer till I got less lazy and got a brand new triumph branded one. Worked fine for the few months, but I didn't do a long term test.

[jphish]

WVdyhrd - I think it was suggested you can run Tiger without a THERMOSTAT - not Radiator cap.

[WVdyhrd]

thanks guys. Triumph genuine rad cap, and thermo arrived today, i'll keep ya posted.


p.s. anyone have the hose setup for running with the tank off? I need some but can't spend 253

[iansoady]

p.s. anyone have the hose setup for running with the tank off? I need some but can't spend 253

I have but I'm a little far away from you.....

But it's easy to make up a set using the plastic connectors you took off when you fitted the metal ones.