New to me Steamer losing coolant

[El Pescador]

Thank you all for your help!  I'll change the intakes...  Mustang do you still manufacture and sell the tool?  I had rather not pull the cam for only 2 shims. 

[ram33]

i found it was quicker tp remove one cam than to fiddle about with a tool. my shims were stuck solid to the bucket anyway and had to be prized up

[threepot]

If you can,remove cams. You'll be able to check guides. I found a crack in the upper guide on my Daytona. Worth putting a new chain in too. And check the tensioner.

[El Pescador]

Everything back together now, it runs great, thanks for all of your help. 

I now know where I'm losing coolant, the bike pukes it out of the overflow.  I don't know if I just missed it sitting at lights, or what, but it happens when the bike is idling.

I removed the thermostat, and that has helped, but it just doesn't tolerate sitting idling in hot weather.  The PO put the fan on a switch, and I run it all the time when the bike is running, but still, the bike begins to overheat.  I'm going to try cleaning the radiator, but when I looked at it last, it looked pretty clean...

Any ideas?

[Mustang]

you NEED the thermostat . what happens without one is it will just keep getting hotter and hotter .

don't rely on the temp gauge to be accurate , they are not . you can buy three senders and all three will more than likely show different temps on the gauge . BTDT .

If you fill the overflow past the the min mark it WILL puke coolant every time until the level gets down .

It is perfectly normal for the gauge to peg into the red when sitting still . all steamers do it . If it bothers you try changing the sender in the head , you may get one that won't read as high .

[El Pescador]

Wow!  Thanks for the information.  I'll leave it be for now and get another thermostat on order.