Weird overheating issue, intermittent

[tntmo]

I ordered all the stuff to do the head gasket. 

The radiator seems to flow well when I hook it up to the garage sink, but will probably do a vinegar soak on it just to make sure. 

[Mustang]

did you get a tube of hylomar to reseal the cylinder liner bases ?

you WILL need it .

[tntmo]

Head gasket replaced, flushed out the radiator with vinegar a few times, everything is back in one piece and 30 mile test ride is good.  Now I have to keep riding it and see.  The last few times it ran fine at first also, so I am not ready to trust this bike.

[tntmo]

I'm up to 160 miles on the bike, working well so far. 

[Sin_Tiger]

Fingers crossed  I know it's a pain but I recommend you retorque the head before doping much more than 500 miles.

[Mustang]

 

[tntmo]

So, when you suggest to re-torque the heads.....does that mean to break the bolts loose and then do the three sequence torque again?

That is a PITA, but if there is something out there that says that doing it will be helpful, I guess it's in my best interest.

[Mustang]

just verify the torque at 500 miles especially since your bike has already required a head gasket job .
don't loosen them

if the torque is still at spec leave em' be
before you put the head back on ,you did reseal the cylinder bases with hylomar sealant , right ?

[tntmo]

How would you verify the torque, when the procedure is to torque them in two stages, then turn them 90 degrees beyond that? 

[PeteH]

Had the head done on my 885i a few years back, never had it re torqued and its been fine. A bit strange this torque then 90 degree stuff, but I did the head on my wife's saxo a bit back using the same method tho to about 140 degrees on final...been fine so far.

[tntmo]

I've got about 1,000 miles on the Tiger at this point, not bad considering I've been deployed a few weeks.  It's been running good, no overheating and no coolant loss.  Even stays in the middle of the temp gauge in traffic. 

I'm getting to the point where I feel like I can trust the bike again, which I hadn't been able to do for a while.