dutchzx14
Expert Class
Posts: 213
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posted August 25, 2007 11:12 AM
overheating problem
Guys, is there any possibility that my zx14 has a thermostat that is not working properly??
went out riding today for the first time since I was loosing coolant. and everything looked fine till I went into town, didnt drive it fast the whole evening, and it wasn't warm outside, the engine is not loosing any liquid anymore but heated up very rapidly.. in no time all the bars of the temp. meter were dark, and the fan couldn't get it cooler. than the display showed high temp alarm... turned around and started driving it. the temp went down, and once home the temp was normal. tried it again at home, and when the fan started to turn, I held my hand behind the fan and noticed that the air temp sucked through radiator wasn't hot, or was getting hotter... motor was getting hotter though... help...
   
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted August 25, 2007 11:47 AM
If it the engine was hot but the radiator wasn't it sounds to me like its low on coolant. Nothing hot in the radiator to draw heat out of.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted August 25, 2007 12:09 PM
if the engine was hot but the rad wasn' t you have a flow restriction, and yes the thermostat, or pump are the likely culprits. if it was air locked it should have purged the air out by now.
I would take the rad cap off the when the engine is cold, and see if the coolant is circulating when it is running and up to operating temp( thermostat opens) . Revving it should see subatantial coolant circulation.
If the air lock has not been purged for some odd reason, it will with the cap off.
You can test the thermostat by putting it in a pot of boiling water, and watching it open, then remove it and watch it close.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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MasterBlaster
Expert Class
Posts: 297
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posted August 25, 2007 02:02 PM
If your radiator cap is bad, when it gets hot it will push coolant into the recovery tank, but not draw it back into the radiator as it cools down. A few cycles of this and the radiator will be very low of coolant and the eng will run hot. Anytime you are suspicious of a colant problem it is worthwhile to check the coolant at the radiator cap while cool. If the radiator is not full up into the neck, thats your problem. Its a common event thats often overlooked. Sometimes the radiator necks sealing surfaces are jacked out of shape and will also cause this.....TB
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djmjay
Parking Attendant
Posts: 6
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posted August 25, 2007 03:18 PM
I'm planning on purchasing a 08 ZX14 for a 6000 mile plus trip, I hope they get these problems figured out or else I'll buy a
Hayabusa.
____________
82 GS1000SZ
85 FJ1100
85 RZ500
85 RGV500
85 FJ1100
86 GSXR 750
86 GSXR 750 Limited
86 GSXR 1100
91 ZX 750
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stu64
Zone Head
Posts: 548
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posted August 25, 2007 03:28 PM
quote:
I'm planning on purchasing a 08 ZX14 for a 6000 mile plus trip, I hope they get these problems figured out or else I'll buy a
Hayabusa.
How do you know the Hayabusa wont have problems its first year after being redesigned?
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted August 25, 2007 04:13 PM
quote:
I'm planning on purchasing a 08 ZX14 for a 6000 mile plus trip, I hope they get these problems figured out or else I'll buy a
Hayabusa.
I dont belive its an inherent flaw, by bike has NEVER overheated..
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted August 25, 2007 04:54 PM
 Edited By: stevewfl on 25 Aug 2007 17:55
quote:
I'm planning on purchasing a 08 ZX14 for a 6000 mile plus trip, I hope they get these problems figured out or else I'll buy a
Hayabusa.
Why don't you do that, and troll the Hayabusa boards instead of this one too. You must have a high IQ to think one ZX14 spilling coolant means thats the norm, huh loser?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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dutchzx14
Expert Class
Posts: 213
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posted August 25, 2007 10:57 PM
On thing for sure, because I'm causious, has nothing to do with the lack of confidence in kawasaki products, but with the fact that my bike is tuned to 204 hp on the rear wheel...! that,s the factor to be causios.. Yes Dubious, that's the thing I'm gonna do today, and also gonna change the cooland with watter wetter. I know for sure its not a head gasket for now, because the engine is sucking the cooland back from the tank when it starts to cool down...
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Hapkido
Parking Attendant
Posts: 1
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posted November 05, 2009 03:11 AM
I live in Australia, my 14 hit the hot a couple of times in trafice at the lights. The temperature in the shade was 35 C so about 38 to 40 C in the sun. I can vouch that the bike was actually bloody hot and even though it only flicked to the H a couple of times I am not happy with this fault. This is the first bike I have had that has had a heat problem apart from my 99 Black bird that was a faulty thermo. From reading the replys and checking out other sites the 08 14 appears to have a fault as over heating appears regularly.
If any one finds a cause or a solution I would appreaciate the information.
The bike as a whole is great no other complaints.
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted November 05, 2009 06:53 AM
Install a second rad fan like the Connie 14 has. OR I have a set of Dubious ZX-10 front
fender brackets on my 14. The ZX-10 front fender is smaller and lets more air across the rad. my 14 runs one bar cooler now and cools down from stop lights faster too.
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted November 05, 2009 07:25 AM
Lab- which mod do you think made the bike run cooler if you could only pick one(between fan & zx10 fender)?
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Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
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posted November 05, 2009 07:40 AM
Full synthetic oil and water weter will help also
____________
77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted November 05, 2009 08:22 AM
quote:
Lab- which mod do you think made the bike run cooler if you could only pick one(between fan & zx10 fender)?
Good question, I have Not installed the second fan so I can only tell you how my
14 did with the ZX-10 fender. Man this worried the shit out me last year. I have a
spare radiator and fan, was waiting for the Hot to happen. Never got that bad. I live in Texas
Hot summers and in the DFW area so a lot of stop and go if caught in "Work" time traffic going home.
I purchased a Bestem carbon Fiber ZX-10 fender and set of Lyle's brackets and screws.
Runs one bar cooler compaired to 14 front fender just driving down the road. Cools down faster after setting thru several red lights in a row. Hot summer day 100 plus out. My 2007
has Never had the HOT on the dash come on.
Thanks Lyle good mod you made. Not sure a s second OEM rad fan will clear the non
stock head pipes as I was looking at installing the second Kaw fan too. Never needed to now. Still have factory cooliant in with about 6800 fun miles.
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted November 05, 2009 09:14 AM
a second fan will help if you idle parked, in traffic or ride below 10 mph extensively.
If you idle more than the bike moves in gridlock traffic etc a second fan is the best route.
If you run the bike hard in the heat on hot days, but the bike is moving, I would use a sufactant, cooling additive, and the zx10 fender for best results.
The fan will never pull as much air through the radiator as the zx10 fender allows beyond 10 mph,
The zx10 fender will reduce some heat when parked for a short period, as it allows more airflow to the rad even when parked but really makes an appreciable difference above 5 mph, as more airflow from the bike moving reaches the rad.
Thanks Louis, BTW. 
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted November 05, 2009 01:30 PM
quote:
if the engine was hot but the rad wasn' t you have a flow restriction, and yes the thermostat, or pump are the likely culprits. if it was air locked it should have purged the air out by now.
I would take the rad cap off the when the engine is cold, and see if the coolant is circulating when it is running and up to operating temp( thermostat opens) . Revving it should see subatantial coolant circulation.
If the air lock has not been purged for some odd reason, it will with the cap off.
You can test the thermostat by putting it in a pot of boiling water, and watching it open, then remove it and watch it close.
+1
Check the coolant level at the radiator cap and check the circulation when you rev it. Coolant should be moving pretty good. Leave the cap off till the bike is fully warmed up.
Also check the hoses that go from the cap to the overflow bottle and see if there is any damage or if they are connected.
Once I've see a 14 in my shop that had the valve cover leak fixed by a flat rate stealership mechanic. He didn't route the overflow line correctly and it was rubbing against the fan so much that it wore a hole in it.
The radiator was about half full too but the customer didn't have cooling issues.
Your bike might just have a stuck thermostat or the coolant is near empty!
____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted November 05, 2009 05:32 PM
quote:
Lab- which mod do you think made the bike run cooler if you could only pick one(between fan & zx10 fender)?
I have both the 10 fender and the 2nd fan. The 10 fender mod is the best 1st choice. the fan(s) rarely turn on now. I use the hazzard flasher button to manually turn on the 2nd fan when needed, otherwise it's automatic. Being able to turn on the single fan manually would be the next choice then coolant additive products. 2nd fan dead last.
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Black 06
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HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted November 06, 2009 03:05 AM
I did a 4000 mile trip in 110 degree heat on my 06 ZX-14 and I never had an issue with overheating. Once while rebuilding my VFR I switched the 2 small hoses (one to rad one to reserve) and I had bubbling & hi heat. Switching them back solved the problem.
Rob
02 VFR 120,413 mi
07 VFR 44,917 mi
07 VFR 7,284 mi
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted November 06, 2009 05:57 PM
quote:
quote:
Lab- which mod do you think made the bike run cooler if you could only pick one(between fan & zx10 fender)?
I have both the 10 fender and the 2nd fan. The 10 fender mod is the best 1st choice. the fan(s) rarely turn on now. I use the hazzard flasher button to manually turn on the 2nd fan when needed, otherwise it's automatic. Being able to turn on the single fan manually would be the next choice then coolant additive products. 2nd fan dead last.
What exhasut do you have? And was your second fan a OEM?
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davej
Expert Class
Posts: 451
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posted November 06, 2009 07:56 PM
Edited By: davej on 7 Nov 2009 03:58
Wish I have your problems, Can't get over 2 bars.Turbo works like crap below 3.
____________
Triumph guy
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted November 06, 2009 08:33 PM
quote:
Wish I have your problems, Can't get over 2 bars.Turbo works like crap below 3.
Lol mine has a hard time getting over half 
____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted November 06, 2009 09:09 PM
what? that turbo should run better when its cooler 
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
|
dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted November 06, 2009 09:19 PM
What exhasut do you have? And was your second fan a OEM?
Muzzy exhaust and yes a OEM fan...drilled the rivets and flipped the bracket to fit right side with some welding and a relay.
____________
Black 06
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davej
Expert Class
Posts: 451
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posted November 06, 2009 10:25 PM
Need a heater not an extra fan. Mapp is the key.
____________
Triumph guy
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted November 07, 2009 06:37 AM
quote:
What exhasut do you have? And was your second fan a OEM?
Muzzy exhaust and yes a OEM fan...drilled the rivets and flipped the bracket to fit right side with some welding and a relay.
Thanks, Muzzy M14 head pipes will make this mod really close fit,
Good idea to drill rivet and flip it. I will try this during the winter.
Louis
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