I have a 1996 400 sport just got it and on my first day out it overheated while just trail riding, I took the rad off and cleaned the mud out of the fins, replaced it and took it out again. Is it normal for the rad to smoke or steam after riding for 10 minutes (is it just the moisture in left in the rad after the cleaning) Question 2: there is a throttle switch on the bike and it is disconnected, what is that for and should I re-connect it and where? Any help you guys can give me will help me out alot. Thanks!

 

Lets see. I have a 97. for the rad...mine steams up when it is cold outside. usually it would have been wet for some reason, mud, water etc. Then it just steams up. Throttle switch. I dunno. sorry. mine is sticking at the moment. I have to figure out what the deal is with it.... Good luck.

 

Thanks for the help, good luck with yours

 

for your first question. It should not heat up that quick. This might seems kinda simple but check your coolant level. The temp sensor is right at the top of the radiator even a little low will make your temp light kick on. Second question, where exactly is this switch at? Is it the thumb throttle? Or something else added on?

 

i think he means the fan switch that turns on when it gets up to temp. i am not sure if it is the one on the head? never realy looked for it

 

the throttle switch has nothing to do with the radiator, it is on the thumb throttle and it is not an add-on, there is the throttle cable and this wire coming from the throttle control on the top of the handlebar. For the radiator, the coolant level is full (I just filled it right to the cap) but I think it could be because the radiator did not completely dry after I cleaned it ( I had to put it in the bathtub and take a soft bristled brush to the fins to get the dried mud out of there.) is that possible?

 

the steam is prolly just from water in the fins
the switch you're refering to is the ETC switch. it is there in case of a stuck or frozen cable to shut off the ignition or go to the limiter.

 

Jeffro,
That switch is unpluged, should it stay that way or should I replug it? By the way, thanks!

 

if it was me i would plug it back in, just make sure that the cable is adjusted right - about 1/4" of play. that may be why it was unplugged to begin with. a stuck or frozen cable can be disasterous.
ur welcome

 

Ok, Thanks! But one more question. The throttle seems to be all or nothing, I press the throttle about half way and it hardly has any power, then once I get past that point it takes off spinning it's not that great for winter riding, i'm always getting stuck in the snow. Is there a way I can fix that problem at the same time as plugging it in? And by the way, where do I plug it into? (I know it sounds stupid but I can't find the location) anyways, Your help is greatly appreciated!