Last weekend I was on about a 60 mile trail ride. I made regular stops to take pictures, use GPS, etc. After about 45 miles I started to hear my radiator burping/bubbling. This sound was coming from my radiator cap in front of the handle bars on my 650. The overflow container was full but after I let the engine cool and removed the radiator cap, it took a full pint of water. It would have taken more, but that was the last bottle of water that I had with me. I checked and couldn't find any leaks.

Should the coolant from the overflow container (by the left foot peg) pump coolant to the radiator? Where do you add coolant? In the radiator cap, the overflow container, or both?

 

The overflow does not work very well to replace fluid back into the radiator. But, make sure both are properly full.

If you could hear noise up front then you have a leak somewhere. It may be a pressure leak up high where the coolant is misting off and not dripping. Pop the front cover, undo the zip clamp, pull back the rubber flap, and check the hose clamp on the rad fill hose (on the neck). Mine was loose on one of my P650's and it kept my radiator from building pressure and cooling properly. You may have the same problem. A quick tightening and you are back in business.

Good luck.

 

I was planning on flushing out my radiator and getting a new radiator cap (BTW the dealer wants $29 for a new radiator cap). The dealer said that the burping/bubbling sound from the radiator is normal and thats the sound it makes when pumping coolant to the overflow container. So maybe nothing is wrong. I've just never heard the radiator burping and bubbling like that before. Has anyone else heard that coming from their radiator?

 

Oh I have on my V Force last weekend at my Hare scramble race at Pine Grove , PA. The damn overhaet light went on on the third lap, and by the fourth I was bubbling and steaming up like crazy, I ripped off the front screen at the check point on the last lap. I had put this screen on the on my IMS bumper too keep the mud out of the radiator and it was packed. Well even than it was smoking and I finished the race in first in my class, my first first place and got a five foot trophy, a great dust collector but a major ego booster for me. The quad was taken in to get checked out, the radiator cap assembly which is plastic totally melted all the antifreeze was gone, including the overflow, the engine oil was milky and smeeled like burnt motor, the temperature sensing unit was shot therefore the fan did not go on properly, and the thermostat was shot as well, I will find out tomorrow how bad the motor is, looks like it is all covered by Kawasaki though!!

Of course last week I had ordered a new IMS oversized radiator which did not come till yesterday, this is going on as soon as I get my beast back from the dealer. This new radiator is twice as thick as the stock therefore holds more coolant and in theory should keep the 698cc motor much cooler therefore allowing it to generate a few, maybe 2-3 more hps, thats what I hope anyhow.