I have an 88 LT 250R and it runs great. But when i'm hill climbing it will run hot and blow steam from the overflow hose. I know this is due to high revs with little air passing by the radiator but does any one have any suggestions. I love to climb but hate to break it $$$.I can't find an aftermarket oversized radiator. Do inline coolers help. I was thinking about fabricating an inline coolant tank but where would I put it and would it work. How about an electric fan, would the factory electrical system power it?

 

I have an inline cooler and I run engine ice instead of regular coolant. Never had any overheating problems but there aren't any big hills around to climb either. I've heard water wetter works well also.

With a temp gauge, you can see when it's gonna get hot and if the stock electrical system can't power a fan, I bet with a Ricky stator it could.

 

You may want to check your impeller. I have had 2 different LT motors with the impellers worn down. If your impeller is bad you wouldn't get the pressure needed to cool your motor under high stress situations. It doesn't take long, just drain the coolant and pop off the water pump cover. Make sure the blades aren't broken and that they come straight off were the bolt goes through. Mine had worn down about a 1/4 of an inch on all the blades, and another motor had worn down that far and broke a blade.
Good luck

 

I agree with 87RaceRider. Something has to be wrong for it to overheat that bad. Check the impeller and make sure your radiator isn't clogged with mud and make sure it's circulating.
I have had several LT's and run them hard down here in the heat of the summer with no cooling issues.
You can get inline coolers and/or a Pro Design cool head which would help out a little.

 

Thanks, Ill check the impeller. Coolant is circulating but maybe not enough.

 

If your climbing hills and not getting airflow you bet its going to overheat. You answered your own question. Mine never overheats, but in the WINTER, at 15 below (celsius) when I get into deep snow, and start spinning the tires, and getting the revs up I get coolant pissing out my purge tube. Its gonna happen no matter what you do, especially in wamrer weather. A fan sounds like a good idea, but I doubt you can power one on the stock system. Youd have to figure out the wattage. I think with no other loads your good for like 70 watts stock.

 

well that is very simple u nead to check your head or base gaskett one of them is blown mine did the same thing if it overheated to much do not i mean do no tput back together without getting head and jug milled i pu tmine back together 2 times and come to find out jug and head was warrped it dont take much to warp a head mine blew steam and fluid out the overflow get that fixed and put that engine ice in it and u should be all set i know i am mine is running fine knock on wood by the way if it used to idle then suddenly u noticed it not wanting to idle another sign and take cap off and give it some throttle if fluid comes out the top of radiator blown head gaskett i mean if it shoots out some will come out cuz it is curculating but it should gush out when headgaskett is blown just helping ya out

 

I would first check the radiator cap, if it's bad it will overheat, specially running it hard. Then check the head gasket. You will get the same symptoms with either problem, then last I would check the impeller.