Getting hot

[Asmith61]

Hi riding back from Kent yesterday there was a 4 mile queue at the dartford tunnel so had to filter through some at times stationary traffic, the bike got really hot and started to cut out a few times, once through the tunnel and on to the M25 the temperature went back to normal, my bike is a 2007 k7 DL1000 which I have had from new it has done 18000 miles and it is the first time it had got hot like that any ideas please.

[tallpaul]

Did the fan start running? I know my brother's vee doesn't have to be in traffic for long before the fan starts, but the temp stays in range. Did your temp gauge stay in the normal range?

[Asmith61]

Hi tallpaul
Thank you for your reply no I didn't hear the fan start up but the temp gauge went up one bar from the top, as it was so busy and people were lane changing I had to keep the revs up to keep it running, thinking about it I filled up in Kent I wonder if the fuel was dodgy but it was a BP garage

[greywolf]

Fuel will have no effect on engine temperature. See if your fan works. One test is to unplug the wire from the radiator temperature sensor and short out the two contacts on the end of the wire. If the fan comes on, at least you'll know it works. The sensor may be bad, the radiator not full, the thermostat stuck or the radiator fins clogged though. Check the radiator to make sure it is full and and that you can see a light through all its fins. If the fan works, let the bike run to make sure the fan comes on before the fourth bar appears.

[Asmith61]

Thank you grey wolf I will have a look at those things 

[Asmith61]

Hi greywolf when I got home from work today I did what you said and shone a torch Behind the radiator and it was clear then I checked the radiator for water and also found that to be fine the exspantion tank was down a little so topped it up, I will try that and see how it goes from there.
Thank you 

[King Orry]

Once used a 'bit of wire' from the cellar of the Creg ny Bar pub to 'hot wire' the fan on a pals Hornet to his position light.
Thermostat had gone and it'd boiled over getting on the IOM ferry, so needs must.. however, it was still that way when he sold it two years later ????

[greywolf]

You still need to make sure the fan is working. It's the most likely culprit in a bike that gets overly hot only when it is stopped or moving slowly.

[King Orry]

Or just nip to the Creg and ask for a bit of wire...