Something wrong with coolant system - maybe head gasket?

[chris___]

Ive got an issue on my bros 400 with the coolant.

When riding through traffic (lots if slow speed filtering) coolant drips out of the overflow pipe when I come to a stand still and what looks like steam also come out, if I keep riding and get up to a decent constant speed it goes away. If I switch off the bike when the steam is coming out I can hear bubbling in the expansion tank. The level on the tank when the bike is cold is just above the lower level line.

However when its doing this the temp gauge is never very high, never more than half way up the dial.

Any help appreciated!

Cheers
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[Polarbear]

Check your oil, if it is looking milky then you are getting water in it and that usually means a head gasket gone. Drain it out, it will be obvious and look like this

https://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2505/watoil1a.jpg

Other than that, could your water pump be fucked and you aren't getting the circulation around the system when low speed riding, but enough when going faster? Just a guess though.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Syris the Indomitable]

Could also be the water pump which isn't pumping the fluid round the engine properly causing it to boil up, expand and burst out through the nearest weakest point.
____________________
In Greek mythology Ichor is what immortals have in the place of blood
Those that mind, don't matter...Those that matter, don't mind. Do you agree with this?

[Pete.]

First off check the fan is coming on.

Check the coolant system - not the overflow bottle - is full up, and has no air trapped. If your coolant system has air in it the coolant can boil. Some bikes are prone for having air trapped. Fill it up by the filler cap and lean it right over both ways.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[chris___]

thanks for the help guys will give these things a check tomorrow
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[lukamon]

Bunblimg into the expNsion tamk was my first warning of head gaskety badness. Constant exhaust steam and stiff hoses AFTER turning off engine was final warning and massive coolant usage and sludge on the oil filler cap was death knell.
____________________
killa wrote: Im an ass man myself

[chris___]

just been out to the bike and realised I dont have a filler cap on the rad, how would I go about making sure the rad has no air bubbles in it and is properly filled with coolant?
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[chris___]

im really puzzled with this now...

Just went out to the bike, had a look for the rad bleed nipple but couldnt find it.

I let the bike run and couldnt get the temp up past just over half way in the dial, but the fan wasnt kicking in either.

There was no smoke coming out of the exhaust and no coolant or steam coming out of the over flow untill i clicked the bike into gear and moved it forward a tiny bit. As soon as I did this a few drips came out, followed by steam and then a strange whirring noise coming from the engine.

Very confused!
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page