Red Hot Glowing Radiator Supports/Radiator Top

[bluebr65]

Ok, so I got caught in the rain the other day. Soaked. Rode home from work for about 20 minutes in the pouring sky. A few minutes from home I was stopped at a light and noticed a burning smell of rubber bushings and metal with steam rising from the front cowl. I immediately killed the engine and let it sit till the light went red. In doing so I looked down and saw that the radiator supports were glowing red hot! They were starting to burn the rubber bushings and thats what stunk. I got her home, cooled it down, dried off the rad. Waited 2 days then fired it back up and was riding at night when it started to happen again at a light! Totally dry outside. Got it home and let it idle after parking. After idling for 15 minute it wasnt glowing, I also made sure to turn down the idle from 2000 to about 1500-1400 with the adjustment knob. Coolant level is between low and full, no leaks of any kind, bike is a 2011 with 2.5k miles and fresh fluid changes. Not throwing up a temp light either. What the hell is going on????

[angrybynature]

Try to flush the radiator. maybe something is clogged

[reaperw]

Can you hear the fan kick in,Do you know if it's working.Eithere test it yourself or take it in.


1.Check fan
2.check coolant level/flush system
3. could be thermost stat as well

[reaperw]

Oh shiiit if its a 2011 is there still not warrt on it

[lgk]

the radiator support or the header?

the bike is lean from the factory and the header could glow a little bit, but any part of the radiator glowing seems improbable

[bluebr65]

Thanks for the input so far everyone. I verified that the electric fans are unmelted and working just fine. I can swear it was the top of the radiator that was glowing, unless something oily from the wet streets had splashed on the header. IF the fan is working (it is) then that must eliminate the radiator fan switch as faulty? Now if its the thermostat...I have no way to telling. I will however be flushing the cooling system as a fail safe. Any other ideas? Possibly coolant suggestions? I don't understand why a bike this new would be acting up already....Thank you again.

[leed]

The temperature required for a radiator to glow would provide incredible pressures alongside with it. If the radiator is glowing, it's not from the fluid inside it.

[bluebr65]

Turns out it could be headers, I strongly believe the bike is running crazy lean with the cooler temps here in Pittsburgh and the Stage 1 jet kit and MGP growler exhaust. Idle takes an extra moment to return to, well, idle when revved. I have no time to shim and re-tune, taking her into the shop after work today and getting it fixed. Apparently its better to run slightly richer than leaner. UGH, it never ends.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by bluebr65

...Turns out it could be headers, I strongly believe the bike is running crazy lean with the cooler temps here in Pittsburgh and the Stage 1 jet kit and MGP growler exhaust. Idle takes an extra moment to return to, well, idle when revved.

A small part of the headers is probably what you saw, with steam coming from water being sprayed and dripped on them. The radiator would have melted and exploded if it was that hot, not to mention your bike running very nasty. For steel to glow red it takes about 700 degrees faren. Your high idle speed did not help any. Too high of an idle speed can cause overheating as well.

If when you shut the bike off the fan did not come on, it's likely your cooling system was working properly. If the bike is overheating, it is common for the fan to run after the key is turn off and in some instances when the key is turned on.

With your Stage 1 jet kit, what is your main jet size? Is the snorkel removed? Was the idle set after the bike was warm?

If the engine idle is rough or lumpy, and the engine won't return to idle without "blipping" the throttle, that is a symptom of a engine that is rich, as is an engine with black, sooty plugs, a sooty exhaust pipe and black smoke from the tailpipe that stinks of unburned fuel.
An engine is more forgiving of a 3% rich condition than it is of a 3% lean condition. Just adding a slip on will not make the bike lean out to detrimental levels. (contrary to popular belief)

[CZroe]

I've smelled some pretty funny smells when burning off wet road grime.

[bluebr65]

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

A small part of the headers is probably what you saw, with steam coming from water being sprayed and dripped on them. The radiator would have melted and exploded if it was that hot, not to mention your bike running very nasty. For steel to glow red it takes about 700 degrees faren. Your high idle speed did not help any. Too high of an idle speed can cause overheating as well.

If when you shut the bike off the fan did not come on, it's likely your cooling system was working properly. If the bike is overheating, it is common for the fan to run after the key is turn off and in some instances when the key is turned on.

With your Stage 1 jet kit, what is your main jet size? Is the snorkel removed? Was the idle set after the bike was warm?

If the engine idle is rough or lumpy, and the engine won't return to idle without "blipping" the throttle, that is a symptom of a engine that is rich, as is an engine with black, sooty plugs, a sooty exhaust pipe and black smoke from the tailpipe that stinks of unburned fuel.
An engine is more forgiving of a 3% rich condition than it is of a 3% lean condition. Just adding a slip on will not make the bike lean out to detrimental levels. (contrary to popular belief)

This is excellent information thank you! I have dropped her off at the service center here and shell be re-jetted and carb retuned so only a few more days and its time to ride Thanks everyone for their input, bike was running super lean.