BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Cleaning the cooling system Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:24 pm

brickrider2

brickrider2
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Is there a post that gives step by step instructions for cleaning/flushing the cooling system on K-bikes? I would like to know if commercially available products are superior to cleaning vinegar; if the thermostat should be removed for this procedure, etc.  What is the best practice? TIA


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1996 K1100LT
    

2Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:32 pm

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
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I have used Prestone Radiator flush with good results.  I've also used white vinegar.  Drain the coolant, fill with vinegar and run the engine until the fan runs a couple times.  For the Prestone, follow the directions.  After the flush, refill with distilled water and run the engine again.  Drain the distilled water and install your 60/40 coolant mix.  I put a box fan blowing on the headers while I'm running the engine

Have you pulled the radiator to flush the dead bugs from the fins?  I had to soak the radiator from my first 16v K100 to cure a bad overheating problem.  I just pulled the radiator off the bike and put it in a plastic pan with enough white vinegar to cover it.  After an overnight soak I rinsed the fins.  The crap that came out was incredible.


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

3Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:16 pm

Holister

Holister
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Point-Seven-five wrote:....
Have you pulled the radiator to flush the dead bugs from the fins?  I had to soak the radiator from my first 16v K100 to cure a bad overheating problem.  I just pulled the radiator off the bike and put it in a plastic pan with enough white vinegar to cover it.  After an overnight soak I rinsed the fins.  The crap that came out was incredible.
I think I need to do that to mine. It seems to overheat too quickly when I slow down.


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1989 K100RT     VIN  0097367 (naked)  
1996 K1100RS   VIN  0451808
 Cleaning the cooling system Austra12    Fuel:  95 Octane
Engine Oil: Nulon Full Synthetic 15W50
Gear Box Oil:  Nulon Synthetic 75W90
    

4Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:35 pm

Laitch

Laitch
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brickrider2 wrote: if the thermostat should be removed for this procedure.
I leave it in place; it will be cleaned during the procedure.


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1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

5Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:54 pm

duck

duck
Life time member
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Laitch wrote:
brickrider2 wrote: if the thermostat should be removed for this procedure.
I leave it in place; it will be cleaned during the procedure.

I wouldn't mess with the thermostat. The rubber ring that seals it is very delicate and will tear if you look at it crosswize.


__________________________________________________
Current stable:
86 Custom K100 (standard fairing, K75 Belly pan, Ceramic chromed engine covers, paralever)
K75 Frankenbrick (Paralever, K11 front end, hybrid ABS, K1100RS fairing, radial tires)
86 K75C Turbo w/ paralever
94 K1100RS
93 K1100LT
91 K1
93 K75S (K11 front end)
91 K75S (K1 front end)
14 Yamaha WR250R
98 Taxi Cab K1200RS
14 K1600GT
http://www.ClassicKBikes.com
    

6Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty radiator flush Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:06 pm

brickrider2

brickrider2
Life time member
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Okay, based on the comments here, I've made some decisions.  I'll buy a couple of gallons of cleaning vinegar and use that rather than a cleaner such as Prestone.  I've de-scaled tea kettles with vinegar and know it's effective on mineral build-up, maybe it will dissolve what I expect is some jelly-like stuff in the radiator that now inhibits cooling.  Given the very low miles on this bike, it obviously sat unused for a long time.  I suspect the coolant was never changed.
I'll flushed the radiator fins with a high speed stream of water, both from the front and rear of the unit. I also brushed off the remains of a surprising amount of insects from my recent tour.  I say surprising because there were very few collected on the windscreen, but the radiator was a whole different situation.  
I'll keep the thermostat in place.  I'd hate to ruin a good-working thermostat for want of a special gasket.


__________________________________________________
1996 K1100LT
    

7Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:18 pm

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
brickrider2 wrote:I'll flushed the radiator fins with a high speed stream of water, both from the front and rear of the unit.
Pointing a high-pressure stream of water at a Brick is not a best practice. Smile


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1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

8Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:40 pm

Dai

Dai
Life time member
Life time member
Not a good idea. The one time I did that a stream of flies, crap and radiator fins flew out the back.


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1983 K100 naked upgraded to K100LT spec after spending time as an RS and an RT
1987 K100RT
Others...
1978 Moto Guzzi 850-T3, 1979 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 California,1993 Moto Guzzi 1100ie California
2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500
    

9Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:43 pm

Holister

Holister
Life time member
Life time member
I'd suggest an alkaline radiator cleaner rather than an acid like vinegar. I'd say there'd have to be something similar in the US.
https://www.tectaloy.com.au/radiator-additives
Cleaning the cooling system A7686080


__________________________________________________

1989 K100RT     VIN  0097367 (naked)  
1996 K1100RS   VIN  0451808
 Cleaning the cooling system Austra12    Fuel:  95 Octane
Engine Oil: Nulon Full Synthetic 15W50
Gear Box Oil:  Nulon Synthetic 75W90
    

10Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:04 am

brickrider2

brickrider2
Life time member
Life time member
Why is an alkaline-based cleaner thought to be superior to vinegar?


__________________________________________________
1996 K1100LT
    

11Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:55 am

Laitch

Laitch
Life time member
Life time member
brickrider2 wrote:Why is an alkaline-based cleaner thought to be superior to vinegar?
Alkali flush and acid flush have different cleaning properties. Which is used depends upon what is drained from the system. Sometimes both might be needed. Here's the Cummins explanation. The instructions are for heavy-duty vehicle engine maintenance.


__________________________________________________
1995 K75 90,000 miles
    

12Back to top Go down   Cleaning the cooling system Empty Re: Cleaning the cooling system Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:26 pm

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
The bugs came in from the front, so you want to flush from the rear. 

You want to do it with a minimal pressure, as the fins are not difficult to distort, blocking air flow.  The vinegar soak in the pan not only gets rid of the minerals inside the radiator, but it marinates and tenderizes the bugs in the fins, allowing them to be flushed by just pouring water through the fins.  A bit of gentle tapping on a flat surface helps get the reluctant bugs out.

I realize it's a pain in the azz, but it' the best way I know to do the job.


__________________________________________________
Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

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