Author Topic: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!  (Read 6371 times)

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Offline Capt Howdy

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2021, 10:23:01 pm »
I had a similar problem to the point where coolant was being forced out of the overflow. It was a faulty thermostat which were known to cause problems. Cleaned the radiator, replaced the coolant (vacuum method) and thermostat and no problems in 60k miles. No need to remove the stone guard
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Offline beech

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2021, 10:26:06 pm »
A young bike with only 18k miles. It tells me like two other posts the refill of coolant was not done correctly. Air trapped in the cylinder head. Maybe some of the bubbles have been forced out. But I think it needs to be drained and refilled carefully via the vacuum (minimum 25") method. And I bet at 18K miles the valves were fine.
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Offline beech

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #17 on: May 13, 2021, 05:22:24 am »
The problem with having a shop do your maintenance that involves removing the radiator is that they do not clean it as well (or at all) as you would. It takes at least an hour to pick out the rocks and bugs from each individual fin hole, me a couple of hours. You need to air blow it while doing this. Generally you get 30 or 40 grams of crap. Now spray some brake cleaner solvent in to get the road tar stuff out. Now wash with soap and water and rinse. You will be amazed how this helps. Shops don't want to do this because of the two hours time. How do they ask you for the money for this. Many Dealers just say it is done and sell you a new radiator. Yikes. Yes, your first complaint indicated your "mechanic" did a poor job. No vacuum bleed. Don't go back.
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Offline commando 848

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #18 on: May 13, 2021, 07:11:58 am »
The only reason I had a garage to do the 18k service was not having to invest in the required equipment to vacuum fill the system. I have done around 500 miles since the service and there are no signs of overheating :winkthumbs: I like to carry out my own sevicing and over the last weekend I have changed the final drive oil seal and greased up the splines. The cooling system on the K1300, I feel, is barely adequate with a small low slung radiator and only a 2 litre capacity. The bike was designed to warm up quickly, which it does, but the radiator fins are far too fine  and prone to corrosion. As mentioned in a previous post, I had an early K1600 that was cursed with overheating. >:(  Unfortunately, one of the things that you have to accept when owning a K.   
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Offline Matt

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #19 on: May 13, 2021, 09:31:45 am »
I think the Berkshire roads must be blessed with no gravel or I was very lucky with both my Ks never to experience this overheating thing! And that was doing 12-15k a year.

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Offline black-k1

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2021, 10:00:52 am »
I think a lot depended on how often you rode on wet and cruddy roads. I averaged a new radiator every 2 years/36,000 miles! (no cleaning though and paid for by BMW!)
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Offline Matt

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #21 on: May 13, 2021, 12:18:39 pm »
Yeah good point. Also I used to pay the magic guy who came to Bahnstormer to clean the bike occasionally, where he'd strip the brakes down etc. Possibly he gave the rad a seeing to!
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Offline Phmode

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #22 on: May 13, 2021, 12:24:57 pm »
There aare most definitely advantages to riding high annual mileages so that use-related problems get swept up in the warranty.

Even if you are not doing the miles, the rad still magically clogs itself while you are sleeping. Once the process starts, it seems to just use the moisture in the atmosphere to combine with any salt or crud you managed to get in there on the last 2 mile ride to the MoT guy and then it is all downhill from there. No cases of radiator clogging in the balmy Greek atmosphere note.

Mine hasn't been cleaned out for two years now due to the wrist injuries and a severe case of a rare bone disease. 'Idleness' I think the specialist called it...

Offline Matt

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #23 on: May 13, 2021, 12:28:30 pm »
...

Even if you are not doing the miles, the rad still magically clogs itself while you are sleeping.
...

Sorry that's me, now I remember where you live I've been spraying dry malt extract on your rad ever night :D.
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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #24 on: May 13, 2021, 11:51:22 pm »
Has anyone here who had a new rad, retrieved the old one for cleaning at leisure?

Offline TomL

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #25 on: May 14, 2021, 11:00:53 am »
If you take a good look at an old rad that has been changed because of overheating you will know that they are beyond "cleaning at leisure".
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Offline black-k1

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #26 on: May 14, 2021, 11:50:51 am »
I would have liked to try that with mine as they were changed by the dealer before I noticed any issues. Unfortunately, as BMW paid for the replacement, I didn't think it appropriate to ask for the old rads.
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Offline Phmode

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #27 on: May 14, 2021, 12:38:22 pm »
Has anyone here who had a new rad, retrieved the old one for cleaning at leisure?

There is a second 'gotcha' with the rads, which is having the seams fail on you. That was what killed my K12 rad. The aluminium 'crimps' that hold the plastic side tanks in place get eaten by the Tin Worm and then you really are stuffed.

All in all, a nasty piece of work for sure.

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #28 on: May 14, 2021, 12:51:06 pm »
Oh well, it's the 'soak in a bucket as high as you can get it then jet through from the back' operation again soon. Then a new one. Repeat.

Offline richtea

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Re: Summer is coming The K is getting hot!!
« Reply #29 on: May 14, 2021, 08:06:04 pm »
Oh well, it's the 'soak in a bucket as high as you can get it then jet through from the back' operation again soon. Then a new one. Repeat.

That's about right. I'd be careful with the jetting pressure...