Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: Warren on July 20, 2005, 09:59:43 AM

Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Warren on July 20, 2005, 09:59:43 AM
I have a 2000 B600 and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I can tell if my engine is overheating.  The weather has been very hot lately (34 Celsius) and I am riding in the city.  When I stop the engine is too hot for me to hold my hand on it and leave it there.  This is the first time I have ridden an air-cooled bike in this heat.  Is this normal heating in this type of weather :?: ?  If anyone could give me some insight on this, I would appreciate it.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: PeteSC on July 20, 2005, 10:53:57 AM
If your legs start blistering, it's too hot.
 :motorsmile:
  The Bandit engines will throw off a lot of heat when it's hot outside, but I've never heard of anyone damaging an engine.

    Keep good oil in it, avoid letting it idle for extended times in hot weather, or getting stuck in real slow, stop and go traffic.....and use your common sense.   If you get stuck in stop and go traffic, and your legs are cooking......try to find another route that will let you move at least a slow pace....or park the bike and shut it off for a while.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Maniac on July 20, 2005, 11:19:44 AM
The 600 is air-cooled?  :shock:

I thought they were all liquid cooled, be it oil or water?

My 400 has a 'TEMP' light, it's never gone off but I'd assume if it does it means I'm overheating  :grin: , does the 600 not have that? It should light when you turn the key to run and the bike isn't started, as should the oil pressure light.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: ray nielsen on July 20, 2005, 11:42:46 AM
The 2G Bandit 1200s have a larger oil cooler than earlier models and it seems to work well.

Synthetic oil adds a degree of protection with its higher temperature handling qualities.

I've found that I can sometimes get around traffic jams by using the safety lane to the right or left of the main lanes.  Once I encountered a police officer and explained that my motor needed air movement -- he looked a bit dejected, but motioned me on into traffic without a citation.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: PeteSC on July 20, 2005, 11:42:51 AM
AFAIK, the 600/1200 only has an oil pressure light...no temp indications.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Maniac on July 20, 2005, 01:42:17 PM
Quote from: "PeteSC"
AFAIK, the 600/1200 only has an oil pressure light...no temp indications.


Wow, thats crappy.  :duh:
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: txbanditrydr on July 20, 2005, 02:26:52 PM
There's a neat little oil temp gauge that takes place of the oil filler cap... trouble is it's only available in Celsius and will run about 60 bucks.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: mike on July 20, 2005, 04:44:31 PM
Fasy Larry has a posted link for installing a temp gauge and sender.
http://members.aol.com/ffastcbr/banditfaq.htm#electrical
Quote
Intellitronix Oil Temp for Bandit 60/1200.
The Intellitronix digital temp gauge and sender (electric) has been successfully fitted to the Bandit.  If you drill and tap the Allen head oil passage plug on the bottom right (sitting on bike) front of the engine, you can thread the sender in there.  Alternately, you can pull use a fitting on the left side of the engine near the left oil cooler line coming from the cooler into the block.  With this method nothing protrudes or shows.  The wire can be routed next to the starter motor into the harness.


Intellitronix parts:

S8013 Temperature Sending Unit Kit $16
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/products/sending/index.htm
(http://www.nordskogperformance.net/images/products/senders/s8013.gif)

AND

M9008 Oil Temperature Gauge, 100-300° F  $70
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/products/auto/streetdigital/detail/m9008.htm
(http://www.nordskogperformance.net/images/products/auto/street_digital/m9008_lg.gif)

OR

K706 Oil Temperature Gauge, 100-280° F $50
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/products/auto/streetanalog/detail/k706.htm
(http://www.nordskogperformance.net/images/products/auto/street_analog/k706_lg.gif)


Don't know where you'd put the 2" gauge though... ???? (http://www.hudmill.com/mike/smiles/original/154.gif)
Title: temp
Post by: tacoman on July 20, 2005, 06:06:43 PM
This motor has been around a long time and you don't hear of serious meltdowns too often.  I don't think we've had one post here so I think they can take some hi temps.  If you're in stop & go traffic watch your clutch slipping, as this can create extra heat.  Make sure your radiator is clean of bugs/debris.  If longs periods of heat go by you may want to change your oil more often.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Red01 on July 20, 2005, 06:37:24 PM
Quote from: "Maniac"
The 600 is air-cooled?  :shock:

I thought they were all liquid cooled, be it oil or water?


The 250 & 400 are 3-way cooled (air, oil & water), the 600, 750 & 1200 are 2-way cooled (air & oil). Primary cooling on the bigger ones is air, oil is used to cool the pistons and for extra cylinder head cooling.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Maniac on July 20, 2005, 07:12:22 PM
Actually the 400 is just 2-way cooled, air and water, there is no oil cooler on it.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Red01 on July 20, 2005, 07:29:57 PM
May not be an oil cooler, but it has oil jets at strategic locations for internal cooling. It was an advertising point in the Suzuki ad copy back in the day - "Suzuki Advanced Three-way Cooling System" or SATCS.
(Similar to the bigger bikes SACS acronym for Suzuki Advanced Cooling System that was tagged onto the air-oil cooled bikes.)
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: MaccDaddy on July 21, 2005, 08:25:30 AM
If your bike is air cooled only, the best way to reduce heat it to install an oil cooler or increasing the size of the one that is already present. I live in Darwin, Australia and trust me these bikes can take the heat as long as you can keep fresh air flowing over the fins!!!! no matter what the speed.

If you are very concerned about the heat then you can actually install a fan just make sure you keep it at least 3.5cm (about 1.5 inches) from the fins as not to create hot spots.
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: Maniac on July 21, 2005, 09:44:24 AM
Quote from: "Red01"
May not be an oil cooler, but it has oil jets at strategic locations for internal cooling. It was an advertising point in the Suzuki ad copy back in the day - "Suzuki Advanced Three-way Cooling System" or SATCS.
(Similar to the bigger bikes SACS acronym for Suzuki Advanced Cooling System that was tagged onto the air-oil cooled bikes.)



Ah, ok, I see now.   :thanks:
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: regaliz2 on July 25, 2005, 12:01:47 PM
You do not need to worry, we are having till 40 ºC here in Spain these days and the bandit goes smooth as ever, so relax...
Title: Overheating Engine
Post by: theslyfox on July 28, 2005, 06:52:29 PM
I find if your driving in the city and its hot and your stopped at lights or going no where traffic just turn the engine off. And if the engine gets really hot the little fan on the radiator will come on if you have one, thats when you start to know shes getting hot.