[yellowtrike]

I have a 2003 Motor Trike. I rode it back from Florida during a terrible heat wave last year and it NEVER overheated.

We rode from Lone Pine, CA to Kingman AZ today via Death Valley...oh so many mountains and oh so very hot.

We are two up (combined weight 330) and pulling a Kruzer trailer.

If the ambient temperature is above 95 and there is a hill, the bike's temp gauge begins to climb. On some of the (seemingly) never ending up hills we slowed to 50 mph to keep the gauge from going to red line.

We were riding with an 01 and an 06 and neither of those got above normal (they were also 1 up and no trailer).

Am I expecting too much of this machine? Or is there SOMETHING I could do to improve the situation.

We did not change to coolant prior to the trip, but we did remove the overflow bottle, cleaned it and replaced the coolant in that. (The bottle wasn't gunked up, so I'm thinking the coolant had been changed last year.)

Thanks.

 

[Jon H]

Something changed, if it didn't used to behave that way.

I'd check the coolant level to be sure you're not low, and since you removed and replaced the overflow bottle, it would probably pay to take a look and make sure a hose isn't kinked/pinched there too.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

It seems the engine would have been cooler riding faster :?:

Since it has happened to me, I wonder if maybe you have some air in the system. That will do it every time.

 

[JJ]

Check the coolant hoses on the left side of the engine. I read a post a while back where the hose had a kink in it that restricted flow.

JJ

 

[Lil Daddy]

yellowtrike

I think Don Austin may be correct. Happened to me. You probably got air in system when you cleaned recovery jug. Need to check radiator under right side pocket. You may not be able to see a level in radiator. Even if recovery jug shows correct level coolant will not be pulled into radiator when it cools and pulls vacuum if there is an air lock. My '02 did the same thing when incompetent mechanic did factory recall and did not "burp" system as called for in shop manual.

Good luck

Gil

 

[yellowtrike]

Thanks to all...will check tomorrow.

Fortunately the temps in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas have been much cooler and the trike LOVES going up hills at speed without overheating.