over heating x9 xevo 500

[billywyse]

    hi guys and galls
    got a over heating issue with my x9 ,took it into motorcycle shop,they found a split y shaped hose,I think they have put a new thermostat in it,they then did a road test and found it still over heating,now suggesting either an airlock or cylinder head gasket,they have not mentioned about a radiator flush,31,500 miles on the clock,they are now mildly suggesting I forget it as the bill is mounting up.talking about corrosion/piston slap and stuff,should I cut my losses and run or stick it out any suggestions.

[Dave Milnes]

Did they bleed the cylinder head water jacket after re-filling the system? If you don't the gauge shoots to the top quite quickly. You cannot get away without doing this. They sound like they haven't a clue.

[Mike H]

+1 for air lock, ^ what he said.

[billywyse]

thanks for that info about the water jacket,I will make the mechanic aware of this tomorrow.

[Dave Milnes]

There is a bleed nipple on the cylinder head forward of the thermostat which needs opening with the engine idling until it runs a steady stream. The 500 doesn't self bleed like some do.

[LordChris]

I'm having the same problem with my 250 Burgman, either that or the thermostat has packed up. A 5 min job if it wasn't for all the Tupperware......

[billywyse]

thanks for the info on the x9 500,told the mechanic this morning about bleeding the system from the thermostat,BINGO! had my scooter back this afternoon running like a dream,oh! and that new city grip rear tyre has tighten up the handling,cheers guys.

[Dave Milnes]

Good but isn't it annoying that amateurs have to tell the 'professionals' how to do their job properly?
At least he listened unlike some that fob owners off with tales of them knowing better and not listening to anything you learn off the internet.

[Mike H]

Thermostats do have a limited life, whatever the stuff is that expands when hot stops working in the end.

[Dave Milnes]

On really old car thermostats which were purely bi-metallic it was often corrosion that caused then to jam and they could stick either open or closed sometimes halfway through a journey.
Later and still current ones use a wax that melts and passes from one chamber to another and for some reason I can't get my head round seem to fail open so not causing a boil. Why they fail though I don't know, but a gradual loss of the wax or loss of thermal effect is most likely. Google might give some theories.

[chookakoo]

Hi Dave, this cylinder head that needs bleeding, is it specific to the Evo or all models / all scooters?

[Dave Milnes]

Just the 400/500cc Piaggio Master units, most of the others self bleed just by leaving the cap off until it starts to warm up.