best way to remove & install coolant hose???

[2005 1m]

Hey guys I am going to be taking the stock Heads off my 05 KK EFI and putting on an RKT head. I'm sure that when I take the hose off the rail attachment I am going to lose a bunch of fluid and get some air in the line. So my questions are:

Do I need to do anything to get that air out of the line or will it work its way out when I start it up (by pulling from the reservoir)? And...

What type of coolant do these Cats take? Just simple auto coolant??? This may be a dumb question but I am new to owning a sled so haven't done much maintenance on them.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Idcatman3]

If you are just taking the heads off, you can siphon enough coolant out from the overflow bottle. Just stick a small hose down it toward the engine as far as you can and it will get the coolant level below the heads. Then you won't lose any when you take them off.

Then when you put it back together, leave the thermostat out, and fill the motor with coolant from that hole. This will minimize the amount of air trapped. Then just check the level periodically, and make sure it is circulating.

 

[76FOMOCO]

or on the front of the motor down low you will find a rubber line next to the coolant hose and at the end of it is a cap you can drain it into a small cup or picture and get the volume below the head line without loosing a drop of coolant.

 

[Idcatman3]

or on the front of the motor down low you will find a rubber line next to the coolant hose and at the end of it is a cap you can drain it into a small cup or picture and get the volume below the head line without loosing a drop of coolant.

I suppose you could do it the easy way too....

 

[knuts82]

I dont think the 05 king cats have the drain line, a friend has one and it has no drain, also looked it up on the cat parts pages and they dont show it. Just make sure you get enough coolant out so you dont leak much into the cylinders when you remove the head.

 

[2005 1m]

Thanks to all for the input. One question that nobody has addressed though is what type of coolants these engines use? Is it a special Cat coolant or just a simple auto coolant?

IDCATMAN - Does the thermostat stay off permanently? Seems as though it would as there isn't an attachment on the RKT head for it as I recall...?

Thanks again guys.

 

[Going West]

I just pull the coolant line at the bottom of the engine on the exhaust side and drain the whole thing, coolents cheap and it sucks when you acidentily fill the crank with it. I you do just drain a little then make sure the rear cooler is lower then the motor or it will drain back on you.

 

[Idcatman3]

IDCATMAN - Does the thermostat stay off permanently? Seems as though it would as there isn't an attachment on the RKT head for it as I recall...?

Thanks again guys.

There should be a place for the thermostat, but I guess I can't say for sure. I would say if you do remove it, get a water temp gauge.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

regardless of the method you use to drain...after the job is done it is wise to have the front of your sled raised after/during filling and then run it abit...check level...run again...check level..a few times...then lower and keep an eye on it...but it does a good job of bleeding with front raised..

 

[m8magicandmystery]

reg aluminum compatable coolant

 

[2005 1m]

One last question - Full strength coolant as it comes out of the bottle or do you cut it 50/50 with water? Cutting it with water doesn't seem logical on a SNOW machine but I figured I'd ask; better safe than sorry.

Thanks again for the tips guys. SnoWest really has something good going (and good members on here) that make it nice for new guys to the sport, like myself.

 

[2005 1m]

I lied. Another question...

Considering Going West's suggestion. Are the coolant lines just the two 1 1/8'' lines that are going into the engine on the top rear and out of the engine on the bottom front? Or are the two thin 1/2" line that are right below the power valves also linked to the cooling system? If not, what are those line below the power valves? Just trying to figure out how hard it is to get to these lines...

 

[m8magicandmystery]

i go 60/40...in the antifreeze the 60 percent the antifreeze...but depends how cold ya get...do not use full strength....or get some automotive pre mix jugs..

 

[Going West]

The coolent lines are the large ones the ones by the power valves are just oil drains. I use 50/50, straingh anti freez will jell under real cold conditions. Just pull the line at the bottom of the motor ont the exausth side were it goes to the cooler.

 

[76FOMOCO]

I dont think the 05 king cats have the drain line, a friend has one and it has no drain, also looked it up on the cat parts pages and they dont show it. Just make sure you get enough coolant out so you dont leak much into the cylinders when you remove the head.

all 900 had the drain and if you looked at the parts fish under "cooling system" it is not on this page. It is under "engine and related parts" #35 and is hard to find if you don't know its there. comes off the water pump housing and is routed below the main cooling line.

 

[kidrman]

As said drain line is there, no reason to drain it all and fight with burping it. A couple things not mentioned so far. The RKT head does accept the stock thermostat, just drop it in. If you put the skis up on some milk crates when you drain the coolant below the head line you will keep coolant in the rear coolers and virtually eliminate any chance of an air bubble when you refill. Finally, I use distilled water with the antifreeze since we are dealing with aluminum motors and corrosion can be an issue.

 

[900kingkitty]

in 05 the efi's had the drain line and the carbed models didn't

 

[Arcticatdan]

Be sure to use distilled water to mix with antifreeze. Regular water is hard on the aluminum.

 

[Ultra]

in 05 the efi's had the drain line and the carbed models didn't

I have 2 05's KK carbs, both of them have the drain line?

 

[kidrman]

Be sure to use distilled water to mix with antifreeze. Regular water is hard on the aluminum.

I totally beat you to it