Still Overheating! Help!

[chunkysoup]

So i took my first trip this year to tomahawk, wi. I have an 06 900 switchback with the radiator removed. I run mostly trails but try to hit powder as much as i can! I went on the trip with my brother and dad so we did all trail miles. My temp reading climbed easily to 200+ degrees. Im wondering if maybe i have a bad coolant cap or a bad thermostat or something. I have 171 studs so i would assume that i dont need ice scratchers, maybe i am wrong. What could be my problem? Do these engines always run this hot? Let me know what you think!
Thanks
Jason

 

[frozen north]

What size track do ya have?
Did you remove the radiator?
I would say a bad t-stat.
make sure also you got the 50/50 coolant.

 

[Treeslut]

yes you do need scratchers on if you are riding on trails with the rad delete. But it would not hurt to put in a new t-stat either.

 

[chunkysoup]

144 track with 171 studs. I used 50/50 premix. The radiator is gone. Was thinking about maybe going with a cooler thermostat. What do you think? Isnt whats in it stock like a 145 or 150 or something?

 

[guidoxpress]

get scratchers for sure...regarldless of where you live or not...worth having just incase..

i would get a new thermostat at least...

you can have the dealer or even a good mechanics shop test your Cap for you...but unlikely its bad...

they will run hot..but if you run scratchers anyways, regardless of trail/powder...it will help drop the temps dramatically...

--scratchers
--new thermostat
--bleed coolant a few more times
--dont wreck it

 

[rmk2112]

Im running w/out a radiator too. I have to run scratchers on the trails all the time. I know ur getting a lot hotter, but as soon as I get to 150 - 155, I put them down and within a min I'm down to 120 and running cool

 

[BIGGDAWG]

don't think you will find a cooler t stat it is a 120 from factory.

you need scratchers they make all the diff.

 

[chunkysoup]

I believe that scratchers would help but what i dont understand is how its getting that hot with the loose snow we had today. It wasnt hard at all and i have studs that should have thrown plenty of snow on the cooler so whats going on?

 

[frozen north]

Do what Sean said- check and bleed the air out of the system.
While its running-keep cap off the coolant tank.

Let it warm up to like 120- then slowly tilt the sled-still running- 5 minuts 1 side then move to the other side.
That should pop any air bubble in there.

 

[chunkysoup]

If i have an air bubble then the coolant shouldnt be flowing rite? If i get into powder it will drop down to 150 in a heartbeat so that tells me its still circulating.

 

[Treeslut]

ya i think you just need scratchers . I know on mine i will hit 170 - 180 within a half mile on hard trail if i don't drop my scratchers, drop um and i run 126 - 135.

 

[frozen north]

not exactly.
It will flow a little-small amount with a bubble.
But- you will know when the air pocket is gone- you will see more flow in the tank.
Once the water temp at idle hits 120 or 123- then it should drop to 115 to 119. Just watch it- you will see it drop- then you know the air pocket is done.

 

[rmk2112]

If i have an air bubble then the coolant shouldnt be flowing rite? If i get into powder it will drop down to 150 in a heartbeat so that tells me its still circulating.

I consider 150 overheating.

Lots of awesome info here. I'm gonna bled my system too. I was riding with a 09 D7 today and I was always putting my scratchers down in areas I didn't think I'd need to and he didn't have to. I might have same issue as you, but not as pronounced.

 

[chunkysoup]

Thanks for all the help guys! I will take your advice! When i get home im gonna buy a new coolant cap(just incase), a new thermostat, bleed the system, and i was thinking ordering slidekicks. I dont go in reverse that much but when i do i know i will forget about the scratchers!
Thanks again!
Jason

 

[94fordguy]

one word.....


SCRATCHERS!!!!!!!!!

 

[ACE 900]

Scratchers will do the trick. Was your exchanger in the rear icing over? That has happened to me on occasion & it causes the engine to heat up real fast.

Good luck.

 

[rideharder]

when you did the rad delete, did you just loop it back around with a reducer in the tube to block off flow? when i bought my 9 the previous owner used the slp rad kit i think and just looped the hose. i dont have scratchers yet but i had a hard time keeping it cool. the slp kit has a 1/4" hole that still lets coolant through, recirclulating hot coolent. i took out the t and put in a straight pipe on the hose that comes out of the head and put in a 1" pvc cap inside a hose and blocked off the bottle hose. eliminating the loop all together. seems to work so far. scratchers are on there way but taking the dead loop out helped me.

 

[Danbot]

X2 on removing the rad loop completely. Direct all flow to the heat exchanger.

 

[MacDawg productions]

Don't panic!! Just spend the 40 bucks on some good ol fashioned scratchers. You will be amazed what they can do. If your not getting the air flow, and it's hard pack, it's hard to cool these suckers down. When I hit 140, the scratchers come down. Save your money on a cap and thermostat, and just try the scratchers first. If i don't use them, she quickly climbs to 165. Thats the max for me. Start packing snow on top of the rad, and the back of your running boards. This also aids in cooling down when your going slow through woops and such. Trust me, the boys on here know what they are talking about. Scratchers. Have fun.

 

[chunkysoup]

Scratchers will do the trick. Was your exchanger in the rear icing over? That has happened to me on occasion & it causes the engine to heat up real fast.

Good luck.

No it wasnt icing over. But i was stopping on the trail when it got up around 180 and i would pack snow on top and on the rails and the temp still only came down to about 160 at the lowest.