Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

[Olds]

Not sure the plumbing is "correct" but think it should work.
Easiest way to check fueling under load is put a plug spanner in your pocket, take it for a hard ride till it gets hot then stop, remove a plug and check colour, remembering not to let it idle before you turn the engine off.

[ROD]

Now thats 'old skool' mechanikery!
 
 My thoughts are,that I will get a cheapo fan and tie wrap it to the front of rad. If it 'cures' the prob i will get a good quality fan,Kenlowe or summat.

[Olds]

Now thats 'old skool' mechanikery!

Well it's cheaper than an exhaust gas analyser and a rolling road.

[morrag]

Rod, am I missing something here? as Reliant engined trikes are many fold, and I have to assume that they are not generally in receipt of your probs. Andy's many three wheelers of this configuration being prime examples, soooo....what differs your to theirs to give you all this agro. and what needs modifying to cure same, there must be a common solution surely, without resorting to such radical tube"surgery". I know you have been persuing a cure diligently, but maybe a reversion to whatever passes to a general standard, as used by others with similar kit, would be the better way forward......just a thought,and in no way trying to minimise the problem/cure! Regards, Morrag

[spanners]

another ,note, an engine with a lean mixture tends to run a tad hotter, than one with a slightly rich mixture ,,

[kapri]

You may remember this article from back in UKK days Rod?

http://www.uk-hotrods.co.uk/v2/tech/cooling/cooling_troubleshooting.php

[kapri]

Yes, pipework looks fine. How much coolant are you adding ie to what level in that tank?

Can we go back to the start again with questions.

When does it read hot and when does it actually throw water out? Is it still throwing water out with the expansion bottle now fitted and when.( level you fill too may have a bearing on that).

[ROD]

Morrag...point taken may have to go back to fundamentals! Rad is too low for engine,hence the higher fitted expansion bottle.
  Kapri...Orig it was spitting water out the rad cap,the one on the rad. This was cos the rad is too low,and has no expansion area.Fitted the expansion bottle. and new gauge and sender. At local speeds(up to 40/45 mph) the temp stays around 85/90c. If I increase speed the temp will rise to 100c ,at just over this(around 105?) the coolant will spit out of the expansion tank overflow. Just been for a long run on it,kept spd to 40mph/temp was 90c. Now at the same speed in the hotter weather (bit cooler today) or when we were in France it was hitting just over 100c and spitting out,at only 40 mph. Obviously there is the ambient temp to consider . when I slow down or hit traffic in the hotter weather the temp will slowly drop to around 85c ,say after about 5 mins.This is why I reckon it needs a larger rad to cope with the higher speeds (has bike rad on at present,that seems to cope at tickover and slower speeds.)Water level in exp bottle is around 50%.
 Footnote,just been with the trike to the radiator place that built the reliant rad for me. He didnt really understand the problem,and said I need a mechanic,as he only recons rads! I asked him if he knew what car the expansion tnk came from,as I cant identify it,and he said it could be a mk3 escort(it has ford on the side) cos they had a strange config of a pipe halfway down the rad that may be fitted to the large diam pipe on the tank. He also reckoned the tank pipework t'd into the top hose "would be fighting against the flow",but wasnt sure.
 
 
Is it correct for water to be flowing into the exp tank from the copper pipe ? (higher revs,more water in)

[hunter]

  He also reckoned the tank pipework t'd into the top hose "would be fighting against the flow",but wasnt sure.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          He may be right,I think that tank hose should be connected to the bottom hose not the top.

[ROD]

yes,I mentioned previously that Id seen that on another site!But Kapri reckons its ok.If it was connect at the bottom,how would the expanding coolant get into the tank? By taking the small copper pipe to another point?
 
 update ..just read elsewhere that the "header bottle should be on suction side of pump,or pressure cap will blow at high revs"..hmmmmm!

[Olds]

yes,I mentioned previously that Id seen that on another site!But Kapri reckons its ok.If it was connect at the bottom,how would the expanding coolant get into the tank? By taking the small copper pie to another point?
 
 update ..just read elsewhere that the "header bottle should be on suction side of pump,or pressure cap will blow at high revs"..hmmmmm!

I think that as far as expansion goes it doesn't matter where in the system the pipe is connected and unless there is a massive restriction in the rad, anywhere after the thermostat ( itself a restrictor) could be said to be on the suction side of the pump.

[ROD]

Just been out to measure up..the rad wont go anywhere but its existing mount,unless I re build the frame in this area.

[kapri]

Right, I didn't realise it was a custom build rad ! Can you do a head-on shot of the rad , from front ,and give me some dimensions please.

[ROD]

No,rad is a standard Reliant,recored,all exactly as orig.

[hunter]

Rod what direction is the fan rotating,does it pull air through the front of the rad,or push it through from the rear,