Over heating

[tosh]

Hi everyone, finally got the bike down the road after a several year rebuild... yes I know, how long did you say??  It Runs and rides really well but to me the engine seems to get very hot in just 2 or 3 miles. I have no problems starting it from cold or hot and the charging system seems to work fine. It’s running standard 4 into 2 pipes with pod filters and standard jetting. It may just be my imagination but it smells hot hot hot. Anyone got any advice ideas?? Thanks in advance

[philward]

Is the smell of 'hot' not just the newness of the rebuild - curing engine paint? If it was overheating, I would have thought it would affect the running.

[tosh]

It could be as performance dosnt seem to be affected. Just been 3 miles and the engine is far to hot to touch anywhere or is this normal for these 650 motors ?

[hairygit]

If you're running standard jetting with pods, it's running weak, and you are running the risk of holing a piston if it gets too hot. Did you rebore and fit new pistons? Running new pistons in it will run hot for a while, but weak jetting and pods is heading for meltdown. Why use pods, no stock airbox?

[Rob62]

Dont jump to conclusions... its an expensive and wasteful way of diagnosing a problem. If you suspect the running conditions, get it checked properly on a dynamometer

[JamesH]

If you're running standard jetting with pods, it's running weak, and you are running the risk of holing a piston if it gets too hot. Did you rebore and fit new pistons? Running new pistons in it will run hot for a while, but weak jetting and pods is heading for meltdown. Why use pods, no stock airbox?

What he said. Unless you’ve adjusted the jetting sounds like you’re more than likely (almost certainly in fact) running lean without the standard airbox.

[tosh]

Sounds like it could well be running lean then, I’ve no standard air box as the bike as it came in box’s of rusty bits and is ,well, a mongrel as it’s a 78 550 frame and swing arm with a 79 650 motor and forks, any suggestions on where to go with the jet size it has stock 92 mains in do I just go up a couple of sizes ?

[Johnwebley]

  check the plug colour,should be a nice tan/pale brown ,  the whiter it is ,the hotter it is !!

[tosh]

Running far to lean as the plugs are white white so built some restrictors to sit in between the pods and carbs as a temporary solution running much better and cooler now

[royhall]

If you can, put the standard airbox back on. Pods really are not worth the pain. You won't be able to touch the engine anyway without leaving skin behind, but it will probably be running lean.