[GregMember]

Nice work Ollie  just on the thermostat business as you may know I have spent the last 6 months researching and searching and getting advice regarding rebuilding mine. The thermostat has come up a few times even while talking with Al Baker from XR only in the states when I was there. He said the only time they have ever got away without running the thermostat is during the Baja where the bike are held flat. They said the engine will run to cold otherwise, he also it was a contributing factor to mine having done the miles it has. Mine has always had a thermostat fitted even in safari trim when I bought it. I check mine from time to time as you have said they do fail. Here is an link or two regarding the thermostat and possible options. I have also read somewhere regarding overheating in tight slow going with the 650R when the thermostat is removed. It said with the thermostat removed, when going slow and the revs are up the coolant flows thru the radiators to fast not giving the coolant time in the radiator to cool. Some guys use a washer and drill the centre out to control the flow :blink:

http://www.xr650r.us/issues/8.shtml

http://www.xrsonly.com/xrs-only-high-performance-thermostat-honda-xr650r

Some extra info I couldn’t link

#2 Q: What’s wrong with my thermostat? Here’s a flaw that Honda doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge. The center guide pin of the thermostat slips from it’s holder, causing the valve to stick in an almost open position. Most bikes seem to do it sooner or later. Mine made it 2 seasons before finally failing. 

Here’s a couple places to start looking. The Motorad brand found at Canadian Tire and under the AutoZone name seems to be the one that fits best and even has a dongle already in the bleed hole, making it easier to drill than nothing at all. Either way you go, you want a unit meant for the 1990 Suzuki Swift or some smaller GM cars. The Napa units will fit, but you’ll have to compress the cage a tiny bit to make it fit in the housing. Some say they just throw it in and squish it with the housing bolts, but I’m not that brave.

Napa #115 (215 for the 190f ‘stat)
Carquest #31978
AutoZone #457-180
Canadian Tire #14-4073-0
(???) MotoRad #239-180 (???)
 Be sure to drill a small bleed hole on the rim like the stocker to allow coolant to flow before the valve gets hot, eliminating hot spots in the engine.

Tip: The thermostat can be easily checked, as it uses a rubber o-ring instead of a gasket in the manifold. Just remove the LH shroud to get at it. Fluid can be drained via the 10mm bolt on the water pump.

#3 Q: What does a different radiator cap do? The stock bike comes with a 1.1 cap. Raising the cap to a higher pressure allows the bike to run a bit hotter before it begins boiling. It will also help you high altitude guys even more, as your lower atmospheric pressure aggravates the issue. A KX500 1.6 (Kawi pn 49085-1059) cap will work in this app.

#4 Q:What are my options for coolant? First tip here is to stick with a non-silicate (red or orange tint) coolant.

Just a little sidenote: The BRP is shipped with a green coolant. When swap time comes, don’t be fooled. It is a non-silicate coolant, so don’t pour just any old green stuff back in. Use the recommended Honda, or a red over the counter non-silicate. Thanks to Jim Cesari for pointing out I needed to clear this up.

Running green non-silicate in your piggy will have two ill effects. First, red and green are not compatible and the additives used to prevent corrosion in the system will cease to work. Green coolant also uses fine silica to “sandblast” any scale buildup in the system. It will erode away soft components and grind down seals.

Some add a “water wetter”, such as Red Line, but my vote is still out on that. I can’t even get a straight answer as to wether or not you run it with coolant or straight water. There is also a straight glycol (Evans), but that too seems gimmicky to me. It will not boil and does not expand, both of which are very good traits. the drawback there is a 15 degree higher average temperature, according to some thermodynamic calculations done by Rich.

Ollie give me a yell when your ready to do a weekend ride with a pub stay or the like. We can do the sort off tracks we used to and from the birthday ride (that style)

TB

[GregMember]

EAGLE`02 wrote:

Jeffro wrote:

lotsa wrote:

The crocodile sign at coopers Creek ferry, pinched from QLD

Where’s the Old Bull sticker

Good Question ??? :laugh:
They are plastered lots of other places :whistle:

They have all been given away

[GregMember]

Price was the same as a good late model setup DR650 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

And yes that was funny Lefty almost as funny as the Orange Exxon Valdez strapped to the side of your bike :laugh: :laugh:

Sorry mate :pinch: :blush: :laugh: you know I am behind the whole project thats probably be where I am pushing it from :laugh: oh my god it doesnt stop :ohmy:

Nah its all gravy, we will balance the wheels this week

TB

[GregMember]

Nice work Bolls and chance of a breakdown of costs, model numbers contact details for ol mate etc

TB

[GregMember]

Nice work Aido, a whole lot of bike but good bike. If you do no good with Mal’s idea which I am sure will work let me know I maybe able to help through Deejay

TB

[GregMember]

Nah it will be all gravy, you did the same Eags from the KLX250 to the KTM690

Actually you went the other way :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TB

[GregMember]

Mr Blue wrote:

Not sure that is the correct approach for a civilised society, as then we would have to support them as disabled thieves whom cannot persue their chosen profession.

I have another idea and have had for a while, they MUST be forced to take a job or go to gaol, and the wages from the job would be garnished to repay the value of their crimes, but the money goes to victims of crime fund which has already paid the victim.

2 fold whammy, they learn the value of a dollar, and they MAY end up having an ethic

Bruce they already have that system it doesn’t work, they don’t turn up for they work, it bogs down in the legal system. Maybe when we cut their hand off we cut their benefits off also. Once we do it do a few or a few hundred the message will get across. Fuck them!

TB

[GregMember]

Thanks Jak, spare time :laugh:

TB

[GregMember]

Great vids Jak keep them coming whenever you get them eh

TB

[GregMember]

micknmeld wrote:

There is a $2000 reward for info leading to the recovery of the bikes.

That sux, I mean having to pay to get your own bikes back :unsure: Yes Jimmy we should start cutting off hands I 100% believe we would see a massive reduction in theft. Trouble is the do gooders won’t let us deal with these pricks because it isn’t the pricks fault they will tell you :ohmy: Seems the poor pricks mother didn’t breast feed him, or she feed him more from the left not the right. His father left home or whatever it’s never these #%$&: fault it is always societies fault

Cut their hands off !!

TB

[GregMember]

EAGLE`02 wrote:

Don`t listen to TB, if it was bling for the Tenere, it would be on like Donkey Kong :laugh:

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: I have been waiting for this thread since I was cracking one liners with Lefty in stitches yesterday :laugh:

Bling yes Eags absolutely everyday of the week A big ORANGE emergency locating beacon that if the bike fell on it’s side would have the Russian cosmonauts screaming for welding helmets, no :laugh:

TB

[GregMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Trailboss wrote:

micknmeld wrote:

Farrrrk I didn’t think the bearings would last to Kempsey and here you are in Brisbane!!!
Cheers
Mick

Welcome to honest Micks :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TB

If you read back in the thread TB, you will read that I said I would have been more comfortable about the whole job if we had of put new bearings in both his wheels.

I have read the thread I know what you are dribbling about. I was having a joke like Eags grease comment :laugh: :laugh: Put the hook in the tackle box bud and relax you did good :cheer:

TB

[GregMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Farrrrk I didn’t think the bearings would last to Kempsey and here you are in Brisbane!!!
Cheers
Mick

Welcome to honest Micks :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TB

[GregMember]

Sorry for the confusion Steve, I didn’t mean I would be riding the XR with motard wheels with you, I would ride the Tenere. I was making the connection that I will ride anywhere on anything ( not a KTM but :pinch: )

TB

[GregMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Looks like putting a new tyre on the XR was a waste of money. Seems as though I am ADVing it for the weekend. :laugh:

.

Shed party is on like Donkey Kong :laugh: Hang over ride to Nundle

TB

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