K11 Owners Group

[GrayGoSt]

I drained my radiator to change the coolant in my 95LT for the first time since I've owned the bike. The specs call for 3 liters volume in the radiator. I've added about 16 ounces LESS than 3 liters and no more will go in. The book says to pour it in slowly while squeezing the hose to get the fluid in, which has worked. It also says to crank the engine while squeezing the hose. This doesn't seem to allow any more fluid in the radiator. One other post I've read out here says to fill it as much as possible (where I am now) and run the engine to where the fan comes on, then top of the OVERFLOW tank. Is that correct or do I have to open the radiator cap after running the engine to top off the radiator? Thanks for any help for my first time on this job.
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Jay
'95K1100LT
'02R1150GS

[mike toon]

I would fill the overflow tank to the mark and run it. After a few cycles (days) of heating/cooling overnight any air will have risen to the o-tank. Keep an eye and add as necessary.
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Current Bikes
1993 K1100LT
1976 GL1000 Naked
1981 GL1100 Naked
2000 DR650 Dual Sport

[owrstrich]

last year... i filled up the radiator and the the overflow... i let it it roll and it puked at its hottest... when it cooled off it had sucked the remainder of the overflow into the radiator... i filled up the overflow and did it all over again...

now a year later... the overflow is about half full and it has not puked since filling them up way back then...

it may not be orthodox geezerly... but thats what i did...

jo
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

[Flying Duck]

Johnny likes squeezing hoses.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[acftfliehr]

Just finally purchased a Parts 1985 K-100RT for $700.00, just to get the 3-core radiator!

New BMW Radiators (2-cores) go for over $800.00 now in the US.

I R&R'd my K-100 Radiator (which had a 2 core off my LT) and bang! Cooling back to normal.

I was riding the bike around without a thermostat, to keep the temp down, which helped a bit, The 2 core units are totally inadequate!

My K1100LT (that has a 3-core radiator) is running cool as well.

During my radiator swapping etc.., I found that if you take the L/H Radiator hose off slightly to let air escape, you can fill about 3/4 of the coolant in before some comes out the opening, Then hook it up, and fill the rest.

The riding portion of filling the coolant expansion tank, is thus as follows:

Run the bike up to operating temp and heat the bike up to allow the trapped hot air to “blow” into the expansion tank.

During idle time in shutdown mode, it cools and, “sucks” the coolant in (to replace the hot air)

This is known as the “blow and suck” technique that is so common on K-bikes versus the Air Head crowd….

I don’t even want to get into those slimy Oil Heads..

[GrayGoSt]

Thanks everyone for the advice about letting the overflow tank do it's job. I'll give it a try.
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Jay
'95K1100LT
'02R1150GS