Parades

Pretzel · 10-28-2012, 06:27 PM

Rode Grace in a 1.5 mile parade for the first (and LAST) time today. Was getting chatter and some sort of rattle by the end. Pulled her over afterward for about 20 mins then took it nice and easy on the highway home, all sounds gone and she was running nice and normal again. Dunno how the guys on the Harleys did it... Couple had to pull out early.

**billmac** · 10-28-2012, 07:27 PM

Rode parades for years on several Kawasaki KZ1000's, even on many July 4ths. The bikes would always knock, rattle, and ping. I suspect the oil was getting thin and some fuel was being ignited at the wrong time by red hot carbon in the cylinders. After the parades, we would get the bikes on the highway and the first mile it might run 40mph WOT. Within minutes, the performance would return and the bikes would last for years without any noticeable problem caused by the parades.

Now, would I ever ride any of my own bikes in a parade, heck no.

**nomadtom69** · 10-28-2012, 09:36 PM

Sounds like going down Front Beach Road at Panama City Beach during Thunder at the Beach not a good thing slow 1-2 mph stop and go try not to get in that mess either

**trip** · 10-29-2012, 07:29 AM

Ridden in several parades... all I've ever heard out of my 1600 is the cooling fans.

macmac · 10-29-2012, 10:02 AM

Sounds like a hot engine to me. Maybe a hot clutch too.....

Did the fan come on? Sounds like it should have.

mobandy78 · 10-29-2012, 10:24 AM

Yea, I've done a few parades, fundraisers, etc. and have never heard any chatter/knocking. All I hear is the fan kicking on and off. Check your fluids?

recumbentbob · 10-29-2012, 10:49 AM

I too have ridden in some parades the only noise was the cooling fan running. Bike ran fine.

roadhawg · 10-29-2012, 12:28 PM

If bike was overheating, would not the red temp lite come on?

I have been in some very long traffic "jams", in fact Biketoberfest comes to mind as it took about 20 minutes just to get parked.
Maybe synthetic oil really does make it run cooler?
I have never overheated, knock on wood!

I would check your coolant level and make sure your fan is working.

Pretzel · 10-29-2012, 02:23 PM

Yup, the fan came on, never got the temp light, and I didn't notice the rattle/knock until after I escaped the parade. I gave it a bit of a heavy throttle (the joy of freedom?) and had a bit of clackity-clack. Once it cooled down, no issues whatsoever. Haven't pulled the side cover to look at the coolant levels yet, but they were fine about a week and a half ago. Oil has been fine too, Mobil 1 synthetic about 2k ago.

Only other time I've heard this (or similar noise) was after a full day of riding, a heavier throttle in 5th gear would give it, but not in other gears. This time it was in 2nd and 3rd, didn't really test in others, or test for an extended period of time. Almost like a spark/arc random tap, but no loose wires or anything. Figured it was just the heat since it went away.

recumbentbob · 10-29-2012, 02:48 PM

Sounds like it was pinging. Do u have a fuel processor?

landman · 10-29-2012, 02:48 PM

parades equal too much clutch work for my old arthritic hands but never had any unusaul
noises.

Pretzel · 10-29-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recumbentbob

Sounds like it was pinging. Do u have a fuel processor?

Not yet. Dobeck is the next upgrade on the list... hoping to order it after the next paycheck drops! Then I'm gonna have "Mo" give me the tutorial!

mobandy78 · 10-31-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pretzel

Not yet. Dobeck is the next upgrade on the list... hoping to order it after the next paycheck drops! Then I'm gonna have "Mo" give me the tutorial!

I think the TFI will take care of what you were hearing... as said, sounds like pinging after your second description. As soon as you get it, we'll find a time to put it on. Pretty easy!

Pretzel · 11-02-2012, 06:56 PM

So... if the coolant overflow shows at the "Full" line when hot, but doesn't suck coolant back out as it cools, I'm guessing there's a problem. Air bubble? Very low coolant in the radiator? Something else?

Also guessing this would cause the bike to run warmer than usual.

macmac · 11-03-2012, 10:36 AM

Yes, and you pretty much need a solid stream of coolant for the system to work.

If there is a larger bubble somewhere it's size will defeat the push pull action in the over flow tubing. The system should be able to self prime the tubing.

So either the system is not really full, or you have a air leak (loose clamp maybe)

10-28-2012, 06:27 PM	#1
Pretzel Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NE Oklahoma Posts: 272	Parades Rode Grace in a 1.5 mile parade for the first (and LAST) time today. Was getting chatter and some sort of rattle by the end. Pulled her over afterward for about 20 mins then took it nice and easy on the highway home, all sounds gone and she was running nice and normal again. Dunno how the guys on the Harleys did it... Couple had to pull out early. __________________ Help a child, change the world! BACA Pretzel - Flyin' the highways in OK! '08 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - "Grace" Candy Fire Red/Metallic Diablo Black B.A.C.A. Member, Oklahoma Chapter VBA #02190 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-28-2012, 09:36 PM	#3
nomadtom69 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryville, Tn Posts: 2,656	Sounds like going down Front Beach Road at Panama City Beach during Thunder at the Beach not a good thing slow 1-2 mph stop and go try not to get in that mess either __________________ (NomadTom69)Tom Green Previous bikes - 2004 BMW R1200 CLC 2006 Nomad 1600 Black -1985 BMW K100 RT VBA #001609 Viet-Nam Vet 71-72 Maryville , Tn. Maggie Valley '11-Townsend '12-Estes Park '13- Copperhead fall rally "13- Elkins WV '14- Eureka Springs ' 15- Helen Ga. SE Rally '16
	0

10-29-2012, 07:29 AM	#4
trip VBA Founder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lindale, Texas Posts: 6,846	Ridden in several parades... all I've ever heard out of my 1600 is the cooling fans. __________________ Robert "Trip" Hilliard VBA/KawaNOW - Founder/Past President VBA # 00001 Trip's Website Custer 09, 18 / Maggie Valley 11 / Eureka Springs 09, 17 / Antlers 09, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 Texas Hill Country / Deals Gap / Colorado / Wyoming / Montana / Utah / More trips for Trip
	0

10-29-2012, 10:02 AM	#5
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Sounds like a hot engine to me. Maybe a hot clutch too..... Did the fan come on? Sounds like it should have. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-29-2012, 10:24 AM	#6
mobandy78 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 1,485	Yea, I've done a few parades, fundraisers, etc. and have never heard any chatter/knocking. All I hear is the fan kicking on and off. Check your fluids? __________________ Matt "Mo" Moore Owasso, Oklahoma VBA #1250 2005 Nomad 1600 - Darkside "There is no normal life, there's just life. So get on with it." - Doc Holiday
	0

10-28-2012, 07:27 PM	#2
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	Rode parades for years on several Kawasaki KZ1000's, even on many July 4ths. The bikes would always knock, rattle, and ping. I suspect the oil was getting thin and some fuel was being ignited at the wrong time by red hot carbon in the cylinders. After the parades, we would get the bikes on the highway and the first mile it might run 40mph WOT. Within minutes, the performance would return and the bikes would last for years without any noticeable problem caused by the parades. Now, would I ever ride any of my own bikes in a parade, heck no.
	0

10-29-2012, 10:49 AM	#7
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	I too have ridden in some parades the only noise was the cooling fan running. Bike ran fine. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
	0

10-29-2012, 12:28 PM	#8
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Overheating Lite If bike was overheating, would not the red temp lite come on? I have been in some very long traffic "jams", in fact Biketoberfest comes to mind as it took about 20 minutes just to get parked. Maybe synthetic oil really does make it run cooler? I have never overheated, knock on wood! I would check your coolant level and make sure your fan is working. __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek
	0

10-29-2012, 02:23 PM	#9
Pretzel Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NE Oklahoma Posts: 272	Yup, the fan came on, never got the temp light, and I didn't notice the rattle/knock until after I escaped the parade. I gave it a bit of a heavy throttle (the joy of freedom?) and had a bit of clackity-clack. Once it cooled down, no issues whatsoever. Haven't pulled the side cover to look at the coolant levels yet, but they were fine about a week and a half ago. Oil has been fine too, Mobil 1 synthetic about 2k ago. Only other time I've heard this (or similar noise) was after a full day of riding, a heavier throttle in 5th gear would give it, but not in other gears. This time it was in 2nd and 3rd, didn't really test in others, or test for an extended period of time. Almost like a spark/arc random tap, but no loose wires or anything. Figured it was just the heat since it went away. __________________ Help a child, change the world! BACA Pretzel - Flyin' the highways in OK! '08 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - "Grace" Candy Fire Red/Metallic Diablo Black B.A.C.A. Member, Oklahoma Chapter VBA #02190
	0

10-29-2012, 02:48 PM	#10
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	Sounds like it was pinging. Do u have a fuel processor? __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
	0

10-29-2012, 02:48 PM	#11
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	parades equal too much clutch work for my old arthritic hands but never had any unusaul noises. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
	0

11-02-2012, 06:56 PM	#14
Pretzel Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NE Oklahoma Posts: 272	So... if the coolant overflow shows at the "Full" line when hot, but doesn't suck coolant back out as it cools, I'm guessing there's a problem. Air bubble? Very low coolant in the radiator? Something else? Also guessing this would cause the bike to run warmer than usual. __________________ Help a child, change the world! BACA Pretzel - Flyin' the highways in OK! '08 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - "Grace" Candy Fire Red/Metallic Diablo Black B.A.C.A. Member, Oklahoma Chapter VBA #02190
	0

11-03-2012, 10:36 AM	#15
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Yes, and you pretty much need a solid stream of coolant for the system to work. If there is a larger bubble somewhere it's size will defeat the push pull action in the over flow tubing. The system should be able to self prime the tubing. So either the system is not really full, or you have a air leak (loose clamp maybe) __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0