ktm 50 overheating

[dhalezx12]

I just bought my son a 2004 ktm 50 senior. We rode it for about an hour and it overheated twice. The track that we ride on is very tight and not alot of room to open it up. I was wondering if this is common for these bikes. He was not riding that hard to me for this to happen. Thought maybe someone had more experience with these bikes and could help.

[MX86]

it's a high revving bike, should blow a plug before overheating.

btw what were your symptoms that will help to narrow it down

[dhalezx12]

Just pull in and it was steaming out the radiator overflow. Parked it and let it cool down. Checked fluid level and it would be a little low. I filled it up and sent him back out. Runs great and never gives any sign of a problem except steam. It was 95 degrees here and very humid. Like I said we have not had alot experience with type of bike and it just seems unusual to me. Thanks for the help

[MX86]

hrm. possible problems.

1.) Change the coolant. i recomend Engine Ice (it's more expensive, but a damn good product imo.)

2.) pull off the Waterpump cover and make sure that all the fins are there. possibly it's tiome to replace the pump.

3.) check the seels on the back of the water pump (they sometimes give out and fluid builds up behind one (normally will leak out the weep hole tho)

4.) check the tranny oil, if it's a pure white then you need to replace the seels.

5.) make sure all cooling fins on the radiators are not bent and allowing air to go through to cool the cores.

6.) have your rad cap pressure tested to make sure it's holding the pressure

i've seen these bikes on the track in 100+ humid heat getting pushed to teh limits. and none of them were steaming.

[dhalezx12]

I bought the bike from a guy thats son was sponsored by ktm and he said that it had engine ice in it and that the tranny fluid had just been serviced. I will check the impellar to make sure that it is not broke. He also told me that it had a new piston and rings, that had no time on it. It may also be the radiator cap. Thanks for the help

[MX86]

i'd check the tranny fluid reguardless. could tell ya if you have a bad seal ,before it would affect the motor

[dhalezx12]

One of the local guy's that races said that when his son first started that there ktm did the same thing. He said that he put an adventure 50 clutch in it and it solved the problem. He said that it was because his son did not keep the clutch ingaged with the 8500 stall and the adventure had a 4000 stall.

[MX86]

could be. is that a auto clutch i'm assuming?

[07ktm50j]

I have brand new 07 KTM sx 50 jr that overheats after 20 minutes. The clutch is causing the engine to overheat. Other than buying the adventure clutch can the original clutch be adusted to lock up at a lower rpm?

Terry