Burning smell from radiator after a ride in heavy rain

[muddycoffee]

I got caught out in the rain on sunday and had to ride back about 40 miles while getting we through.
When I got home I smelled a burning rubber smell coming from the radiator area. NExt time I rode the bike to work I noticed the smell coming back when the engine was warm.
I checked the radiator coolant and there seems to be full to the top and no evidence of any leaks.

Also there appears to be a little water dripping out of the little drain pipe which comes out under the back brake lever.

Is this anything serious,
has it happened to anybody else?
should I be worried?
help...

[muddycoffee]

It has just occured to me that the fan might be faulty, as the only time I heard it on was when I went for a long ride in the heat a few weeks ago. Should the fan come on all the time or only when riding hard or in hot weather?

[Amanda M]

The fan will only come when when it's really hot.

[Grinch]

It has just occured to me that the fan might be faulty, as the only time I heard it on was when I went for a long ride in the heat a few weeks ago. Should the fan come on all the time or only when riding hard or in hot weather?

It should only really come on when its hot.. or long rides.. if the weather is wet and cold then there maybe no need for it. Did the temp light come on? If not then it probably hasn't over heated.

[Grinch]

I got caught out in the rain on sunday and had to ride back about 40 miles while getting we through.
When I got home I smelled a burning rubber smell coming from the radiator area. NExt time I rode the bike to work I noticed the smell coming back when the engine was warm.
I checked the radiator coolant and there seems to be full to the top and no evidence of any leaks.

Also there appears to be a little water dripping out of the little drain pipe which comes out under the back brake lever.

Is this anything serious,
has it happened to anybody else?
should I be worried?
help...

The smell might be something rubber of plastic thats got on you pipe or engine and heated up.. check to see if something has got caught up in the bike.. Then mines always 'smelt' warm after a long ride, are you sure its not that?

[muddycoffee]

..might be something rubber of plastic thats got on you pipe or engine and heated up.. check to see if something has got caught up in the bike.. Then mines always 'smelt' warm after a long ride, are you sure its not that?

It smells like something rubber, rather than a hot bike engine, I think you might be right about something stuck, I'll have a look this afternoon.
thanks

[Liam]

Reminds me of the time I pushed the hot bike past a garden refuse bag when putting the bike away - spend 20 mins on next fire up worrying what the smell & smoke was. Hell of a mess to clean up too :oops:

Liam

[muddycoffee]

Thanks guys, smell is now gone and everything is back to normal as far as I can tell. I assume I caught a bit of rubber or plastic somewhere hot and it has fell or burned off now..

[Grinch]

Thanks guys, smell is now gone and everything is back to normal as far as I can tell. I assume I cought a bit of rubber or plastic somewhere hot and it has fell or burned off now..

Glad to hear... :D

[wheelnut]

If it makes you feel any better, my bike smelt awful coming back from donington in the rain, I wondered if the water had got in the fan electrics, but no it was running ok

There was more steam coming up behind the screen than Fred Dibnah's traction engine.

I once melted a pair of Doc Marten boots on my mates bonnevile exhaust, it took months to remove and it stunk awful too

[jump]

funny i have also had this smell before - also in the rain.. must be something... but seems to be normal...

[greeno76]

I've experienced a smell a little like burning oil after riding in the rain but if definitely wasn't. I think it's pretty normal but I'm not sure exactly why it smells.

JG

[Sid Squid]

Same as the others, also the dripping pipe you saw was most likley the drain from the petrol cap well, if you lift the petrol cap you''ll see a small hole that drains* the rainwater from around the filler well so it doesn't fall into the tank when you open the cap

*Mostly, it's not unknown for them to get blocked.

[embee]

....the drain from the petrol cap well, if you lift the petrol cap you''ll see a small hole that drains* the rainwater from around the filler well .....*Mostly, it's not unknown for them to get blocked.

since it's been known for these drain pipes to rust through, effectively scrapping the tank :roll: , I took a piece of stiff wire, fixed a small piece of rag to the end, put some "waxoyl" down the hole and rodded it through (lift the tank and take the plastic drain tube off at the bottom of the tank for this). Make sure the wire end won't scratch the paint off the inside though!

In the absence of waxoyl, a regular squirt with WD40 down the hole will help protect it from corrosion. Note that if you put loads in it will drip out of the bottom of the plastic pipe below the engine and "could" get onto the tyre, so little and often is better than loads in one go. :idea:

[muddycoffee]

a regular squirt with WD40 down the hole will help protect it from corrosion. Note that if you put loads in it will drip out of the bottom of the plastic pipe below the engine and "could" get onto the tyre, so little and often is better than loads in one go. :idea:
Hey that sounds like great advice. Thanks embee
I keep the bike in the warehouse when I am at work and the stuff that came out of the pipe was definitely water, it evaporated and left no mark on the floor etc..
I went home at luchtime and scanned through my owner's manual but could find no reference to the pipe.. So thanks again guys. More questions answered. :thumbsup: