04 ZX10 braking and overheating problems

[Jonnymac]

Hey all,

Hoping to pick a few brains on behalf of a good mate of mine( not on here ..... Yet)

He has a 04 Zx10 track only bike that often has braking issues so wanting to know what the cheapest option is to fix this I'm aware it's fairly common on this bike. I do remember someone saying you could fix it with a certain pad and fluid combo????

Also and a lot more important on the hot days he can only get in about 5 laps before its up around 115 plus degrees and needs to come in. He's had a new radiator put in, new temp gauge/pick-up, engine flush and is running engine ice. He doesn't have a thermo on it but on the track your never at less than 60 kms anyway so that's only an issue when he comes back in. We will need to rectify that shortly( does anyone have a thermo for this model that they would like to sell)

People's opinions wold be appreciated especially if they have come across his before.

Cheers

[MadKaw]

Can't help with the overheating, my race bike is fine and it still has the fan.
The only fix for the brakes is to change the calipers.. The cheapest option is the one I went (surprise, surprise) and that is CBR 600 / 1000 calipers from an 05 to 09 (I beleive). You also need the 5mm spacers that came on the cbr1000, or make your own (I got some of ebay).
I picked up the calipers for $10 - plus $40 shipping, from ebay in the states... The other option is Nissin calipers from the zx6r (07 +) or zx14 but they are rare and exxy...
I tried everthing on mine, including 3 sets of zx10r calipers, different lines, different fluids and a brembo m/c. The only fix was when I changed the calipers..

[JPaddo]

I use water wetter, 10 degrees cooler in my ZX10 over glycol.
I also run it in the 12 with samco hoses and I can't even get the fan to come on now.
http://www.redlineoil.com.au/Uploads/Do ... 20Pink.pdf
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Redline-oil- ... 583wt_1502

It doesn't have anti-freeze properties which isn't a prob for most but if it's ever likely to get below zero you might want to mix some glycol with it, glycol will reduce the cooling efficiency though.

Re the calipers I went the Nissins off a ZX6R which bolt straight on, but MadKaw is correct, they are exxy. Mine cost a couple of hundred bucks.

[Jon13]

Ha, I just pm'd Wattie with the same question on the brakes, I was thinking master cylinder as it isn't radial, never thought about the calipers. As far as the over heating make sure when you flush the system that you bleed it properly as any air in the system will cause it to over heat. or could be the water pump.......does she boil and bubble in the bowl when back in the pits?

[Wattie]

A brembo mc helps. But the calipers are the reason for the fade.

In fx I couldn't change calipers.
So penrite sin fluid, ebc extreme pro pads, then pull the pad retaining spring out. It will let the air flow through the calipers better. But when wheeling around the pits the pads click.
Keep te pistons nice and clean too.

On the roady I have nissins. Gods gift to the motorcycling world!

[Jonnymac]

Thanks guys we will chase up about the calipers.

The big issue is why is it overheating the engine ice is suppose to drop the temperature a fair bit but maybe not by 10 degrees so maybe that's the next option. But I still think there is something else wrong as then the temp will still be 105 plus.

I think the mechanic looked at the water pump and it was alright, it would just be the impeller anyway wouldn't it, don't they work off the engine???

Don't believe there are any air bubbles it's been going on for a while, if the day is less then 22 degrees it's generally enough times between sessions to cool down but it was 35 on Saturday hence the reason it reared it's head again.

Any other ideas people, we really need to sort it.

[greenman43]

If by 'thermo' you mean thermostat, put it back in. I used to run the ZXR without one, and it ran 10 degrees cooler. But not all engines respond this way - I've read in some of the V8 magazines that removing the thermostat makes the engine run hotter - reason is that the reduction in restriction means that coolant is flowing round the system much quicker, and doesn't stay in the radiator long enough to shed any heat ! Otherwise, check the thermostat to see it is opening properly - if it wasn't opening far enough, the problem is obvious.

If you mean thermo fan, I can't help - I took it off my 07, and the bike has no cooling problems at the track. I've heard that the Samco hoses will assist in cooling, but no evidence to back this up.

Cheers,
Brian

[Jonnymac]

Sorry meant thermo fan. Do you still have yours if so would you like to sell it?

Yeh I think the thermostat was replaced as well, or at the very least checked.

Might look into the hoses thanks

[Phil]

On the roady I have nissins. Gods gift to the motorcycling world!

+1

[born green]

Thanks guys we will chase up about the calipers.

The big issue is why is it overheating the engine ice is suppose to drop the temperature a fair bit but maybe not by 10 degrees so maybe that's the next option. But I still think there is something else wrong as then the temp will still be 105 plus.

I think the mechanic looked at the water pump and it was alright, it would just be the impeller anyway wouldn't it, don't they work off the engine???

Don't believe there are any air bubbles it's been going on for a while, if the day is less then 22 degrees it's generally enough times between sessions to cool down but it was 35 on Saturday hence the reason it reared it's head again.

Any other ideas people, we really need to sort it.

Ur talking about last sat?
Been a hot day, i kept checking temp gauge when session over coming back down pit lane, it was allways around the 80/90 dec, after a full session... Which isnt hot enough for the fan to come on anyway, useally by the time i got thru the pits and up the top, heat sink had got in and the fan came on when i stopped and switched off, so dont know where the prob may be

[Jonnymac]

Yep last Saturday. But his would rise to 115 on the track so he had to come in and pit. Whereas yours was still at 90 at the end of the session.

Very strange as mechanics have looked at it....

[greenman43]

Sorry meant thermo fan. Do you still have yours if so would you like to sell it?

Yeh I think the thermostat was replaced as well, or at the very least checked.

Might look into the hoses thanks

Yep, still got the fan and happy to sell it - $30 plus postage sound fair ?

Was also thinking today, if the bike is running very lean or over-advanced, it could run too hot as well. Has your mate changed airfilter and pipe without re-fuelling, or even done something to the timing ?

Cheers,
Brian

[born green]

Yep last Saturday. But his would rise to 115 on the track so he had to come in and pit. Whereas yours was still at 90 at the end of the session.

Very strange as mechanics have looked at it....

Sounds like a ciclulation prob of some kind?? as said maybe thermostate? is the system bled properly?
For sure, 115 is way to hot, bearing in mind that the fan kicks in at around 100/104 dec, if its got on on, which u said doesnt, any reason why he runs with it off? its only a track bike isnt it, not a race bike?
Whatever is wrong, it def needs fixing asap, have a chat to deano, or get ur mates bike to him???

[Jon13]

Its definatley not the fan, I would agree that it would be a circulation prob. as stated in another post the thermostat might not be operating correctly. Are you sure the guage is reading the correct temp, as i asked before is it boiling in the bottle? At 115 it should be, when you get back to the pit if its running that hot then you would hear it gurgling and see it in the overflow. also have u noticed if it fills the overflow as this is indicative of a circulation prob.

[Jonnymac]

Yep last Saturday. But his would rise to 115 on the track so he had to come in and pit. Whereas yours was still at 90 at the end of the session.

Very strange as mechanics have looked at it....

Sounds like a ciclulation prob of some kind?? as said maybe thermostate? is the system bled properly?
For sure, 115 is way to hot, bearing in mind that the fan kicks in at around 100/104 dec, if its got on on, which u said doesnt, any reason why he runs with it off? its only a track bike isnt it, not a race bike?
Whatever is wrong, it def needs fixing asap, have a chat to deano, or get ur mates bike to him???

Deanos played with it already......... He has replaced the sender unit as it was thought that maybe it was that but it still read the same temp.

I'm sure he has checked the stat as well and it opened up at the correct temp so it doesn't appear it's that.

Maybe the tune...... If its advanced like suggested , he has got a power commander on it and it was tuned originally but that was around 5 years ago. It didn't run hot at the start is it possible for it to advance on its own?

It was a wrecked bike and it didn't come with a fan,hence he reason it doesn't have it. Nothing to do with weight saving.