I have just bought an 851, and its bloody fantastic ! Only concern is that when I took the fairing off to clean all the bits that no one will see ! the hose from the radiator to the thermostat was flat and not tubular. I rode the bike 150 miles home, including major traffice jams and it didn`t overheat. Should I be worried about this ? Bob
Welcome to the site. I can't help with your question I'm afraid but I'm sure some knowledgable joe will be along soon.
I would check it out. There should be no pressure (1 bara) when cool, and positive pressure when hot. I would first look for a blockage in the rad spigot/ breather cap or trapped hose on the expansion tank system. The mechanism could be that hot coolant displaces to the tank from the rad through the rad cap, but can't come back to the rad when it cools down, creating a -ve pressure in the system as the water cools and contracts. If not that, I would remove all hoses and water flush every element end to end in both directions to check free flow.
Guys, Thanks for your replies, and being so welcoming. Jon, I will have a look at what you suggested may be the problem on Saturday. Fire3500 (Sorry don`t know your name) very observant ! I will attempt to attach some pics of the aforementioned Lancia. Thanks all, Bob
That's beautiful Bob, I'm blown away... Flavia or Flaminia? (I caved and Googled - Flavia )I'm a bit weak on pre-Beta Lancias, other than Aurelias... which make me cry. My Dad had a succession of Beta and post-beta models when I was a kid and I've subsequently had a few myself. Always fancied something from "the golden age" but haven't got there yet. A Fulvia would be high on my list or a very early Beta Coupe, and if ever the numbers come up then a roadgoing 037 or S4 shall be mine! There's something about an Italian machine, and Lancia is top of the pile for me. Pre-FIAT models are heartbreakingly beautiful! Thanks for sharing, I envy you both your car and bike!
He means I've got a keen eye... TBH if I'd not been raised right then I'd have made a cracking pikey. There are few things in life that I love more than nosing in other peoples' garages. The sheer wonder of what often lies behind the most unassuming doors is something I live for. Nothing beats a good yarn and a quick squint at others' pride and joy. It's a shame that everyone isn't honest and decent. I 100% understand why folks like to keep their treasures hidden, but it's always a happy day when I meet someone willing to share their collection or project and tell the stories behind them. It's one of the reasons I like the 360 garage feature in PB every month. Love that stuff!
Fire3500, Thanks for your comments. It`s a 1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe with a body by Pininfarina that I bought from a museum collection about 5 years ago. I have owned a number of old Flavias over the last 30 years, and restored a few, but I always wanted an un-molested example. This one was owned by an old chap who had a collection of over 30 old Lancias, including Asturas, Aurelias, Augustas etc. He had got to the age of 87 and his family where selling them all. It has never been restored, never welded, and only has a glass-out re-paint 18 years ago as it had faded in the hot italian sunshi
Not quite sure if this is what Jon might be implying but it seems very strange that a bike with a flat water hose could survive heavy traffic. As Jon says, the pressure in the system rises as the water tem goes up and is controlled by the rad cap, which vents excess pressure into an expansion tank. Then, as the water cools and the pressure reduces, any water that ended up in the expansion tank gets sucked back in. Therefore, I suggest the following possibility. The flat hose has lost its stiffness and is susceptible to the changes in pressure deforming its shape. This means that as pressure increases, it resumes its tubular shape and allows water to flow. However, as the water cools and pressure reduces, maybe to a negative value, it loses its tubular shape again and appears as you see it, flat.
My father was keen on Italian coupes for a while and had 2 Fiat 124 sport coupes, 2 Beta coupes and an HPE. All fine motors...
I had the exact same issue on a MY12 Multistrada. Checked for blockages and all was OK so replaced the rad cap and offending hose and all was fine thereafter.
Guys, Thanks all of you for your suggestions about the flat hose problem. Tomorrow I am going to my local Ducati specialist in Colchester to see if he has a new hose and try that first. I will keep you posted on the outcome, lets hope its that simple. Bob
