Engine/cooling system flushing

[bbealing]

Here's a question for you FL salt water riders!

I have a 99' xl1200 and a 00' xl1200-both strickly stock and ridden only in salt water in Annapolis, MD. I rebuilt the 99 last year & am now rebuilding the 00'.

During my rebuilds, I noticed that all the "cooling" passages in all 3 cylinders were about half clogged with what I'll call a "salt sludge".

I flush them with fresh water for about 10 minutes after each ride, but after seeing the "insides", I'm now wondering if I am flushing them long enough.

I do use "salt away" but from the appearance of these cylinders, I believe I am wasting my time and money doing that.

I would imagine you guys in FL would have some good insight on this-any help would be appreciated.

[fullboogie]

Just tore down my engine a month ago, and it's got the same problem as yours. I ride mostly in salt and every water passage was caked with "salt sludge" as you put it. I too flush with salt away after every single ride. I have no idea why it looked the way it did, and have no idea how to prevent it in the future.

In fact, many of the coolant passages on my head gasket were completely blocked. Really worrisome...

[N8R]

Just tore down my engine a month ago, and it's got the same problem as yours. I ride mostly in salt and every water passage was caked with "salt sludge" as you put it. I too flush with salt away after every single ride. I have no idea why it looked the way it did, and have no idea how to prevent it in the future.

In fact, many of the coolant passages on my head gasket were completely blocked. Really worrisome...

sounds like the salt away may be bad I always just run it on the hose for a 3-4mins. just tore the motor apart and after 270 hrs of salt it looked good

[bbealing]

Bad "salt away" My jetski's have less than 150 hours on them. Any other ideas?

[bbealing]

Any other thoughts on this subject?