1200 engine operating temperature

[bob1665]

Does anyone know what actual temp these motors run at. Mine was running hotter than normal about two thirds up the gauge lots of bugs this weekend and hot outside but when I got home I shot the cylinders with it still idling with an ir gun and was getting readings on the cylinders of 225 degrees. I am going to wash out the rad and flush and change the antifreeze for starters and see if the changes things or is that a normal temp.

[cushman eagle]

I checked my '99 yesterday after a 25 mile ride.The gauge was just above the first heavy mark from cold,which is normal for it, and my heat gun read 191 .I aimed my gun at the cylinder head. .I like that reading better than my Cushman@345

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

My '01 had a tendency to run hotter than what I thought but I was lazy about flushing and refilling the radiator. The fan would come on once in a while or if it was hot when I shut it down for a minute or two but once I did the drain/flush/fill with new fluid it seems to be a lot better. That was summer of '13 so I'm planning on doing it again soon just to make sure it's cleaned out good. When I flushed it I used a radiator flush, then just distilled water twice (ran till hot and drained) then added the pre-mix fluid!

[bob1665]

thanks for taking the time to check the temps, I ended up doing a chemical rad flush the followed up with 5 deionized water flushes then filled with antifreeze mixed with deionized water it was surprising how many flushes it took before it ran out clean.

[Chris near Kansas City]

Just a reminder to purge/bleed the air at the water pump after a flush or coolant change.