Help! I'm a coolant system dunce.

[VK]

Just got my bike up and running after being garaged for 11 years.  It is an 82 Vision with nearly 10,000 miles.  I thought it would be a good idea to change all of the fluids and went to change the coolant this afternoon.  Unfortunately upon completing the task, the system seems to be boiling over in a matter of minutes!  I followed all steps according to my Haynes manual (though also emptied the reservoir tank, which the manual did not mention but I figured would be a good idea).  Once I was convinced the system was full I took the bike out for a ride and the guage went right up to the red within a couple miles.  I stopped to let things cool down before heading back home, the fan was running.  The level in both the reservoir and the radiator appear full.  I read through old posts and found some postings suggesting one could start the bike cold with the radiator cap off and watch to see if the coolant was circulating.  I tried that and as the bike began warming up, steam started coming out of the radiator (is that normal?) but I did not detect any circulation of the coolant.  The guage was again flirting with the red zone so I shut the bike off.  The only other thing that may be worth noting is that I notice a couple small (approx 1/5 size of the inner part of a sunflower seed) bits of dirt or something go into the radiator when I was pouring the coolant in.  Don't know how that got in there unless it blew in while I was mixing the stuff outside.  (Could that little bit have plugged the flow?)

Does anything I've described point to one particular problem, or do I just go through the list provided in the Haynes manual for trouble shooting (e.g., check thermostat, flush system, remove water pump, ...)?

I apologize for asking questions that may well have obvious answers, but do appreciate any guidance you may have to offer.  I'll try to be a quick study!  VK

[Humber]

Of course the cooling system contamination can cause high temperatures but have u tried to loosen air breather bolt???

It should be loosened everytime u change cooling liquid so maybe....

[VK]

Thanks Humber.  I did remove the air breather bolt from the T-fitting, as instructed by the Haynes manual.  I was also careful to properly align the thermostat breather and gasket notch.  The only things I did that wasn't following the manual to the letter was when flushing out the system.  As mentioned earlier, I drained the reservoir, which the manual does not mention.  I also placed my hand over the thermostat cover hose when flushing the system so that I could get water running out of the cylinder drain bolts and flush those areas as well.  I don't understand why either of these actions would cause trouble, but thought I should mention just in case.  

VK

[George R. Young]

Try it without the thermostat, might give you some more information on the problem.

[VK]

Just thought I'd post an update.  This morning I tried squeezing the radiator hoses, alternating between the two, to sort of pump fluid around.  (Should have thought of that before.)  Sure enough, an air bubble eventually burped up.  I poured more fluid in and repeated the process a number of times and the system now seems to be functioning perfectly.  I don't know why air would have been trapped given that I did remove the air breather bolt, but I now wonder if that step was even needed if one goes through this "pump the hoses" process?  In any case, thanks Humber and George for your feedback!

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[jasonm.]

RULE: When changing coolant on any vehicle- after filling, ?you run the engine with the radiator cap off. Topping off as needed till it comes close to operating temp. There is a lot of places for air to hide in these systems. It also helps to put the Vision on the side stand when doing this.