Coolant probs

[sidewaysid]

Hi Guys
For the last year I have been having problems with coolant spraying from some place or other on the left side onto my gearghange and exhaust, I have checked the level and it was ok, and I even sealed the filler cap of the header tank..so it must be from a breather ??? but why ?? can any of you guys help on this subject..I'm in UK cheers to all RC51 errs

[RVTMAVERICK]

First thing "I" would do is,... remove fairings.... and check every single Radi. hose clamp... there is something like 4 just on the left side alone! And I would check them ALL, every last one of them... there is a shite load of them too! IF it is not just a leaking hose clamp... I'd say you've got a bad Radi. Ho, or even a bad radi.,....?

How old is she? How many miles are on her?

GL

Peace Mav.

[DesperateSP2]

Mine did exactly the same thing as I took her out for the first outings.
It took me some time to pinpoint the problem so here's my suggestion. Change the reserve tank cap. Mine didn't want to stay put, leaked like there was no tomorrow and the only lasting solution was replacing it. Once i did that the bike never again used a drop of coolant.
Otherwise there's the obligatory question: did you buy the bike used? If so did the previous owner mention any work done to the cooling system?

[Trace]

There are no breathers to leak. It's a sealed, pressurized system, other than the overflow from the reserve (head) tank. But that shouldn't be puking coolant onto your bike's parts...it's designed to spit directly onto the street.

As Maverick said.....I think it's a 99 percent chance that it's one of the zillions of hose clamps under your fairings. A famously loose one is at the crossover hose assembly, located under and to the left of the steering head area where three hoses come together, but there are plenty of other locations that can slowly develop a leak after many hot/cold cycles and aging of the rubber. Snug them all. Some are quite hard to get to. You might need screwdriver bits or small hex sockets on a 1/4 inch ratchet....with assorted extensions and cuss words....to get them all.

Anybody know how many there really is? I think it might actually be less than a zillion, but not by much!

And don't go wild when tightening all those clamps. You might ruin the hose with too much tightening. Just snug them a bit and see if that stops the leak(s).

[sidewaysid]

Thanks Guys
At the weekend I removed all the fairing and checked the hoses, they are all in good order, I tightened all the hose clips...then I took the radiator cap off, it was up to the brim and I mean to the brim, this made me wonder about the way I last filled the system, and I decided to drain it all out and do it to the book !!!
I sealed the hose again and began pooring the coolant in, then leaning the bike over to the left and running the engine...the coolant level lowered...I carried out this process until the rads were full, then the temp was up to 75 degrees. I stopped the motor and put the rad cap on, then I topped up the plastic overflow to the lower level ( I suspect the seal on this baby) and then built the whole lot back and polished the bike...then the rains came, and up until now I have not been able to see if all is cured, I'm busy working away now until Friday, but I'll post the results ASAP.
Again thank you to all who posted your a great crowd.

[gpz11]

Another thing you can do is just pressurize the coolant system and look for the leak.

You have to remember that the overflow will not get pressurized since that part of the system is vented.

[sidewaysid]

Thanks Guys again

Well I filled the system to the book and today I went to a race meeting 60 miles from home and gave the bike a real thrashing, I did get a couple of spots of coolant showing but in general it's cured..so RTFM and that is really all I did and filled the coolant as you should...all is coooooooooL

Any of you got some high mount akro's for sale