[gumbyred]

For those of you who may have a antifreeze leak that you haven`t figured out here is another suggestion of where to look. The radiator cap. Mine had been leaking and I couldn`t figure out where from. Took all the plastic off I could and just searched. Tried all the usual places suggested here. I happened to take the radiator cap off, and put back on, and what do you know. Leaks stopped. Mught be a good time to put new radiator cap on.
gumbyred

 

[Eamonn1200]

That happened to me once. The cap wasn't tightened all the way and I had a tiny leak that annoyed me for ages.

 

[Mr Magic Fingers]

Yuuuuuuuup +1

Tim

 

[satan]

Hey GumbyRed,

If in a few weeks your leak returns and you can't find any damage in the seals or sealing surfaces for your radiator cap, look at the tubing between the overflow bottle and the radiator fill neck (especially that damned elbow at the overflow bottle)

Opening the radiator cap will allow all coolant to drain outta the overflow hose and with a leak in that line, the vacuum produced by cool-down won't often lift replacement coolant from the overflow, so the only way that you'll see the leak agin will be in a hot soak where the coolant level expands enough to push out some into the overflow. Most often, you'll just notice that you've got a low coolant level that doesn't self-manage.

Just incase your leak returns (or somenoe searches and finds this thread in a few years)

 

[gumbyred]

Thanks for the reply satan. That was my original reasoning for removing the radiator cap. To be sure the hoses were siphoning antifreeze out of the reserve tank at cooldown. Radiator was full, and I could see no sign of leakage at the elbow or hose for for antifreeze return too radiator. Maybe I spoke to soon. Noiw it seems like I have no leak when bike is on centerstand, but it leaks a little on the sidestand. I did put a new radiator cap on though. The weather is clearing up here finnaly. Maybe I just need to get out and ride it.

gumbyred

 

[satan]

FWIW... I hate that elbow, the stupid straw in the tank, all the weak tiny clamps, and the gromet there... HATE!

I think the combination of my fat fingers and the brittleness of the parts conspire against me.

One trick could be to dry stuff off, then wrap suspect areas in toilet tissue or paper towell -- the tissue will stain marking your spot for ya. Wont' fix anything; you're on your own for that. (I'd offer to lend a hand, but both of mine have proven to be ineffective and sinful)

 

[puum]

I have a coolant leak too and I can't for the life of me find it. I have almost all of the front plastic off except for the upper fairing itself. The only time I noticed it is after it sat for weeks without running in the fall. Then it steamed up while it was warming up and I could smell it. But when I was riding it every day, no sign of it at all. So it must be a very very small leak.

I did find that my hose from the overflow tank to the radiator cap area was cracked about 3/4 of the way around where it plugs in to the overflow tank (the rubber piece that the elbow plugs into), but I can find no sign of any coolant trails running down from there...or anywhere. I ordered a complete replacement elbow and hose that showed up today. No idea if it will fix my problem or not. After it sat all winter, there was actually enough coolant that some leaked onto the ground the first time I took it down off the center stand. It must have pooled on the bottom somewhere. But not more than about a tablespoon.

 

[Spragg]

Mine was doing the same thing and I found the little plastic water valve black with 3 hoses going to it, one from the water pump and the other one going to the termostat housing on the right side behind the cooling fan was cracked beneath the hose. I changed it to a brass T connector and haven't had that problem since.