GL1500 Coolant Leak

11922 Views 22 Replies 17 Participants Last post by 702scottc, Jan 26, 2015

BrianLegan

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2009

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I have a 1994 GL1500 Interstate with a mysterious coolant leak.

Situation: Rode bike to/from work on Thursday - Ran normally. On Friday afternoon - small puddle of coolant underneath bike. Started bike up and smoke wisped up (burned off any coolant that remained on the hot engine parts) and then ran normally. Did not see any coolant leaking, or any additional smoking while bike was running.

Pulled all fairings off as well as both fans and airbox an did not see any noticeable leaks while bike was running. No smoking either. Shut bike off and went inside.

The next day, once again there was a small puddle (dollar bill size) under the left side timing belt cover. The only thing I could see that was wet was the left side front most exhaust pipe coming out of the cylinder head cover.

Ran the bike again and smoked off the coolant. Once the coolant was smoked off, I poked around and could not find any leaks, and the bike was not smoking anymore.

It is almost like the coolant doesn't leak when the bike is running, just after the bike has been run. Coolant level was also just a little low - like couple ounces maybe.

From my investigation, I can be sure that the following is NOT leaking: Radiator, hoses coming in/out of radiator, water pump, carb heater.

Anybody experience this problem? Any suggestions on where else to look, what else to do?

Thanks,

Brian

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Graham B

· #2 · Sep 21, 2009

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On mine, one of the clips gave up that hold the water pipes onto the underside of the carbruettors but that showed up when the pipes were hot........

If it was a 1100 or 1200 I'd say water pump......

Keep a ready mixed supply of coolant on the bike and a close watch on the temp gauge until someone who know comes along.

Good luck.

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Hickey

· #3 · Sep 21, 2009

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Brian,

A friend of mine had the same thing happening. He find out it was came from the o-ring were the thermostat is. It' s a mother to get to. hope this may help you.

Hickey

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Hickey

· #4 · Sep 21, 2009

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Brian,

A friend of mine had the same thing happening. He find out it was came from the o-ring were the thermostat is. It' s a mother to get to. hope this may help you.

Hickey

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agnogel

· #5 · Sep 21, 2009

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hi brian what you have is somthing expanding and contracting the latter is when it leaks so when the bike gets hot it expands and stops the leak the area your talking about is normaly the little pipe in the top of the rad called a bypass hose little bugger to see and also the pipe from the expansion bottle little rubber ring in that one best to check when the bike is cold other wise you may never find it also you will need to park the bike on the center stand to get the general area

tunnow

· #6 · Sep 21, 2009

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Hi Brian

I had a similar thing happen with my 77 gl1000. After a ride coolant would puddle under radiator ,couldnt find a leak anywhere. Changed radiator cap and cured the problem, fluid must have been exiting past rubber sealer washer. may not be your problem but is an easy fix if it is.

Cheers Tunnow

DBohrer

· #7 · Sep 22, 2009

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Brian,

There is one common area for coolant leaks such as you have. It is where the upper radiator hose connects to the goose neck on the top of the thermostat. What happens is the radiator hose slips up off the goose neck (not necessarily all the way around) then you have the coolant leak periodically as you are experiencing.

My friend had this similar coolant leak on his 1989 Trike.

We had both radiator fans removed for some other maintenance, then when we started the bike for a test, we accidently found the leak. We loosened the clamp, pushed the hose all the way down to the stops on the goose neck, tightened the clamp and that resolved the issue.

I might add that when we first looked at the hose, it appeared to be on the goose neck ok. Upon closer inspection, we noticed about 1/2 of the hose was actually sitting at the top edge of the goose neck. About half of the clamp was actually up off the goose neck.

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exavid

· #8 · Sep 22, 2009

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I also suspect the plumbing between the radiator and the expansion bottle. Those grommets get hard and tend to crack.

Glen629

· #9 · Mar 13, 2010

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I have the same type of coolant leak. When runniing normal, no leak. Park and let cool, like over night, and have a small leak on the left side only. After being stored during winter, and then starting for the first time in the spring, I have a lot of steam from the left side of the motor until it burns off. Then it's ok with no leaking as long as it is running at normal temp. Just can't find a leak.

agnogel

· #10 · Mar 13, 2010

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Hi Glen welcome to the forum if its pooling on the engine it may be one of the small hoses on the bottom of the carbs you would need to remove one of the fans to see it

High miler

· #11 · Mar 13, 2010

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Glenn, also check the pipes that go to each head. Mine was leaking on the right side only when cooled down after ride. There is an oring that gets hard.Mine was not a pressure leak so some good ole high temp RTV fixed it.

Scooter 7

· #12 · Mar 13, 2010

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Sounds just like my issue. I replaced the spring clamps on the carb lines with bolt tightened clamps (not worm drive type hose clamps), and the problem went away. You only need to remove the tupperware on either side of the "tank"...the part that your knees point at when seated. Use a long screwdriver under the frame forward of the reverse mechanism, and the same area on the right side.
Not a fun job, but it beats smelling and seeing coolant!

Pwhoever

· #13 · Mar 13, 2010

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I remember reading a while back about clear tape being put on the outlets of the radiator that was supposed to keep the paint off of the outlets. It was supposed to be removed at the factory but a large number never had it taken off. If it is not removed, eventually it can cause leaks. You would need to pull the hoses off the radiator and see if some of the tape got left behind. If so, clean it off and get a couple of automotive clamps to reattach the hoses. And this would also be a good time to change the coolant if you are unsure how old it is.

Glen629

· #14 · Mar 13, 2010

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Thanks. I'll check the tubes on the head next. I removed the whole air cleaner and could see the carb tubes and saw no leaks. The coolant, when it does drip, drips off the front edge of the head and also a drop or two off the timing belt cover (left side). Can't see any leaking higher up. What I have is a 1999 Trike, so the back may be a little higher than two wheels, thus causing it to run forward and drip off the front edge of the head. (right at the head gasket seam) Thanks again for the ideas

Glen629

· #15 · Mar 16, 2010

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Brian, That is exactly where I found my leak. The hose was cocked, raised in the front, and the clamp seemed just a little loose. I pulled hose back in place and reclamped. I may have the clamp a little lower now, but didn't see any leaking. Thanks to you and everyone for the help. Now I hope I'll be able to get everything back in place! Glen

BIG PETE

· #16 · Mar 28, 2011

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Hi all thanks for all the infor .I have a leak of coolent haven't found out where yet looks like i am going to have all of this broke down think i need to put in a thermostat how hard is this is on a 91 asp 1500 .And thank you all .

BIG PETE

· #17 · Mar 28, 2011

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O DO ANYONE HAVE STEP BY STEP INFOR .

djbomaha

· #18 · Jan 19, 2015

Thanks for this post! It was 60 degrees in Nebraska this weekend so I pulled out my 1997 Goldwing and had the same issue. I noticed it smelled like antifreeze last fall when I was coming home from a trip, looked it over and never saw any leaks or anything on the ground. After sitting for a few months, it had about a cup of water on the floor. I tore everything apart and found it was the hose connection on the rear of the right side radiator. It looked like it was pulled back slightly and the clamp was right up on the edge, so I adjusted it about a millimeter, positioned the clamp a little better and the leak is gone. To get to it, I pulled the right side fairing and pulled the fan on the right side.

702scottc

· #19 · Jan 19, 2015

Fandom coolant leak

Just finished repairing my 1990 with the exact issue, would only seep when it got below 50 degrees, typical cold water seep. Would leak a drop or 2 every morning from the left front head behind timing cover. Removed the left fan motor and found the coolant trail from the thermostat housing. T-stat o-ring was rock hard. Not the easiest job on these bikes to be sure. Easier to pull the radiators, gets you the extra room you need. Good time to replace the crossover pipe on top of the radiators and any of those crappy spring clamps.

luckyone

· #20 · Jan 19, 2015

+1
I have had to fix this issue on my GL1500 twice in 4 years. The leak generally develops on mine after sitting over the winter. In the spring I see a small puddle, about the size of a silver dollar occasionally under the bike. I just push the hose down closer to the thermostat and re-clamp. Getting to that hose is the real problem.

DBohrer said:
Brian,

There is one common area for coolant leaks such as you have. It is where the upper radiator hose connects to the goose neck on the top of the thermostat. What happens is the radiator hose slips up off the goose neck (not necessarily all the way around) then you have the coolant leak periodically as you are experiencing.

My friend had this similar coolant leak on his 1989 Trike.

We had both radiator fans removed for some other maintenance, then when we started the bike for a test, we accidently found the leak. We loosened the clamp, pushed the hose all the way down to the stops on the goose neck, tightened the clamp and that resolved the issue.

I might add that when we first looked at the hose, it appeared to be on the goose neck ok. Upon closer inspection, we noticed about 1/2 of the hose was actually sitting at the top edge of the goose neck. About half of the clamp was actually up off the goose neck.

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