timing belts with radiator intact.

798 Views 11 Replies 11 Participants Last post by bassbum, Jul 13, 2009

bassbum

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2009

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Doing my belts today. 1983 Interstate w/52k and I believe to be original belts. I am trying to do them without removing the radiator since I flushed the cooling system last year. I got the left side cover off but the center bolt on the right cover is a tight fit. I can get it out I am concerned about putting it back in since I can hardly fit 2 fingers in there. Is it possible to do them with the radiator intact or is it easier to just pull the rad?

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plainmech

· #2 · Jul 12, 2009

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for me it was easier to just get out of the way actually saved time in long run. well worth it good luck:action::waving:

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DaveO430

· #3 · Jul 12, 2009

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Just pull it, it's not worth the extra effort it takes trying to work in a tight place. You can just loosen it and remove the lower hose for enough room to work in without pulling it completely out.

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tire joe

· #4 · Jul 12, 2009

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plainmech wrote:

for me it was easier to just get out of the way actually saved time in long run. well worth it good luck:action::waving:

I agree.

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AZgl1800

· #5 · Jul 12, 2009

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Just drain the antifreeze into a clean pan. Strain it through a baby diaper or something like that before putting it back.

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Silicon Sam

· #6 · Jul 12, 2009

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When was the last time the bike had new radiator hoses? Bike doesn't run long when it's spitting coolant from a dry old radiator hose...

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rb7632

· #7 · Jul 12, 2009

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I agree with everything here. I did mine and can't even imagine how hard it would have been with the radiator in the way. As AZ said you can catch the coolant and strain it for reuse if needed.

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Biker John

· #8 · Jul 12, 2009

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Remove it, all the things said above, plus you could poke a hole in it trying to work around it.

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daveman

· #9 · Jul 12, 2009

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Ditto...far easier just to pull the rad, and a good op to change the hoses...

d

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exavid

· #10 · Jul 12, 2009

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I'll second, third, fourth or what ever the motion, pull the radiator. It's not hard to do and you'll have a lot easier time doing the job right. No problem with draining the coolant and pouring it back in. It's coolant, not gasoline that has to go through tiny carburetor passages. If a speck or two gets into the coolant it won't matter a bit, so dump it into a clean bucket and use a piece of cloth over a funnel to put it back in.

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Bike...and Dennis

· #11 · Jul 12, 2009

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Couldn't you justdrill a hole in the radiator to access those pesky bolts? :action:

Well...maybe it would be easier to just move it out a little.

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bassbum

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 13, 2009

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Thanks for all the help. What I did was drain the radiator, took off the lower hose from the water pump and removed the rad mounting bolts and pulled it out from the bottom enough to get my fat hands in there. Got belts lined up first try. Turned the engine over by hand a couple of times, no restriction. I guess I am good to go. Thanks again for all the help.....you guys are great.

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