Hi All, Rode to work today as usual, nothing out of the ordinary, I remember seeing 100 degrees on temp gauge at a traffic light and was at 85-86 otherwise, as there was not too much traffic today... Got to work, parked up, got off the bike, and while taking off my gloves, the bike just starts pissing green coolant, from under the bike... Was obviously too hot to investigate further... From right side of bike looking under it, coolant dripped down the inside of the fairing about where the side stand is... Anything like this happen to anyone before?? Any ideas what to check first?? The overflow bottle is in such a silly place I can't even see if it has anything in it!!! Suggestions appreciated for what to check first... I was thinking since I have allan keys to take off the lower fairing at lunch time and have a quick look around, but the bike did not overheat, so why would coolant piss out just like that?? Maybe a hose is loose or something?? It was about half pint or three quarters of a pint that spilled out... Thanks for any help!!!
Have you recently had it serviced or topped up the coolant? It could be that there was just too much in. Check the level first and if it's correct then just keep an eye on the temp next time you ride it. Check all the visible areas to work out exactly where the leak is coming from, I'm assuming since its coming from the right hand side it is most likely to be the coolant overflew pipe (but assumptions are the mother of all fook ups) If the level is low then it's time to start diagnosing the fault, if your certain that the bike did not overheat then it could be something as simple as the coolant pressure cap failing or not being on correctly. Further diagnostic help available if needed.
Thanks for the thoughts, Jimbo and IcarusGreen... I have not had it serviced recently, so the coolant in there is the same amount since March when I bought the bike.... I am definitely certain that the bike did NOT overheat... It went hot at traffic light as normal, but not OVER heating... Overflow bottle looks good, cap was on... I will have to take off lower fairing and trace the water hoses and make sure all are on ok... How do I check the level of coolant is correct? I know you supposed to look on the overflow bottle but I can't see anything as it's under the seat, behind the shock!!! Can I just take the radiator cap off? Will that show me the basic level of coolant?
Dave, I have a rad guard, but yeah I will check teh rad itself, but the collant was coming out from somewhere around the engine, not the rad itself... Will pull off lower fairing lunch time and see if I can establish where the leak is from... Will report back when I have that info...
mate, mine dumped loads out at snet on 3rd session, i bricked it as there was LOADS!!! but had serviced week before and not used it, spoke to the old man and shop at the time and they both confirmed they had prob put a little too much in and that used prob on track caused the overflow... kept an eye on the temp and was constant, never had a prob after that. but like Dave said, rads can be quite easily damaged so have a look at that...
mnie was running off the cat box under the bike if that help, couldnt see where it was coming from via the overflow.
It happened to me while waiting to board ferry to IOM. make sure both fans are free from any obstructions.... my clutch cable had become trapped where it crosses over top of rad....(after a refit of rad) and was stopping one fan from turning.....
I had a simular problem with my gixer once, I had to ride it round without the fairing for a while to find out what it was tho, it turned out to be a invisible crack at the bottom of my rad. The water stayed in while cold was fine while riding but the min I stopped it started spraying downwards. I just took off fairings and road short journeys near to home until it was up to temp stopped at home to work out where it was coming from to make sure I wouldnt get stranded
From memory, sure you can just see the markers on the over flow bottle from the right hand side? Trying to get at the actual rad cap, again from memory is a pain as it's behind the right hand fairing. Waters a mare as the systems pressurised, so where you can see it dripping from is not always the source. I'd run the bike when you have it apart, may be obvious when you have the lower fairing off. Other than when the rad went, I've never noticed any water dripping from mine.
Will get back to you on where is leaking... Seems to me to be left side, near kick stand, so middle of the bike, not up front from the rad... Bike was ont eh stand and coolant was coming out from left side.... i was watching it from the right side...
Good luck mate, fingers crossed its nothing major. May sound obvious, but try not to let the coolant get on the tyres, that stuff is proper slippery.
Sounds like the overflow pipe in that position, My bike did the same when I changed the hoses over, was fine for a week or two, then just spat some out ? checked the levels all Ok, temps good, no problems since. Hope yours is the same and no problems elsewhere
My bet is its the over flow (hope so anyway mate) as it sounds just like mine... as dave said, you can see the coolant bottle under seat on right hand side, keep an eye on the levels...
Wasn't there a coolant hose clip recall? Do you know if yours neede to be done / has been done? Sorry cant be more help, just chucking out something else to consider.
Yeah thanks for that... I will pull the VIN number and send to MrB for a recall checkup... Not sure since I bought the bike second hand...
Ok, it was raining at lunch time so alot of water marks under the bike, so I could not really see where it came from... Coolant level in the reserve bottle behind the swingarm shows at the lower level... I will just get her home tonight, hopefully and park her up for the week until I can check properly on the weekend... Lower fairing bolt by sidestand is rounding off so that might be a ballache!!! Will run the bike this weekend near to home and see if anything else pisses out... Will book her in for a dealer service and have them check it all properly... Cuz this is not my specialty at all!!! Mr B, I am going to PM you my VIN for a recall check, please?? Thanks in advance!!
No problem. Funnily enough mine leaked some coolant yesterday, about 1/2 pint at a guess. I had just had the rad off to fit the exhaust a couple of weeks back so prob was a case of too much coolant. Had only been down the road to get some fuel and had to nip back home when I noticed it was leaking, temp about 100. A good thrash yesterday for a couple of hundred miles and the temp was all good no problems. Hope it's nothing serious.
Thanks MrB. I am also hoping it is nothing serious... Won't take any chances though until I get it sorted... It is just weird because I have done nothing to the radiator, fluids or hoses at all... Bought the bike in March 2012, and this is the first time this has happened, and the only things I have done to the bike are wash it, and lube the chain... Yeah I put on a rad guard, but did not even loosen the radiator to do that... I am keeping my fingers crossed that all is well on the ride home... But still not gonna take any chances... Might mean I have to miss the ride out on 29th July though... as Doble's first day they can take my bike in for a service is 31st July...... When do I shut the bike off for overheating? Anything over 110 degrees???
