Am I leaking coolant?
04-09-2007, 07:36 AM
#1
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Am I leaking coolant?
Since the weather has been cold this past week, my bike has been sitting in the same spot for a week. I noticed this morning a silver dollar, the old ones, sized spot of coolant under the bike.
It appears to be just under some open ended hoses and are these for overflow?
If it's been slowly dripping from sitting still through those hoses, should I be concerned about it?
I have a service manual, supposed to be here today, so I can look it up in there, but I am wanting an answer from an experienced sh owner.
It appears to be just under some open ended hoses and are these for overflow?
If it's been slowly dripping from sitting still through those hoses, should I be concerned about it?
I have a service manual, supposed to be here today, so I can look it up in there, but I am wanting an answer from an experienced sh owner.
04-09-2007, 09:05 AM
#2
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Hey xecutech, I had the same thing, it turned out to be the two short hoses coming out of the thermostat, left side in between the frame. It is very hard to see without flashlight and mirror. I am in the process of replacing them now. Had to pull the carbs, and coolant res to get at them - no fun.
04-09-2007, 09:11 AM
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Do they have to be replaced? I mean is this an actual bad thing, or are these overflow tubes?
Where did you get the hoses and what length did you buy? Part number if any would be great too.
Thank you for the reply.
Where did you get the hoses and what length did you buy? Part number if any would be great too.
Thank you for the reply.
04-09-2007, 09:22 AM
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Thanks ali, I was wondering if these tubes at the bottom are the siphon tubes from the radiater cap area. The fluid is coming out of one of these hoses at the bottom of the bike, where they all are cable tied together?
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
04-09-2007, 10:18 AM
#7
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I rode mine hard one time, and when I stopped it was coming out pretty quick, then stopped. never leaked again. might just be a little overflow. I wouldn't worry unless it does it consistantly.
04-09-2007, 10:39 AM
#9
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Make sure your over flow bottle doesn't have too much coolant in it. There is a line in the plastic about half way up the bottle. Cheack after bike sits overnight and is cold. The fluid in the overflow bottle should not be over the line in the bottle.
Also check and tighten all radiator hose clamps, the rubber changes over time and can cause the clamps to not be tight and small leaks can develope.
I have never had mine overheat even on the hottest souther summer days running the crap out of it. Make sure your fan is working correctly. Fan should kick on when the needle just passes the mid-way mark in the older bike analog gauge.
Of course if you have time and are mechanically inclined changed to Watter Wetter, but becareful leaving it in there over the winter months if you live in a part ofg the country where the temp drops below freezing for an extended time.
Also check and tighten all radiator hose clamps, the rubber changes over time and can cause the clamps to not be tight and small leaks can develope.
I have never had mine overheat even on the hottest souther summer days running the crap out of it. Make sure your fan is working correctly. Fan should kick on when the needle just passes the mid-way mark in the older bike analog gauge.
Of course if you have time and are mechanically inclined changed to Watter Wetter, but becareful leaving it in there over the winter months if you live in a part ofg the country where the temp drops below freezing for an extended time.
04-09-2007, 11:50 AM
#11
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The two hoses I'm talking about are about 3 to 6 inched long and connect the thermostat to each cylinder case. Mine were old and cracked and needed to be replaced. It was leaking very little, but regularly. It would always smell like antifreeze was cooking, and tightening the hose clamps only made it worse. I could have made through another season I guess, but the smell was anoying me. I replaced them with some generic water hose from O'reily's auto parts for less than $5.
04-09-2007, 12:10 PM
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Well, I am not smelling antifreeze when the engine is hot, so this may just be the overflow hose then, as it drip from the hose at the bottom of the bike.
Maybe it had something to do with the cooler weather, because it wasn't doing it before it got cold this week.
I will investigate further when I get home today.
Maybe it had something to do with the cooler weather, because it wasn't doing it before it got cold this week.
I will investigate further when I get home today.
04-09-2007, 12:50 PM
#13
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xecutech, when I purchased my hawk I would notice some coolant puddled under the bike after riding after a serious exam I traced it to a loose hose clamp on the front cyl. water jacket look closely coolant leaves a distinct trail where it travels! but since yours was sitting for a while then leaked just wash everything down go for a ride to heat things up then look over everything real good and watch for drips! my leak was not bad but gone un-noticed it could have been terrible. good luck let us know what you find
04-09-2007, 05:51 PM
#14
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If it is in fact coming from one of those tubes it's either the overflow from the tank or it's the telltale drain from the water pump. Depends on the year. I think they added the hose to the water pump drain in '00 or '01. The mechanical seal will sometimes weep a little bit. That's okay. If it gets worse then it's time to replace it.
BTW, even though it's green, the coolant is NOT the "normal" stuff. You need silicate-free coolant. I have only found silicate-free green coolant at the Honda dealer. I just did a complete flush and used the orange stuff from the auto parts store. Ensure and use distilled or deionized water.
BTW, even though it's green, the coolant is NOT the "normal" stuff. You need silicate-free coolant. I have only found silicate-free green coolant at the Honda dealer. I just did a complete flush and used the orange stuff from the auto parts store. Ensure and use distilled or deionized water.
04-09-2007, 06:18 PM
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Thanks, I washed the bike down today and went for about an hour long ride. Now it's parked in a clean spot and I will check it again in the morning. I checked it about 2 hours after riding and didn't have anything under it, so it may be fine. I would think it would have been leaking hot with pressure, but nothing. I checked the coolant level and it was a tiny bit above the line, so it may have had too much to start with.
04-09-2007, 06:40 PM
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04-09-2007, 08:53 PM
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If it is in fact coming from one of those tubes it's either the overflow from the tank or it's the telltale drain from the water pump. Depends on the year. I think they added the hose to the water pump drain in '00 or '01. The mechanical seal will sometimes weep a little bit. That's okay. If it gets worse then it's time to replace it.
BTW, even though it's green, the coolant is NOT the "normal" stuff. You need silicate-free coolant. I have only found silicate-free green coolant at the Honda dealer. I just did a complete flush and used the orange stuff from the auto parts store. Ensure and use distilled or deionized water.
BTW, even though it's green, the coolant is NOT the "normal" stuff. You need silicate-free coolant. I have only found silicate-free green coolant at the Honda dealer. I just did a complete flush and used the orange stuff from the auto parts store. Ensure and use distilled or deionized water.
So how often do you change coolant? and what mix for what climate? ie temps/weather etc....??
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