Radiator dripping

mac · 06-29-2012, 10:12 AM

Saw my radiator dripping yesterday.... not looking forward to having to deal with that.

Any words of wisdom from those who have delt with this before? Things I need to look out for before I get started?

TIA,
Mac

ponch · 06-29-2012, 10:19 AM

Are you sure it's the radiator and not a hose or drain plug? When was the last time the antifreeze was changed?

cactusjack · 06-29-2012, 11:28 AM

Make sure the drain plug in the bottom is tight, some were only finger tight from the factory.

**billmac** · 06-29-2012, 06:53 PM

Hey Mac, check it carefully. I had a leak and took the bike apart enough to tighten every hose clamp. Every clamp was too loose to suit me. Saw the leaking culprit clamp in the process. Now no more leak or smell.

Hope to see ya both in Antlers this fall.

fish · 06-29-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Make sure the drain plug in the bottom is tight, some were only finger tight from the factory.

+1 thats how mine was

macmac · 06-29-2012, 08:28 PM

Yer gonna have to get a little more down and dirty to tell us where the leak really is. Could be any place. The other Mac

**jestephens** · 06-29-2012, 08:34 PM

Mac, my dad was noticing coolant at his feet last week. His radiator cap (under the gas tank) was tested and holding zero pressure. A new cap solved the problem.

His cap wasn't actually leaking, it was all going through the overflow system as it should. The issue seems to be that pressurized coolant can handle higher temps since it has a higher boil point. With no pressure, it was boiling over prematurely. A premature eVacuation to be more scientific.

oldbikers · 06-29-2012, 08:42 PM

Check the bottom support the rubber grommets wear out and the radiator can get a little crack at the support, that happened to mine and another member.

mac · 07-09-2012, 12:27 PM

Oldbikers/Jim, I beleive that's exactly where my issue is - the bottom right post is where it appears it's leaking out of. I just saw a couple of other posts where this was also their issue.

06-29-2012, 10:12 AM	#1
mac Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 265	Radiator dripping Saw my radiator dripping yesterday.... not looking forward to having to deal with that. Any words of wisdom from those who have delt with this before? Things I need to look out for before I get started? TIA, Mac __________________ ~Ride Safe~ Mac Dennis "Master Mac" McHenry VROC#880, VBA#673, DarkSide#273 '15 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited '05 Vulcan 1600 Nomad (Left the nest) '02 Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi (RIP) '95 Vulcan 750, (Retired) Houston/Klien, Tx Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-29-2012, 10:19 AM	#2
ponch Sr. Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Way East Valley Posts: 12,015	Are you sure it's the radiator and not a hose or drain plug? When was the last time the antifreeze was changed? __________________ Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad \| 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic \| 1984 GPz750 \| 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09\|Prairie Du Chien '10\|Crescent City '11
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06-29-2012, 11:28 AM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Make sure the drain plug in the bottom is tight, some were only finger tight from the factory. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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06-29-2012, 08:28 PM	#6
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Yer gonna have to get a little more down and dirty to tell us where the leak really is. Could be any place. The other Mac __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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06-29-2012, 08:34 PM	#7
jestephens Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairview Heights, IL (StLouis) Posts: 1,601	Mac, my dad was noticing coolant at his feet last week. His radiator cap (under the gas tank) was tested and holding zero pressure. A new cap solved the problem. His cap wasn't actually leaking, it was all going through the overflow system as it should. The issue seems to be that pressurized coolant can handle higher temps since it has a higher boil point. With no pressure, it was boiling over prematurely. A premature eVacuation to be more scientific. __________________ Jay Stephens, Former National Vice President (2013-2015) 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 formerly 2011 Vaquero- Black formerly 2005 Nomad - black/silver Last edited by jestephens; 06-29-2012 at 08:38 PM.
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06-29-2012, 06:53 PM	#4
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	Hey Mac, check it carefully. I had a leak and took the bike apart enough to tighten every hose clamp. Every clamp was too loose to suit me. Saw the leaking culprit clamp in the process. Now no more leak or smell. Hope to see ya both in Antlers this fall.
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06-29-2012, 08:42 PM	#8
oldbikers Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sardis Mississippi Posts: 3,513	Check the bottom support the rubber grommets wear out and the radiator can get a little crack at the support, that happened to mine and another member. __________________ Jim Hardin Sardis MS Kawanow # 453 Proud PGR member
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07-09-2012, 12:27 PM	#9
mac Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 265	Oldbikers/Jim, I beleive that's exactly where my issue is - the bottom right post is where it appears it's leaking out of. I just saw a couple of other posts where this was also their issue. __________________ ~Ride Safe~ Mac Dennis "Master Mac" McHenry VROC#880, VBA#673, DarkSide#273 '15 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited '05 Vulcan 1600 Nomad (Left the nest) '02 Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi (RIP) '95 Vulcan 750, (Retired) Houston/Klien, Tx
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