Coolant leak - UPDATE

[waterman]

Ok, this is starting to piss me off. Started the bike up a couple of weeks ago to warm it up and take a short hop around. Well, I parked it and now I have an coolant leak. Loosened the tank last night and took the left side air intake off. Couldn't really see much as to where the leak is coming from but I am going to have to take the tank off.

I remember someone saying that you can disconnect the fuel line from the tank and it will not leak much fuel. Is this correct?? Hopefully tonight and I can take the tank off since I am almost there already.

Ok, I found the culprit. It was the hose going into the water tube/jacket in the front cylinder. A couple of questions, the clamp seemed tight but I did have to loosen it ackwardly to get it manuvered so I could tighten it. There is a clamp on the tube or it is the tube that is bolted to the cylinder that the hose fits up to. When I loosened the bolt the whole assembly wiggled. Are there rubber o-rings on this that I should probably replace or does it even pull out? I have it torn down this far and would rather have it done right rather than tear it apart again.

[cactusjack]

That's correct. The fuel line coupling has a check valve in it that will prevent draining your tank when you disconnect it. The only spillage should just be a few drops from what little fuel is actually in the coupling.

[flightdoc]

sounds familiar waterman. I've had my bike up on a floor lift all winter. Took it down over the weekend for the first time and noticed a small amount of "green fluid" sitting on the jack leg that slides under the oild pan area to lift it. Started the bike, let it run 20 minutes...not a drop on the floor??? any ideas anyone?

thanks

vin

[waterman]

flightdoc,

Just start checking connections for the coolant system. Some of them are a real pain to get to. Especially those under the tank.

[ringadingh]

There is a pipe that goes into the cylinder head and there is an O ring in there that seems to leak. If you do a search here somewhere there are posts discussing this and how to repair. I think mac mac has done some of these leaks before.

[macmac]

Yes the fuel line will not dump fuel. At the most it would be about 4 drops. I don't get to see the drops because i hold a rag in my hand when I press the tabs in and pull the line off.

Every bloomin clamps will be loose, but just snug them. If you never snugged the rad drain plug do it now.

As far as i know never has a nomad left the factory with a snug enough drain plug yet.

With the tank off you should be able to snug most any clamps ok, but telling which one might be really tuff.. So just do them all.

Do Not Man Handle any of these clamps or you will be sorry!~

[waterman]

Originally Posted by macmac

Yes the fuel line will not dump fuel. At the most it would be about 4 drops. I don't get to see the drops because i hold a rag in my hand when I press the tabs in and pull the line off.

Every bloomin clamps will be loose, but just snug them. If you never snugged the rad drain plug do it now.

As far as i know never has a nomad left the factory with a snug enough drain plug yet.

With the tank off you should be able to snug most any clamps ok, but telling which one might be really tuff.. So just do them all.

Do Not Man Handle any of these clamps or you will be sorry!~

Mac,

So far none of the clamps that I have been able to get to have been loose. I've done the ones on the radiator and water pump. Just haven't been able to get to the ones under the tank, but I did get a marginal look at them last night and they don't appear to be leaking either.

Just gonna have to tear the tank off and get a closer look.

[waterman]

updated my first post with the problem and question.

[macmac]

I don't understand the new question. Did you turn a bolt besides the clamp?

In cold these rubber hoses seem to expand. Rubber and water both expand in cold.. But many of these clamps are plain loose.

If you loosened a bolt to a flange, then yes there is o rings under them which may or not seal. Once a fuild has flowed over a rubber part once it will tend to flow untill the parts have been cleaned and drried..

You have a 50/50 chance it won't.

Oil seals tend to do the same. When these are drowned from over filling and oil runs by the shaft and the seal oil will tend to flow, untill either the seal and shaft have been cleaned and dried or a new seal is installed which will be clean and dry, less grease which should be packed in a seal...

Both oil and coolant does this..

[waterman]

Hi Mac,

I turned the bolt that holds the flange in place and it did wiggle (flange). The hose clamp was in an ackward position so I loosened it and gave it about a 45 degree turn so I could get a nut driver on it. I used a vise grip carefully to get it loosened. The only clamps that were loose were the hoses on the thermostat housing. I gave those at least a turn. All of the others I couldn't move more than 1/8 turn.

So I need to get an o-ring. I have never had much luck cleaning o-rings and getting them to reseal. Oh well. At least I have it that far. It shouldn't take much to get it done.

Thanks Mac.

Originally Posted by macmac

I don't understand the new question. Did you turn a bolt besides the clamp?

In cold these rubber hoses seem to expand. Rubber and water both expand in cold.. But many of these clamps are plain loose.

If you loosened a bolt to a flange, then yes there is o rings under them which may or not seal. Once a fuild has flowed over a rubber part once it will tend to flow untill the parts have been cleaned and drried..

You have a 50/50 chance it won't.

Oil seals tend to do the same. When these are drowned from over filling and oil runs by the shaft and the seal oil will tend to flow, untill either the seal and shaft have been cleaned and dried or a new seal is installed which will be clean and dry, less grease which should be packed in a seal...

Both oil and coolant does this..

[macmac]

I use short ignition wrenches to un-do clamps at odd angles typically. It takes a bit of time, but saves a buck in the long run..

You have a 50/50 chance the o ring sealed.. I'ld try it out and see.. If it is leaking and you don't have a cold like me, you will smell the coolant before you see it.

[waterman]

Mac,

Here is a picture of the site where the leak is.



Hopefully it sealed and I won't have this problem. I think I will go ahead and clean up the area and cross my fingers. As far as the ignition wrenches, I thought of that but for some reason can't find mine.

[reaper]

Originally Posted by waterman

Mac,

Here is a picture of the site where the leak is.



As far as the ignition wrenches, I thought of that but for some reason can't find mine.

Do you have a son, everytime I need something, he has it at his house

[macmac]

Reaper good one LOL.... I do have a son, but he has his own tools thankfully.. However that does remind me I lent out a helicoil tap set to a snow mobiler friend and he hasn't brought the tools back yet...

And yeah waterman get that mess cleaned up. I take it you can ride in Co all winter, by the looks of it..

There should be room to see over any left side filter just to see, and you just might want to see for a few more rides...

Being a x foreign car tech I learned to triple check everything.. The one time I for got I lost all my acetelene...

[waterman]

Originally Posted by "Reaper" - Doug Grimm

Do you have a son, everytime I need something, he has it at his house

Nope, 3 girls and none of them know anything about a wrench.