Brain picking/ coolant smell

[jayc]

Ok, 2005 Nomad
Rode a couple times during the winter, no problem.
Now the nice weather is here, I ride to work on Monday, smell coolant when I get there.
Due for a change, so Monday night I pull the tank, check all the fittings and the only thing I find the least bit loose is the housing where the thermostat/fill cap is. Two bolts just needed snugged up.
Put new coolant in. Ride the past two days. Still the coolant smell. I don't see it leaking and there are no puddles under the bike.
Oh, forgot. Washed the bike on Saturday, while drying it with the engine runninge seemed like alot of steam off the engine. It was about 40-45 out, so didn't think anything about it.

Any thouhgts?

How many miles on this bike?

If real low miles, I'd suggest that there's seepage at one of the upper hose clamps. It's dripping a very occassional drop on top of the engine & it evaporates before it can run down where you'd see it. Get a flashlight & look for residue on the top of the chrome rocker covers.

If it has 20,000 miles or so, I'd be thinking time to fix the head coolant inlet pipe o-rings, as they wear down from vibration & start leaking about that point. Very hard to see the residue from those with the tank off and about impossible with it on.

[ponch]

Could be the O-rings for the coolant pipes in the heads, and it could be the drain bolt on the bottom of the radiator. I posted a question like this a few weeks ago. One of my O-Rings was replaced under warranty on my bike and it was only 6 months old.

Originally Posted by jayc aka The Mexican

Ok, 2005 Nomad
Rode a couple times during the winter, no problem.
Now the nice weather is here, I ride to work on Monday, smell coolant when I get there.
Due for a change, so Monday night I pull the tank, check all the fittings and the only thing I find the least bit loose is the housing where the thermostat/fill cap is. Two bolts just needed snugged up.
Put new coolant in. Ride the past two days. Still the coolant smell. I don't see it leaking and there are no puddles under the bike.
Oh, forgot. Washed the bike on Saturday, while drying it with the engine runninge seemed like alot of steam off the engine. It was about 40-45 out, so didn't think anything about it.

Any thouhgts?

[jayc]

Looks like it may be the o rings. Same answer I'm getting from the vn1600 group. I'll check it out. Thanks guys.

[ells]

Anybody had these things actually blow, or just seep until they become intolerable???

[wildroot]

I'm getting a seep on the front cylinder and leaking down behind the horn. I had the dealer look at it and he said the cap was loose. The added about an ounce of antifreeze and sent me on my way. I'll keep an eye on it, and if it comes back, it is in for warranty ASAP.

[VulcanE]

Back in January I started smelling coolant on my '05. Pulled the tank, looked everywhere with the flashlight, didn' see anything anywhere. Checked all the hose clamps and all were about 2-3 full turns loose.Changed the coolant. I still smelled the coolant for abou 2-3 weeks, now there is no smell at all and coolant level is still right on the full mark. Maybe it takes a little while for the odor to go away?

Originally Posted by Ells

Anybody had these things actually blow, or just seep until they become intolerable???

Mine never actually "blew" but they leaked enough to leave a visible green puddle on the heads and run down the jugs.