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Can I Fix This Radiator?

gatdammit said:
Fellow Tards,

Want your best guess on if I can patch this radiator. From the attached image as reference, the core is leaking around the fan mount support housings for the left fan. Definitely leaks from the lower mount, possibly from the upper left.

Shop couldn't weld, as I suspected. I'm thinking some careful hi-temp epoxy work around the mounts but not sure if this is total Narnia realm. My radiator knowledge is nill so I don't know if this will clog the flow. I guess if it's leaking, that's a yes. It's not so much the $600 for a replacement, but the downtown in phenomenal riding weather. I'm reluctant taking the plunge on a scrapper from eBay. The race applications are very affordable but do not have fan mounts.

In the meantime, ground pepper actually almost completely stopped the leak but I'm guessing as it gets warmer and the system works harder, it will persist.
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I have same issue as you have! Leaky radiator. I have bought 2 radiators. One is standards Hypermotard spec from ebay and another a multi. Both have the hose connections on left side. The fan mounting seems different, i need to compare if MS radiator fixes there. I have to rely on a mech to fit. Had i got a garage to do, i would have saved some moolah!4C5DD8EB-1EB1-4217-B6BE-4D103BDF3498.jpeg4C5DD8EB-1EB1-4217-B6BE-4D103BDF3498.jpeg4C5DD8EB-1EB1-4217-B6BE-4D103BDF3498.jpeg
 
I'm feeling ya, brother. Drained, pulled, cleaned, siliconed all the fan mount passages, drilled them back out, re-installed...hair thin leak starts pissing right above one of the top fan mounts. I was totally deflated. Said fuggit and just blasted that whole section with silicone. It's drying now.

It's those week walled mount passages. I could see a couple that were folding in or coming apart. Granted, I ride on **** roads and do a fair share of wheelies. Most of the rubber and plastic surrounding the forward engine area is permanently stained from all the coolant leaks I've had. And that smell triggers me.

Good luck. God knows I need it.
 
gatdammit said:
I'm feeling ya, brother. Drained, pulled, cleaned, siliconed all the fan mount passages, drilled them back out, re-installed...hair thin leak starts pissing right above one of the top fan mounts. I was totally deflated. Said fuggit and just blasted that whole section with silicone. It's drying now.

It's those week walled mount passages. I could see a couple that were folding in or coming apart. Granted, I ride on **** roads and do a fair share of wheelies. Most of the rubber and plastic surrounding the forward engine area is permanently stained from all the coolant leaks I've had. And that smell triggers me.

Good luck. God knows I need it.
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I am trying reason out, what made Ducati engineers think when passing the installation bolts through the core! Knowing hat V-twins are more “vibey” than all all the other counterparts, logically it meant the radiator to be mounted using brackets hanging off the stronger radiator body instead of passing close to the thin walled tubes!
 
That or some kind of cage the radiator sits in. Honestly, this was one of their first mass produced water-cooled motors. The sport bikes that got them first probably don't get ridden in the same environment as an adventure bike.
 
gatdammit said:
That or some kind of cage the radiator sits in. Honestly, this was one of their first mass produced water-cooled motors. The sport bikes that got them first probably don't get ridden in the same environment as an adventure bike.
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Found this guy going insane with a massive radiator

 
After 3 test fittings, think I finally plugged the leak. After 2nd attempt sprang a single micro-thin leak, I went medieval and slapped a thick coating of black permatex silicone (used clear permatex silicone on the rest of the leak zones). 40 mile test ride in 95F air temp and she seams to be holding. Can't say what this has done to the coolant cycle, but averaged around 190F engine temp at 75 mph. Saw 219F at idle in traffic, which is normal for mine in this weather.

Fans kick on at 217F, for reference. It was usually just prior or just after this point where the 2 tiny leaks I chased started spraying.

Not sure about cylinder damage. Power seams about normal for these conditions. Got a couple puffs of smoke at start up and early in the ride. Threw some Sea Foam in the tank before a fill up and didn't really see the smoke when I tried duplicating at end of ride. All other operating conditions nominal. I did note a faint puff of smoke come from under the seat/ top of engine on early tests but couldn't duplicate today.

Replaced the front coil with the Aprilia part cause it was accessible. Still have "ERRORS" (engine). Probably pull the tank and do the top coil during next oil change.
 
Started leaking on the ride to work...guess I'll have to live with a soaked boot and coolant stains down the left side.
 
I've seen this reference before. I live in Italy and shipping alone would take 2-3 months. Ill just source a used one
 
That's not bad a bad price and probably lighter; more efficient. However, bet it doesn't have the end cap bungs, which I must have for my current lighting setup.

For the record, the only way to properly DIY fix a leaking radiator is to learn how to weld, or, buy a new/ used one. I may have solved the leak after my 3rd try but I'm pretty sure the coolant circuit was ******. I was just broken down over the constant coolant mess on my gear and bike. It stained a lot of the rubber/ plastic bits.
 
One just popped up for sale for like $70 on a FB group if you are still looking. With such a low price it will offset the expense of shipping all the way to you
 

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Have you pulled the tank off recently? I had a limited power issue when I pinched the main fuel line.
Could be limp mode. The early models had a limp mode related to the throttle position sensor.
I would always start by disconnecting the battery and resetting the ECU.
 
gatdammit said:
Have you pulled the tank off recently? I had a limited power issue when I pinched the main fuel line.
Could be limp mode. The early models had a limp mode related to the throttle position sensor.
I would always start by disconnecting the battery and resetting the ECU.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. I will be taking her to the service centre!
I am just loosing my patience over all such niggling issues