Radiator Leak

gatdammit · Jan 13, 2017

For those that hung cheap lighting mods on the radiator shroud, beware. Started seeing coolant splatters on my left boot and lower left side of the bike. Thought it was just another hose clamp not tight enough. Removed the left guard and found the upper shroud bolt housing where I hung my affordable driving lamps was leaking around the bolt housing. I put gasket maker around it and hope that holds it off until, well, I don't know. It doesn't help that I can't see the coolant level in the reservoir sight window, even with a bright light shining into the filler port.

I will say that I get the front wheel in the air almost every time I ride. It likes to get up in 2nd now with my new (to me) Akra slip on.

monocog007 · Jan 13, 2017

So you're saying that the bolt you used threaded in too deep? Or where is the specific location of the leak? My radiator is slightly tweaked at the mounting hole in your photo. from the bike tipping over with an auxiliary light mounted there. I managed to tweak it straight without any lasting damage.

kuksul08 · Jan 13, 2017

Is that leaking from the mounting point or the little bump below it? Did you rubber mount the bracket? How much do the lights weigh and how far out are they? Did you crash or bend them before the leak? Valid questions considering I use the same mounting point haha.

Interesting to note. This is the first I've seen. As far as repair, it's pretty easy. They sell a stuff called durafix which is basically like brazing or soldering. Remove the radiator, remove the paint, and use a torch to seal it up.

gatdammit · Jan 13, 2017

From the mounting point.
No rubber mounts. That would have required forethought.
I'd say the weigh a pound each, maybe slightly less.
They have about .5" clearance from the mount base.

Your lights - which I'm anxiously awaiting - use a multi-point bracket, no? This is single point - just a tiny metric bolt holding the comparatively heavy lamp.

Thanks for the fixit info. I don't weld and it was a ***** using a liquid based product cause it just continued to static leak.

kuksul08 · Jan 13, 2017

gatdammit said:
From the mounting point.
No rubber mounts. That would have required forethought.
I'd say the weigh a pound each, maybe slightly less.
They have about .5" clearance from the mount base.

Your lights - which I'm anxiously awaiting - use a multi-point bracket, no? This is single point - just a tiny metric bolt holding the comparatively heavy lamp.

Thanks for the fixit info. I don't weld and it was a ***** using a liquid based product cause it just continued to static leak.

Yes I use both mounting points and rubber bushings. Do you have a pic of the setup you use/used?

You're going to have to remove the radiator to fix it. Flush it out with water. Clean it up real nicely. They also make JB Weld products specifically for radiators that can deal with the heat and expansion.

gatdammit · Jan 13, 2017

monocog007 said:
So you're saying that the bolt you used threaded in too deep? Or where is the specific location of the leak? My radiator is slightly tweaked at the mounting hole in your photo. from the bike tipping over with an auxiliary light mounted there. I managed to tweak it straight without any lasting damage.

No, bolt has no clearance issues. I bought a longer one to clear the bracket and washers for the lamp but it never bottomed out or punctured the core.

No damage either. I literally think it's from general vibes and all the wheelies I do. I'm not joking when I say I lift the front wheel every time I ride. Not ruff-rider 2nd gear highway walks...just pop-it after exiting a turn or full 1st gear runs. It'll walk up in 2nd without too much effort now, too.

monocog007 · Jan 14, 2017

gatdammit said:
No, bolt has no clearance issues. I bought a longer one to clear the bracket and washers for the lamp but it never bottomed out or punctured the core.

No damage either. I literally think it's from general vibes and all the wheelies I do. I'm not joking when I say I lift the front wheel every time I ride. Not ruff-rider 2nd gear highway walks...just pop-it after exiting a turn or full 1st gear runs. It'll walk up in 2nd without too much effort now, too.

Okay, I couldn't see from the photo where specifically the leak was coming from.

After my tip over, I've since moved the lights to a homemade bracket off the forks/headlight brackets. Seems to be a much better place, as the lights are further inward, and also move with the headlight. Any photos of what lights you're using?

gatdammit · Jan 14, 2017

You can search "cree led". I followed what another member did about 3 years ago.

Radiator Leak

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