I Smell Coolant

[Captain Obvious]

Today was in the low 80's here, and while sitting in traffic right after the fan kicked in, I got a good wiff of coolant. Had this happen last week too, but dismissed it as a coming from a different vehicle. Today, no mistake, it was coming from the FJR. Smells like the front left where the radiator hoses connect. No visable signs other then it appears the over flow bottle is empty I have to take a better look, but it sure looks empty.

Any thoughts?

 

[Captain Obvious]

Never mind... found it. So how much is a new radiator???

 

[smthng]

If it's really your radiator, you want a new one and its not under warantee... Call Gary, he's most likely your best bet for parts. Expect to pay $6-700 for a new one.

Otherwise, depending on how bad it is, there are companies that can fix them. If you can't find one, let me know and I'll scrounge through some of my scribbles and see if I can track one down.

 

[Thug]

Bugger

 

[Captain Obvious]

I see what happened. I mounted the blaster horns, and the right hand one must have vibrated loose and slipped down to where it has hit by the fork at full lock, and smashed in the radiator. :rant: The electrical connecter is now 90 degrees. It looks like it crushed about one small column of fins on one row. About the size of a pencil eraser, if that big.

I'll pull it off and take it to a repair shop. Crap this just burns my hide. And no spare bike, so I have to take public transportation to work. :angry:

 

[Woodstock]

JB-Weld?

 

[Windjammer]

JB-Weld?

Not a bad product, but I don't think I'd trust it for a radiator repair. Having it fixed right will cost lot less than a new rad anyway.

 

[twowheelnut]

Ooops! We've all done something that makes you go :fool: !

 

[Woodstock]

Another reason for a rad-guard.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Another reason for a rad-guard.

Yep, if road debris doesn't get you, you get yourself with something like this. <_<

 

[radman]

Any competetnt rad shop can repair that easily. The rad is conventional construction, sounds like a simple solder job, for way less than new.

 

[BlueHammer]

Adam and Jamie say put an egg in your radiator. 100 posts! wheeeeee

 

[FJRocket]

Adam and Jamie say put an egg in your radiator. 100 posts! wheeeeee

And we're still waiting for the LIFE SIZE avatar!!!

 

[Captain Obvious]

Adam and Jamie say put an egg in your radiator. 100 posts! wheeeeee

So did they bust that myth or is it for real?

 

[BlueHammer]

Egg is plausible. It did stop the leak.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Rad is out, afer removing the side fairings, battery and all the hoses. Not hard, just what seems like a thousand bolts to remove.

The coolant shoots out of the drain plug about three feet when you undo the radiator cap..... :bigeyes:

I had the rad dropped of at the rad shop today, and I might get it back this evening. I was thinking of doing the heat mods (even though it doesn't really bother me) while I have it all apart. I'll also run the wiring for the rear powerlet and the dash powerlets. Probably change the plugs and do a TB while I'm at it.

Anything else I should do while I have it all apart?

 

[radman]

Attach some playing cards with clothespins to the fan. I tried it on the wheels, but they have only 3 spokes, not like my Schwinn at all....

 

[Captain Obvious]

Attach some playing cards with clothespins to the fan. I tried it on the wheels, but they have only 3 spokes, not like my Schwinn at all....

I'll use the jokers.....

BTW they are using epoxy to seal it up. Can't solder aluminum. So JB weld it is afterall. Or something to that effect. The man says he does this all the time to bike rads and has never had a come back. So either it puked all the coolant over the rear tire and the rider crashed, or he know what he's doing. I've lived in this area for 25 years and he's been in business in the same shop since before I moved here. Must know his stuff. :detect:

 

[Ramblin Man]

You need to find out what the epoxy is so we all can use it.