FOAK - Radiator leaks

Feck. I noticed a little puddle had deposited underneath the radiator as I
left work today. Funnily enough, I have noticed a 'curry' smell whenever
I've stopped at traffic lights recently and wondered whether it was coming
from the bike. It may be a leak in the radiator itself. In which case has
anyone had any experience with any of these sealants that can be poured in
the coolant system and seal small leaks? I fear that the alternative may be
expensive, but also fear that a broken engine gummed up with rad weld or
bars leaks would be worse.

 

Previously on Usenet: Nige wrote:

<boggle>

Irn-Bru?

 

I'd have a good look around all the hoses/joints first - might just be
something simple needed like a little tweak on a jubilee clip.

 

Hmm, Ce-lit radiator sealer smells of curry...

--
Pete M - OMF#9

BMW 325i SE Touring
Range Rover V8 Turbo
Escort Diesel Van (Woo, stylish)

"Wait! We can't stop here, this is Bat Country"

 

Is it green? Because that's what's weeping out of the centre of the
radiator.

 

It has been garaged, but it is freezing in there. The coolant has just been
replaced.

 

Would Fernox LS-X Leak Sealer work?

Just joking.

At the moment, I can't see where it's leaking from. Quite a wide area is
green and wet.

 

Before you "Rad weld" it, you're better off finding a small after-market
reparier of rads because if it can be repaired they can do it, but if you
"Rad weld" it or bung the hole (if you can find it) with leak stopper, they
can't. Or won't, but either way it'll not be repairable.

As for the ""Rad weld" itslef, it seems to have worked perfectly for the rad
on my Zed which got holed the first day I rode it. Roughly 16,000 miles ago
and I've never even had to top the coolant up since.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

In a moment of numptiness I cracked a pipe on the cage radiator a week or
two back. It's got plastic pipes joined to the metal of the radiator and I
leant on one whilst changing the oil filter. Anyway I bought some Plastic
Padding Steel (I think it's called) which it claims is good for central
heating radiators, air con ducting and the like. Gooped a load round the
crack in the pipe and left it for two or three ours to harden before
reattaching the rubber pipes. So far I've done 600 miles without any trouble
although the pipe is noticably more flexible when it's hot than when it's
cold.


--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

Normally I'd second the Barrs, but dunno about using it on bike coolant
systems, being as they're a bit more on the edge than most car systems.
Radweld is about as useful as a donkey's cock.

 

Still got it. There's a bloke from London way wants it, but he can't
collect, and I don't get time to deliver it so it's still here.

I really must sort that out..

--
Pete M - OMF#9

BMW 325i SE Touring
Range Rover V8 Turbo
Escort Diesel Van (Woo, stylish)

"Wait! We can't stop here, this is Bat Country"

 

Lozzo's Car Delivery Service will be back in action as from next
Wednesday if you pay expenses.

--
Lozzo
ZX-7R P4 (for sale)
CBR600F-W trackbike
SR250 SpazzTrakka,
RD400F, somewhere
I see a bright new future, where chickens can cross the road with no
fear of having their motives questioned

 

Heh. I need to give it a bloody good service before it goes anywhere.

I should really use my trade policy for doing a bit of that delivery lark.

--
Pete M - OMF#9

BMW 325i SE Touring
Range Rover V8 Turbo
Escort Diesel Van (Woo, stylish)

"Wait! We can't stop here, this is Bat Country"

 

the old dog-turd sealant.
Worked well in both of my Morris Minors

--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/

2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black)
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone, but not forgotten)

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Well they must be good donkey's dicks coz it fixed the leak on the Zed and
it fixed the leak on the wife's car.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Thanks for all the advice chaps, but the leak was getting worse and after
topping up with distilled water at work I rode it round to the dealers [1]
who are going to fit a new rad tomorrow. That'll be 225 ukp plus vat and
fitting. Ouch!

--
Chris H,
FZS1000, two#55
He's predictable, but that's to be expected.
Please remove the numbers to reply

[1] It was a mercifully short ride as the Fazer doesn't have a temperature
guage and the leak was getting worse [2].
[2] It then proceeeded to spit out the excessive amount of water I'd put in
the expansion tank as well.

 

I was quoted somewhere in the region of 600+ for the Zed.

A £1.50 bottle of Rad Weld has been *plenty*

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Ran an old Citroen BX diesel[1] with a blown core plug[2] on rad weld
for eek miles.

[1] Not the ex Pip one, that died an honourable death when the
suspension lines finally gave way.
[2] Behind the HP injector lines, or we would have had it fixed.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

The Zed's ran for about 16000 with a RadWeld fix and I expect it to run for
several thou more.



--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19