I think I sprung a leak

Grabcon · Nov 10, 2016

I was out for a brief ride today and it seems that I have sprung a leak in the radiator on my 2008 ST1300. I will know for sure tomorrow when I get the test kit from the auto store.

When I was riding I was catching brief whiffs of antifreeze, temp gauge was at 3 bars and did not move. I stopped for lunch and put the bike on the side stand and the next thing I know I have a rather large puddle of coolant under the bike. I pulled all of the Tupperware off and the is a big wet spot int the middle of the radiator. No other signs of leakage on the bike. I will pressure test in the AM but I am sure that there is a hole in the radiator.

So can the radiator be repaired on the ST1300? Partzilla want like $372 for one plus the wait time. There are used ones on eBay, I have found several. Or is there a member that has a good one that they want to part with for a reasonable fee?

STGuy · Nov 10, 2016

Grabcon said:
I was out for a brief ride today and it seems that I have sprung a leak in the radiator on my 2008 ST1300. I will know for sure tomorrow when I get the test kit from the auto store.

When I was riding I was catching brief whiffs of antifreeze, temp gauge was at 3 bars and did not move. I stopped for lunch and put the bike on the side stand and the next thing I know I have a rather large puddle of coolant under the bike. I pulled all of the Tupperware off and the is a big wet spot int the middle of the radiator. No other signs of leakage on the bike. I will pressure test in the AM but I am sure that there is a hole in the radiator.

So can the radiator be repaired on the ST1300? Partzilla want like $372 for one plus the wait time. There are used ones on eBay, I have found several. Or is there a member that has a good one that they want to part with for a reasonable fee?

Yes, all radiators can usually be repaired by a competent radiator repair shop. It is getting harder to find them though. I would check out the repair route first then the used route...
Good luck!

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Grabcon · Nov 11, 2016

Thanks. Repairable, that is what I wanted to hear.

STGuy · Nov 11, 2016

Good luck

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970mike · Nov 11, 2016

Looks like you may have taken a rock to the radiator. Good luck with the repair or replacement. You may want to put on a radiator guard to protect the radiator.

Grabcon · Nov 11, 2016

If you are looking at what is in the circle it is a bug.

MaxPete · Nov 11, 2016

Grabcon said:
If you are looking at what is in the circle it is a bug.

That's one pretty tough little bug - but I guess he won't be bugging anyone from here on.

jmcarruth · Nov 11, 2016

I have one that was repaired by Mylers, good as new. PM sent.

Grabcon · Nov 11, 2016

970mike said:
Looks like you may have taken a rock to the radiator.

Yep you were right. a small pin hole from something that hit it just to the right of the bug. At the shop now being welded.

970mike · Nov 11, 2016

Grabcon said:
Yep you were right. a small pin hole from something that hit it just to the right of the bug. At the shop now being welded.

Great they can weld it. That is why I put on one of these radiator guards http://www.st1300-accessories.co.uk/ They are closed right now due to illness but I believe there maybe another company out there building something else.

Grabcon · Nov 11, 2016

Well they got it welded and I get a 6 month warranty. Got it back in and through a couple of heat cycles. I am letting it sit over night without Tupperware to check for leaks. The auto store gave me the wrong system tester so not it is the old fashion way just wait and see.

So it was $95 for same day service to clean, repair, test and paint. I could have been worse. I think a rock guard is in order.

970mike · Nov 11, 2016

Grabcon said:
Well they got it welded and I get a 6 month warranty. Got it back in and through a couple of heat cycles. I am letting it sit over night without Tupperware to check for leaks. The auto store gave me the wrong system tester so not it is the old fashion way just wait and see.

So it was $95 for same day service to clean, repair, test and paint. I could have been worse. I think a rock guard is in order.

Here is one http://www.sportbiketrackgear.com/cox-racing-honda-st1300-03-12-radiator-guard/

Glad you got it repaired.

Grabcon · Nov 14, 2016

Did a couple of heat cycles and a 100 mile ride and all seems good. Just waiting on the radiator guard.

970mike · Nov 14, 2016

Grabcon said:
Did a couple of heat cycles and a 100 mile ride and all seems good. Just waiting on the radiator guard.

Nice!!

Snave · Nov 17, 2016

How easy is it to fit the radiator guard? I bought a pre-owned one but have never tried to put it on. Maybe I should...

Byron · Nov 17, 2016

Here is what I did to prevent or at least reduce the chance of something getting to the radiator.

jmcarruth · Nov 17, 2016

Snave said:
How easy is it to fit the radiator guard? I bought a pre-owned one but have never tried to put it on. Maybe I should...

You definitely should. Honda should have made them standard. My lowly KLR 650 even came stock with one, and that radiator is mounted way higher than the one on the ST1300.
After I got stranded with a hole in my ST radiator, the first thing I did was fabricate my own guard out of scrap aluminum screen, truck bed liner, and Plastidip. Did the same thing for the oil coolers on my Ducatis. The one on my ST has been there seven years, no more punctures.

ST_Jim · Nov 18, 2016

I've always been more worried about the fork tubes than the radiator, and have NOJ fork savers installed. I've experienced seal leaks from road debris/bugs getting on the forks, but never a radiator leak.

I suppose I just jinxed myself!

I think I sprung a leak

Grabcon

STGuy

Play it makes life fun

Grabcon

STGuy

Play it makes life fun

970mike

Mike Brown

Grabcon

MaxPete

jmcarruth

Grabcon

970mike

Mike Brown

Grabcon

970mike

Mike Brown

Grabcon

970mike

Mike Brown

Snave

Byron

jmcarruth

ST_Jim

In the Hotel California...