Well, it looks like I'm going to have a job ahead of me, water pump looks to be leaking. Seeing dripping from the rubber hose coming from the housing, but also getting some from the "square" drain hole. What kind of cost am I looking at? 
Coolant leaks
- Thread starter RichKat
- Start date
OP
OP
Second picture is after washing the bike, looks like much more, but I think it's coming from inside the V 
Nothing wrong with your water pump, what your seeing is leakage from the t-stat housing and water pipe hoses.
It exits into the front cover, then follows the seam down and exits the square area where the cover meets the engine.
Unless you’ve been neglecting the service stuff, with that much coolant on the bottom and lower cowl, you may have a damaged hose or pin hole in your radiator from a rock strike.
You could always ride it over one state and I could take it hostage and fix several things for ya.
It exits into the front cover, then follows the seam down and exits the square area where the cover meets the engine.
Unless you’ve been neglecting the service stuff, with that much coolant on the bottom and lower cowl, you may have a damaged hose or pin hole in your radiator from a rock strike.
You could always ride it over one state and I could take it hostage and fix several things for ya.
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What Larry said!
The round hole is an indicator that the waterpump is leaking. Your bike is a '08 or newer, where Honda put a drain pipe on, so the dealers would quit replacing waterpumps under warranty, when it was the area Larry described was leaking.
The round hole is an indicator that the waterpump is leaking. Your bike is a '08 or newer, where Honda put a drain pipe on, so the dealers would quit replacing waterpumps under warranty, when it was the area Larry described was leaking.
OP
OP
After I washed it, that's when I got that much coolant coming out, I've been smelling a coolant leak for about 3 weeks, but VERY slight, and only about an inch down on overflow tank. My driveway is sloped and when I washed it (with plastic off) I know I got a lot of water in the V, when I rolled it in the garage (level) is when it all ran out. Just dreading the job of digging into the V area, but I'm pretty sure now it's in there someplaceNothing wrong with your water pump, what your seeing is leakage from the t-stat housing and water pipe hoses.
It exits into the front cover, then follows the seam down and exits the square area where the cover meets the engine.
Unless you’ve been neglecting the service stuff, with that much coolant on the bottom and lower cowl, you may have a damaged hose or pin hole in your radiator from a rock strike.
You could always ride it over one state and I could take it hostage and fix several things for ya.
Last edited:
OP
OP
As for service, I have no records on it, so don't know where I stand on a lot of stuff with it. I've changed oil (that time again) changed air filter, flushed the clutch oil, and the brakes, and bled both. coolant flush was already on my winter todo list, tires brake pads are on short list as well
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Coolant leaks look worse than they are on these bikes but it doesn't take much to fix the simple problem of weeping hose connections that drain down the front of the engine and exit the square drain hole. You are already familiar with removing the fairing and that is a good amount of the time required. With the fairing off and the radiator removed it's simple to access the radiator hoses and the other cooling system hose connections at the thermostat and cylinder heads. With a long screw driver and a 6 mm socket on a couple of extensions you snug up the hose clamps. Simply snug, not over tighten. While it is accessible it's good to go ahead and replace the O-ring sealing the thermostat housing. The part number for the O-ring is 91361-MCS-A10. I have a pdf tutorial that shows how to remove the radiator to access the thermostat housing. Replacing the thermostat may not be called for if the bike warms up normally and shows three bars on the coolant gauge while being ridden but the steps to drain the coolant and remove the radiator are necessary to access the V from the front. If you want a copy of the tutorial PM me your email address.
OP
OP
Removing the radiator is not difficult, just be careful and not over tighten the clamps on the radiator pipes, or you'll bend them and make them egg shaped.
Besides replacing the T-stat, and the O-ring, I would also strongly urge you to replace the water pump gasket (O-ring) #5 on the parts diagram. This seal often fails and will allow coolant to cascade down the ledge and exit the square opening.
Most folks miss this one.
www.ronayers.com
GASKET, WATER PUMP
19226-MCS-A10
Retail Price: $17.75
Your Price: $13.18
Clean any black paint that you find inside the radiator pipes as well when your in there.
clean the pipes as well, as just tightening them over corrosion will not work that well.
Besides replacing the T-stat, and the O-ring, I would also strongly urge you to replace the water pump gasket (O-ring) #5 on the parts diagram. This seal often fails and will allow coolant to cascade down the ledge and exit the square opening.
Most folks miss this one.
2011 Honda ST1300PA A WATER PUMP COVER | Ron Ayers
Shop online for OEM WATER PUMP COVER parts that fit your 2011 Honda ST1300PA A, search all our OEM Parts or call at 252-758-3084
www.ronayers.com
19226-MCS-A10
Retail Price: $17.75
Your Price: $13.18
Clean any black paint that you find inside the radiator pipes as well when your in there.
clean the pipes as well, as just tightening them over corrosion will not work that well.
OP
OP
Today I pulled the radiator and water pump cover. Found no sign of leakage around cover at all, and very very clean. But went to tighten clamps on thermostat housing, and could only get to one. Very disappointed. All the clamps turned where I couldn't get to them. 
I am happy to see the condition of coolant and inside the radiator. May have to take a trip to Phoenix
I am happy to see the condition of coolant and inside the radiator. May have to take a trip to Phoenix
OP
OP
Here all this time I thought you were in Phoenix, shows how much I pay attention
OP
OP
As impossible as it seems, the one hose clamp I could get to, looks to be the one that was leaking. Tightened 1 clamp, and the coolant smell is gone
Don't know what to say about that
Don't know what to say about that
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
That's easy- time to ride!
You could say you left 7 loose clamps in there
OP
OP
Yeah, trust me I'm thinking about that. Went in from the front, not sure I'm up to going in from the top, intimidated by pulling the throttle bodiesYou could say you left 7 loose clamps in there
OP
OP
Well, crap.....went for a 100 mile ride yesterday and after, no coolant smell, patted myself on the back and said "I guess the 1 hose I could get to was it"
Forward to today, went for a 200 mile ride, get home, park in garage , go back out 30 minutes later, and guess what I smell, yep coolant. Less than before, but it's still there. It's not enough to ground me, but I'm thinking there might be a trip to Arizona in the new year
Forward to today, went for a 200 mile ride, get home, park in garage , go back out 30 minutes later, and guess what I smell, yep coolant. Less than before, but it's still there. It's not enough to ground me, but I'm thinking there might be a trip to Arizona in the new year
OP
OP
That's what I'm hoping for Larry