Radiator Removal

randy the x man

R.I.P. - 2013/06/23
Rest In Peace
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
77
Location
Lynnwood, Wa.
I am trying to remove my radiator to get at the leaky hose clamps. Removed all the fairings and the 3 radiator mounting bolts. I am assuming the upper right mount is just a dowel the the right mount is inserted on and to remove the radiator you must drop the left side enough to slide off the mount? Is that correct?

2nd issue is the hoses mounted to the radiator. They are firmly stuck on. Any tricks to removing them without damaging them or cutting my hands to threads. I was trying just to drop the radiator slightly with the hopes I might have access to the clamps but so far cannot get off the right side rad mount with the hoses still on.

Thanks
Randy
 
That sounds right. It was a couple years ago that I pulled mine but there were 3 mounting bolts. Where the 4th would have been is a dowel that is fixed to the bike. The radiator just kind of swung down out of the way and off that dowel.

As for the hoses can you get a small screw driver or awl under the hose? That might help work them loose. Mine came off pretty easy with some twisting if I recall. Though mine had been replaced by the previous owner so they were not original.
 
Sometimes a twist with a set of Channel-Locks works to break the hose loose, but a small phillips or flat screwdriver slid aropund the hose is needed. There is also a special tool called a "goose-neck" by many mechanics that is even better at it. It looks like this:
attachment.php
 
These hoses are often hard and brittle, I wouldn't suggest poking anything sharp (such as a screwdriver) inside the hose.
A trick that I use is a needle oiler with PB Blaster or Marval Mystery oil in it. I simply place a drop or two on the edges of the hose(s)
and by the time I finish unscrewing the clamp, the hose simply slides off with a simple twist and pull from my hand.
I've never damaged a hose doing it this way.
.02
 
7 Year old bike w/100k on it... I would also consider replacing those hoses. I plan on doing that when I hit 100k miles - unless Honda comes out with something new - maybe.. LOL
 
As a side note; leave the rad cap on and have a pan below the lower hose... SLOWLY remove it just till the fluid pees out and wait. If you pull to fast, the antifreeze will be all over the place!
 
Igofar said:
These hoses are often hard and brittle, I wouldn't suggest poking anything sharp (such as a screwdriver) inside the hose.
A trick that I use is a needle oiler with PB Blaster or Marval Mystery oil in it. I simply place a drop or two on the edges of the hose(s)
and by the time I finish unscrewing the clamp, the hose simply slides off with a simple twist and pull from my hand.
I've never damaged a hose doing it this way.
.02
Click to expand...

True, but if they were that old and brittle I would just replace them as Mellow mentioned.
 
sennister said:
I would just replace them as Mellow mentioned.
Click to expand...
,,and do yourself a favor and get some plumbers grease at a building center or you will really fight to get the new one on far enough and oriented well. The stuff works very well for hoses.
 
Bigmak96 said:
,,and do yourself a favor and get some plumbers grease at a building center or you will really fight to get the new one on far enough and oriented well. The stuff works very well for hoses.
Click to expand...

I actually went the other direction. I used Aviation Form-A-Gasket on all my coolant lines. No pesky antifreeze leaks anymore.
 
sennister said:
I actually went the other direction. I used Aviation Form-A-Gasket on all my coolant lines. No pesky antifreeze leaks anymore.
Click to expand...

sennister, I'm going through a leak on my bike again. Last year I replaced the o-ring for the t-stat cover. Leak started again this Fall. After pulling the radiator and doing a pressure test, I saw the leak coming from a hose into the t-stat. This is probably where it was all the time. I tightened the clamp a bit and the leak stopped. I see you've used Aviation Form-A-Gasket. How did you use this? I'm considering this.
 
kubota35 said:
sennister, I'm going through a leak on my bike again. Last year I replaced the o-ring for the t-stat cover. Leak started again this Fall. After pulling the radiator and doing a pressure test, I saw the leak coming from a hose into the t-stat. This is probably where it was all the time. I tightened the clamp a bit and the leak stopped. I see you've used Aviation Form-A-Gasket. How did you use this? I'm considering this.
Click to expand...

It comes in a jar with a brush in the cap. Just paint it on and put it together if I recall. Maybe you paint it on both sides them let dry. It says on the container. I picked it up at the local auto parts store.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
sennister said:
It comes in a jar with a brush in the cap. Just paint it on and put it together if I recall. Maybe you paint it on both sides them let dry. It says on the container. I picked it up at the local auto parts store.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
thanks for the quick response.........I'll give this a try per your recommendation...
 
kubota35 said:
thanks for the quick response.........I'll give this a try per your recommendation...
Click to expand...

No problem.

Another tip with this. I don't remember where I didn't use it but don't use it at a couple places. With this in place you will be looking at most likely cutting off the hoses. So leave a point for doing coolant flushes. I don't think I put it on the lower hose coming off the radiator. Maybe one other point in case I wanted to pull the radiator for maintain.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
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