Please tell me where this leak is coming from.

jazzerken

I started taking off the Tupperware in order to adjust the valves and some coolant dripped out of it. The bike has not been started for two days and has 18k miles on it.
361409549_2ciuM-M.jpg

So i'm trying to find where it came from. I pulled the tank..

361409564_TAZ2F-M.jpg

And it seems to be coming from in the valley. I'm getting nervous about stripping the bike down any further.
361409556_2hX3m-M.jpg

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Ken
 
There can be a number of possibilities, most likely is a loose hose clamp under the carbs. Sometimes with a flashlight, the fuel tank out of the way and a long screwdriver, you can reach these clamps from behind as shown in your 3rd photo.

Have a look at the hoses forward of there too. With the bike on its side stand, I've had a lower radiator hose drip into the lower faring, flow rearward and then drip to the ground about where your picture shows. It was easily fixed by tightening the lower hose clamp a skosh.

You don't say what year your bike is but the earlier models ('91-'94 I think) had a water cooled oil cooler under the oil filter with two small diameter coolant lines running to it. Maybe if your bike has this cooler, one of the lines is leaking?
 
Thanks for the response Jeff. It's a 2003. I don't see any screw type clamps under there, but it there any chance that it's seeping from the heads? I it worth re-torquing them?

I bought the bike used about 3k ago. Just another thought, I was riding it very hard (and faster than I should) the last time I rode it (3 days ago).

Ken
 
Way forward under the carbs and rubber mat there are two elbows on the head. The hose connection at the elbows are probably loose there. Looks like you will have to pull the carbs to tighten. Your 2002 is too new for hose rot or corroded elbows.

Do a site search on leaks, hoses, etc.
 
Ouch, I guess I'll be spending more time wrenching than riding this weekend.:(

Thanks for the advice guys. Do you know if it's ok to use a cooling system pressure checker like you would on a cars cooling system. After all this work I'd like to be sure I got it fixed.

Ken
 
Good advice above. Check the clamps first. Also check the overflow hose near the radiator cap. Given the age of the bike it should not be major. earlier bikes could also have cracked alloy elbows where the hoses in the valley go into the block, but later models should not have this issue. A pressure tester would be a good idea as you can make sure you have nailed it.
 
Hi Ken,

You apparently have the classic, under-carb, coolant leak. No need to pull the carbs if all you need to do is tighten up the hose clamp(s) at the cylinder bank elbows. Here's a picture showing the clamps in question:


left-click on the picture to go to my Webshots album, then click on the previous picture to get a higher res version. To get an even closer look, click on that picture's +/full-size icon.

It'll take a 6mm open end mini-wrench (Sears sells a nice set) with some kind of extension on it, like this:



Get a good light under the rubber mat and go to work... should do the trick. Be prepared for the 'crick in the neck' that you'll have for a few days. :)

HTH

Regards, John
 
Hello again guys,

I think I got it with this handy tool. Thanks for all of the help!!
362296979_EYtoy-M.jpg


Ken
 
PITA!!! But take comfort in knowing you are _far_ from the first to suffer this classic malady.

Do the 1300s suffer from this, too?
 
I have read a few saying that the clamps on the ST13 are not always tight enough, and leaks happen even at a young age. Some waterpumps seem to leak as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom