Author Topic: Radiator leak (Read 6998 times)

Kwikasfuki · « **on:** March 17, 2012, 10:41:40 AM »

Looks like my radiator is on its last legs as it has a few leaks. I'm going to get the core replaced which is cheaper than buying a complete unit. When I took it off this morning, I noticed the following incision at the rear of the radiator (and I assume this is where one of the leaks is from). The only item that could leave such a mark is the cooling fan. I've had a look at the cooling fan and it seems fine when rotated. Should I change them as a precaution as well?

ZG · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:20:24 AM »

Are you running the stock plastic fan or did you change it out and go with one of the metal ones?

maxtog · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:22:23 AM »

It certainly looks like an arced fan blade mark to me. But I don't understand how that could happen, unless something were bent/moved and reduced the clearances.

I would be greatly concerned before just slapping a replacement radiator on there. But just replacing the fan wouldn't not necessarily correct the root problem. Looks like you will have a lot of measuring to do

rcannon409 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:27:31 AM »

Look for a cracked blade. We have this happen at work on a regular basis. Its hard to diagnose, though, as few are willing to stick their hand anywhere near a fan at full speed..go figure. The shape and angle of the fan blades change when its at full speed. A cracked blade may flex enough to hit the rad. Or, the shop turned the engine on before the fan/radiator assembly was properly mounted.

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:28:32 AM »

Quote from: ZG on March 17, 2012, 11:20:24 AM

Are you running the stock plastic fan or did you change it out and go with one of the metal ones?

Stock fans.

maxtog · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2012, 01:13:38 PM »

Quote from: rcannon409 on March 17, 2012, 11:27:31 AM

Look for a cracked blade. We have this happen at work on a regular basis. The shape and angle of the fan blades change when its at full speed. A cracked blade may flex enough to hit the rad.

Good possible diagnosis!

B.D.F. · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2012, 06:40:26 PM »

That looks like a fan blade swept a piece of debris (FOD) through part of its arc. Notice how the arc continues at about the same depth until it hits the vane? It looks to me like the vane jammed the debris hard against the fan blade and got flipped out. I would look for a ding or impression on the tip of a fan blade and around the inside of the shroud that mounted on that side of the radiator.

One of the things always in the back of my head is that the fans act like scoops that try to snatch anything dropped behind the front fairing. It could be a piece of hardware as it seems that things fall into that black hole just in front of the fuel tank but never hit the ground; those fan shrouds make a great place to catch such things on their way down. It is the main reason I always try, and so far have been lucky at, finding whatever was dropped there to begin with. Of course if it is a piece of debris picked up while riding you would never know it was there until coolant was on the ground under the bike.

Brian

Quote from: Kwikasfuki on March 17, 2012, 10:41:40 AM

Looks like my radiator is on its last legs as it has a few leaks. I'm going to get the core replaced which is cheaper than buying a complete unit. When I took it off this morning, I noticed the following incision at the rear of the radiator (and I assume this is where one of the leaks is from). The only item that could leave such a mark is the cooling fan. I've had a look at the cooling fan and it seems fine when rotated. Should I change them as a precaution as well?

lt1 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2012, 07:26:26 PM »

So will the truly paranoid now add a radiator guard to the backside of their radiators?

B.D.F. · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2012, 07:29:51 PM »

Beats me but I could see some kind of screen back there....

Brian

Quote from: lt1 on March 17, 2012, 07:26:26 PM

So will the truly paranoid now add a radiator guard to the backside of their radiators?

momo65 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2012, 08:58:48 PM »

That is a bummer Bro, am thinking of changing the plastic fan with a metal one myself, but now am a little concerned if i make a small mistake and end up with this problem myself,,, let us know if you find the root cause of this, am no mechanic, but am thinking maybe the mechanism that holds the blade somehow is giving and if you are taking off in a hurry makes the blade stick out just enough to start rubbing and after a while it made a mess. just my thoughts..

bbhzx12 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2012, 10:39:47 PM »

Stock fans.... still under warranty?

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2012, 06:10:34 AM »

Possibly. Depends on when/what you bought and if you are under an extended warranty. The rad would be included as well. Never heard of a fan going into the rad on these bikes. First time for everything though.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2012, 06:12:04 AM »

Quote from: lt1 on March 17, 2012, 07:26:26 PM

So will the truly paranoid now add a radiator guard to the backside of their radiators?

Good idea!

Now who's after me today?

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2012, 06:52:33 AM »

Looked at why those marks might have been made. Brian suggested that something might have got caught between the fans and radiator. That is highly possible., however the fans are rigid and not broken. Also there are no marks on the fans or assembly to indicate something had been caught.

I placed the fan on the radiator to see how much clearance there is. Not much. The slightest pressure on the fan and it was touching the radiator. We are talking probably a couple of mm. I think I'll add some additional washers to get more clearance when reinstalling the fans.

(Now that I think about it, sometimes I could hear a noise like the fan motor was going. I'm wondering if it was the fan touching the radiator very slightly)

EDIT: I think if you put another guard at the back you're going to run into clearance and heating issues. It's probably best to increase the clearance from the fan to the radiator by adding some washers

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2012, 07:05:46 AM »

Quote from: Kwikasfuki on March 18, 2012, 06:52:33 AM

EDIT: I think if you put another guard at the back you're going to run into clearance and heating issues. It's probably best to increase the clearance from the fan to the radiator by adding some washers

I rather think that was in jest....about the guard. There shouldn't be anything required in the fan setup, by way of spacers, to these fans. They've worked hundreds of thousands of miles in many bikes without failure of the sort you describe. If something is affecting the clearance then the bearings or bushings are going in the fan itself causing the clearance to widen. If you suspect the fan(s) then you should replace that assembly, assuming you aren't going the warranty route. You may affect the cooling aspect by widening the space between the rad and fan assembly...ware the law of unintended consequences.

I'm with Brian on this one....I think it was debris and not the fan itself.

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2012, 09:54:21 AM »

Are there aftermarket fans I can purchase?

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2012, 10:08:04 AM »

You can can see how much clearance there is here

Also, it's the fan housing that is making contact. Either that or something caught in it.

maxtog · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2012, 02:21:55 PM »

Quote from: Kwikasfuki on March 18, 2012, 10:08:04 AM

You can can see how much clearance there is here
Also, it's the fan housing that is making contact. Either that or something caught in it.

Yep, it looks like rubbing from the housing. Has your bike ever been in an accident or had any work done around that area?

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #18 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:48:21 PM »

Quote from: maxtog on March 18, 2012, 02:21:55 PM

Yep, it looks like rubbing from the housing. Has your bike ever been in an accident or had any work done around that area?

Nope, not that I recall

rcannon409 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 18, 2012, 04:26:01 PM »

Does the housing move once the fan is spinning?

However, this one guy I know wanted to mention how easy it is to bend these fins when assembling something. Just a slight brushing smashes things.

News:

Author Topic: Radiator leak (Read 6998 times)