Need help with coolant leak

[Stew]

Earlier today I started flushing my coolant and found that it looked like metal flake upon draining it, like engine oil does the first time you change it on a new engine. It looked like it could possibly be from someone dumping in a bottle of stop leak. Surprised, I flushed and flushed and flush until the water didn't look silvery, but was still getting larger chunks in the flush water like so:

I finally relented and got some flushing stuff from the auto part store, put it in and went out for a ride. I pulled back in the driveway and looked underneath and see what can only be a coolant leak that was just leaking during the ride I came back from, maybe that junk I was flushing out really was stop leak. The miles are pretty low but it is 17 years old I suppose

It looks like it's seeping from between the timing belt cover and dripping down onto the frame. Anybody know where behind the timing cover it might be leaking from? Or any other thoughts?

[landisr]

Possibly from the right side radiator or hose connections?

Ron

[ct1500]

Remove the timing covers then run the engine for a better look where it is leaking from.

[Stew]

I've been finding out what I can about coolant leaks on the 1500 and it sounds like leaking from loose hose fittings is pretty common so I will start digging into it. At first I was concerned about a cracked head or block from what I found in the coolant but I'll see what more I can find, might take me a couple days before I report back. Thanks for the tips guys!

[Stew]

I had a few minutes this afternoon so I dug a little deeper and found the problem, hooray!

It looks like a hose connection problem at the plastic coolant 'T' fitting, part 20 it looks like.

Following this hose that runs up in front of the timing belt cover...

It pretty clear that's the source. There are some signs of coolant just above that but I'm 99.9% certain that's spillage from all the refilling yesterday but I'll start by tightening everything up, rinse things off and start 'er up and check for leaks.

[fnickel]

My bike seemed to be leaking from the exact same area as yours, but after replacing some of those small hoses and clamps, the leaking had still not stopped. Bear in mind that leaks are not always from the areas that you see them. They migrate. See my response to the thread titled
"what are the common leak spots on the coolant system - on the 1500's ???" dated November 19th. If your current efforts do not result in a fix, I would bet that the leaks are coming from the O-Rings on the coolant tubes at the front of the engine (near both upper corners of the transmission cover). Not a difficult fix, just a little awkward to get to, like most things on the 1500.

[Stew]

Okay I'm going to call this one fixed. Below is the before and after pics for replacing the hose clamps on coolant "T" fitting part 20. Looking at the pictures it looks like it would be an incredible feat of wizardry to actually get those factory spring clamps off, well let me tell you it is every bit of a pain as it looks like it would be

After replacing the hose clamps I flushed a bunch more, I swear I've ran 50 gallons through this thing, and then filled it with distilled vinegar to get out any leftover bits of stop leak, scale, or whatever. I had the vinegar in for several hours and it is definitely not leaking now, you wouldn't miss that smell if it was leaking. After draining that, and a few more flushes, including a baking soda flush to neutralize the vinegar, this has to be the cleanest this cooling system's been in a long time.

It started getting cold so I called it a night but tomorrow I'll probably flush it a couple more times for good measure and then fill it up with new Honda coolant.

[minimac]

That's some good detective work and even better photos, Stew. I've wondered the same thing-how to get to the some of the hoses and clamps. I changed most of the hoses on mine, but a few of the smaller ones were just impossible.

[WingAdmin]

I hate those spring hose clamps that Honda uses. They may be quick for them to install on the assembly line, and seal up quite well when the bike is new, but take them off then reinstall them when the bike is 15 years old, and you often get leaks. I replace mine with quality stainless screw clamps every time I have one off for one reason or another.

[Racing29]

Any advice on where can I find a replacement coolant fitting identified as 20 in the above picture and attached diagram ?

.

[bellboy40]

Western Honda shows it on their fiche (item #20, three way joint) for $5.83 plus shipping. I don't know what size hose fits it. When you get it take it to a parts house and find one to fit.

http://shop.westernhonda.com/fiche_sect ... veh=190495

[Racing29]

Thanks bellboy40 for the info. I was worried it would be a tough search since I didn't have a part # or know the exact name of the fitting. You have made my day. This forum is awesome!

[Stew]

I didn't measure the hose diameter when I was in there but it's small diameter, like fuel line size. 3/8" ID or so, looked a little bigger than 1/4" ID.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

I just had to do this fix. I didn't get the Honda part I used two brass T's because I really don't ever want to have to dig that far in. In my first attempt I thought there were only 3 hoses because of the way it looks in the diagram but the plastic fitting had a place for four which perplexed me. To my dismay I decided to put it back to get her and we'll the good news is I found that elusive 4th hose. I have the cooling system fixed but I'm.nkw going to have to wrestle the fans back in there. Thanks for all the posts on this topic it did point me in a direction that I could start from to investigate the issue.