Antifreeze leak,,,,

[Sassy]

Recently bought a '89 1500. Never noticed it at the time but now its leaking a bit of antifreeze somewhere.
Ive got the lower cowling off as Im getting ready to do cam belts.
Other than seeing a bit of past dips on the left side of the bottom nose plastic no drops on the cardboard and nothing is wet on the way down to the plastic. Im thinking it's probably the left rad but have no idea how get a closer look.
Is there a totorial for rads or is there someone out there willing to offer a little guidance at getting a closer look?
Fred

[newday777]

The radiator doesn't usually leak unless punctured.
Hose clamps get loose as the motor metal cases cools this time of year and shrink.
Another spot is the metal tube going into each head at the front, there is an o-ring to seal to the head and the o-ring needs replacement. Very hard to see unless you follow the y pipe coming off the water pump. 2 o-rings needed.

[newday777]

The o-rings, #10, are accessed by removing the bolt, #13, holding the pipe to the head. The o-rings flatten out needing replacement.

https://www.hondaparts-direct.com/oempa ... ba7bb73e/y

[Sassy]

Thank you much! Would be nice,, couple orings.
Will scour around some more to find something a bit wet.
Will update
Fred

[newday777]

Use a good flashlight to look in deep.

[Sassy]

Use a good flashlight to look in deep.

K,, . Notice you spend time in O'side in winter.
We spent several winters at Paradise By The Sea RV
Pk. there. We really enjoyed it but as we aged travel insurance cost along with dollar exchange and general cost put that vacation out of our reach.
But was great while it lasted.
Fred

[newday777]

K,, . Notice you spend time in O'side in winter.
We spent several winters at Paradise By The Sea RV
Pk. there. We really enjoyed it but as we aged travel insurance cost along with dollar exchange and general cost put that vacation out of our reach.
But was great while it lasted.
Fred

I've been past it many times.
I do my travels by my wing and a small popup then rent a room once there to be able to afford the trips to spend the winter's near the grandkids.

[Sassy]

Well, spent a good 1/2 hr studying the oring location and surrounding area. The right side is easy to see and very clean, of no concern. The left side, not as easy to see and not as clean may have weeped but I don't believe it to be the problem.
Now that I have so much body plastic on the bench tomorrow I'll fire it up and run the temps up.
Last time I ran it when stopped a bit of vapour rose up through the opening for the left side handlebar.
Thank you again for your input.
Fred

[newday777]

Last time I ran it when stopped a bit of vapour rose up through the opening for the left side handlebar.
Thank you again for your input.
Fred

Look at the reservoir tank rubber grommet the 90 degree elbow goes in for cracks and broken elbow.

[newday777]

#2 & #4

https://www.hondaparts-direct.com/oempa ... 27dc82b9/y

[Sassy]

Thank you, will happen on the morrow
Fred

[Sassy]

Well I'm stumped!
The stuff you mentioned is good no dampness of any kind.
I started and ran the bike for 1/2 hr or so on the centerstand and the vapour emerged from under the handlebar. I checked the rads again with no sign of dampness anywhere,,,, that I could see.
In talking with the previous owner who rode it for 10 years he said that ya every so often he could smell antifreeze and in the those 10 years added about a liter of 50/50.
So, thinking I will leave it untill the situation changes and move on with my cam belt change.
Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.
Guess I'm gonna get a shop manual and find out how to get the rads out.
Fred

[newday777]

You tightened the hose clamps?

[newday777]

BTW
The leaks will show as the bike cools off not usually when running.

[Sassy]

No didnt touch anything hoping to let it show me the problem. But I'll go over stuff as I put it back together after the belt change.
It reminds me of our minivan, smell it every so often, add antifreeze every so often. The rad had a pinhole that eventually showed from under a covered area.
Fred

[newday777]

As I said, the radiators are usually not a problem on the wings.

[DenverWinger]

If left sitting for a few weeks (especially in cold weather) mine leaks a little - just a tiny puddle on the garage floor. But if you start it up, as soon as the engine warms up just a little the leak is gone, not to be seen again unless left sitting again.

Been like that since I've had it. As long as it doesn't get any worse I guess I won't worry about it, I just top off the reservoir once in the spring. (it leaks that little).

[newday777]

They get sad and cry when you leave them neglected sitting in the cold.

[Sassy]

As I said, the radiators are usually not a problem on the wings.

Well I haven't found evidence of leaks anywhere else so until I do a visual inspection they cant be ruled out.
When and if I ever find the problem I will report and thank you for you guidance.
Fred

[Sassy]

Went back out to tear into the cam belts today but seen a spot,,,, hey maybe the antifreeze is showing!
Yep, wish it was a rad now,, looks to be a head gasket. Left side bottom front a drip was hanging off the frame. As I traced it up and seen a wet spot on the head gasket. Pulled the cover to check oil, no sign of water,,, whew!
Then seen a puddle on the block at the base of the cylinders in from the oil checker. I call it Long Lake!! Was 3/4 inch wide and about 5 inches long.
I decided to start the bike and run up the temp. The left side head gasket dripped decent till the temp came up then it sealed up. As the temp came up the vapour returned, seemed more but unheated shop cold probably why.
Ran it for about 1/2hr, Long Lake dryed up steam quit,,,
SO, gonna continue to strip the Tupperware till I find the lake supply.
May leave the head gasket for now depending on what else shows up,,,
Fred
Pics to follow

[newday777]

It's very rare to hear of a bad headgasket on the 6 cylinder wings. It is usually an o-ring, loose hose clamp or once I found a reservoir bottle that had a hole in it because of a locating pin on the bottom that went into to the frame hole.

[Sassy]

This is the back end of Long Lake

[Sassy]

Took a while to sort out YouTube, they change ever so slightly and I'm hooped for a while
So here's a couple vids with thd bike running. During warm-up choke on about full so rpm is up.
First vid is looking up to thed bottom front of #2 at the head gasket area. Sorry the vid is fuzzy guess it couldn't focus that close. But a drip forms and drops and I'm pretty sure it's the gasket
The second one is of the vapour during warmup.
Yes the vapour stopped for the most part and the head quit dripping.


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[Sassy]

If left sitting for a few weeks (especially in cold weather) mine leaks a little - just a tiny puddle on the garage floor. But if you start it up, as soon as the engine warms up just a little the leak is gone, not to be seen again unless left sitting again.

Been like that since I've had it. As long as it doesn't get any worse I guess I won't worry about it, I just top off the reservoir once in the spring. (it leaks that little).

Is that little drip close to the front of the motor and left of center when on centerstand?
Fred

[Elmobile]

Just happen to read your post again...
Mine had the same symptoms for the longest time and found out that the thermostat seal was leaking. The fluid gets to what your pics show.
I replaced the seal and resurfaced the top cover base. No issues since.
Below is the link to my post at the time...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=56276&p=338602#p338602
Hope it does help.

And it is no fun to get at... especially the last bolt for the cover, the one in back!