Coolant Leak

[RacinRay]

I haven't ridden my FJR in the last few weeks (I've been riding my Speed Triple) but it was running great when I last parked it. Today when I started it I got a little wiff of coolant which is unusual but I wrote it off as an anomaly.

I rode the bike less than half a mile to the gas station to air up the tires and then noticed a steady drip of antifreeze coming from the bottom of the fairing under the radiator. I turned around and went home and as I pulled into the garage I saw the floor where the bike had been parked was clean and dry with no signs of a leak. The bike was now leaking so I threw a drip pan under it and switched to my Triumph and went for a ride.

My question is, how can a bike that was not leaking coolant when last ridden suddenly start to leak after sitting for 2 weeks? I need to dig into it and see if I can determine the source of the leak but I've never taken the plastic off of the bike before and I don't know where to start. Can anyone help me and tell me which panels need to be removed and in what order to gain access to the radiator? Perhaps someone can provide a PDF from the service manual. I'd appreciate the help. (2016 ES)

Thanks.

Ray

[Intech]

Did you happen to notice what your temperature was? It could have boiled over if the thermostat failed. Removing the faring is not difficult. You have to remove the adjustable side piece to gain access to attachment bolts. You also have to remove the dash cover as there is a screw that has to be removed under it. upper inside there are plastic rivets that have to be removed and then two screws on the side of the panel under the radiator. Last screw will be the one on the bottom underneath that ties the two sides together. Partzilla has a good parts breakdown.

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamah ... /cowling-2

[RacinRay]

Did you happen to notice what your temperature was?

Temp was normal after riding to and from the gas station. Also as I said, I could smell coolant immediately on start up.

[0face]

Did you happen to notice what your temperature was?

Temp was normal after riding to and from the gas station. Also as I said, I could smell coolant immediately on start up.

You won't know much until you get the plastic off and look around. Check the hose connections and clamps, the cap might be faulty, or the thermostat... all of which are pretty simple fixes... except for Andy, he can't fix shit, he doesn't even know which end of a hammer to hold.

[extrememarine]

My thermostat housing had been leaking for a while - never left a puddle or drip - but I could smell coolant at the end of a ride. It was seeping out of the housing and burning off on the metal part of the housing before it could drip enough to leave a puddle.

But, like mentioned - until you pull the fairings off it, you won't know if it's a pin hole leak in the radiator, a bad hose, or even the thermostat housing.

Good luck!

[wheatonFJR]

Did you happen to notice what your temperature was?

Temp was normal after riding to and from the gas station. Also as I said, I could smell coolant immediately on start up.

You won't know much until you get the plastic off and look around. Check the hose connections and clamps, the cap might be faulty, or the thermostat... all of which are pretty simple fixes... except for Andy, he can't fix shit, he doesn't even know which end of a hammer to hold.

From all the Andys of the world...

[raYzerman]

The thermostat housing doesn't have a whole lot of compression on the thermostat gasket and can weep a bit, but not a full blown leak IMHO.... to fix, can sand down the one side to get a little more compression.....
You may have a cracked coolant overflow reservoir, finally gave out after getting old and brittle too near the heat of the exhaust..... under the left side fairing. IF your temperatures were normal, likely just lost what's in the reservoir....
Only one way to know for sure, get that fairing off. Per Bob's description... might also have to take that screw out of the black "vent" at the front.

How about mcatrophy's guide to Gen3 plastic removal..... see post 16
https://www.fjrforum.com/threads/i-give ... 13.153923/
Or scroll around his site
http://atrophy.lock.net/pi/20140805_FairingsEtc/

[Road Runner]

Hopefully a simple fix like the overflow tank. They get brittle and just crack.
Let me know if you need a hand.

[Hppants]

My money is on the overflow plastic tank. There is a history of that happening on the FJR, although your bike is not that old. Maybe just pull the adjustable portion of the side panel and take a good look inside the fairing before removing the panel. In the old sandbox, there was a pictorial on removing the plastics from a gen 3 bike. Not sure if it's still there or not.

[wheatonFJR]

...In the old sandbox, there was a pictorial on removing the plastics from a gen 3 bike. Not sure if it's still there or not.

Look 2 posts above yours...

[RacinRay]

Update: I got the left side fairing off (thanks for the links Ray) and found the source of the leak. Unfortunately it's the radiator. I started the bike and everything looked good until it came up to temperature then I could see coolant spraying out of the fins on the upper back side of the radiator. It's a pretty serious leak.

Now I don't know if I want to tackle the replacement by myself. I'm just not confident in my wrenching abilities. I don't even know what parts I'd need other than the radiator itself. Unfortunately, I'd have to partially reassemble the bike and rent a trailer to get it to the shop.

[El Toro Joe]

Update: I got the left side fairing off (thanks for the links Ray) and found the source of the leak. Unfortunately it's the radiator. I started the bike and everything looked good until it came up to temperature then I could see coolant spraying out of the fins on the upper back side of the radiator. It's a pretty serious leak.

Now I don't know if I want to tackle the replacement by myself. I'm just not confident in my wrenching abilities. I don't even know what parts I'd need other than the radiator itself. Unfortunately, I'd have to partially reassemble the bike and rent a trailer to get it to the shop.

well that sucks, but at least you have some time before EOM

[Hppants]

Ray:

1. You likely don't need to rent a trailer, unless the shop is like 200 miles away. Watch your temp gage and stop now and then to check leve.

2. IMNSHO - if you are able to get the fairing off, you should be able to replace the radiator. It's not that hard. I wonder if a radiator shop could solder that leak - or even if they still do such a thing?

[CollingsBob]

Growing up in Nova Scotia there was 2 cures for a leaky rad…a package of black pepper, which would expand to fill the hole…or a dozen eggs, which would cook and flow to the leak..

[dcarver]

My leak was actual radiator failure.
https://candybuttorg.ipage.com/cba/node/391

[RacinRay]

Because I'm a cheap bastard I'm leaning towards doing it myself. What parts are necessary? Should I replace the cap and thermostat? Grommets, gaskets, hoses, and clamps? I don't want to have to do this again. I've never even done a coolant flush on an FJR (I've done my Speed Triple).

[0face]

First thing I would do is take the plastic off, make sure the radiator is full of coolant, run it up to temp, and then see if I can spot a leak. That will tell you next steps depending on what you find.

I'm sure somebody will be along shortly to give you better advice as to next steps.

[FjrVfr]

I don't recall needing anything other than the new radiator (and they're pricey). It's doable, but that one friggin' bolt on the starboard side is a bear. Make sure there are no sensitive ears close by because you're going to swear like a sailor.

I think that little bastard took me over an hour.

[BikerGeek]

...except for Andy, he can't fix shit, he doesn't even know which end of a hammer to hold.

Now THAT is just cold. COLD, man.

I DO know which end of a hammer to hold. It's the .. you know .. the end ... where the ... you know ... the thing is. Works every time!

Metric screwdrivers, on the other hand, now THOSE things give me fits.

And since I know that reading comprehension is tough for you...

Update: I got the left side fairing off (thanks for the links Ray) and found the source of the leak. Unfortunately it's the radiator. I started the bike and everything looked good until it came up to temperature then I could see coolant spraying out of the fins on the upper back side of the radiator. It's a pretty serious leak.

[N4HHE]

Update: I got the left side fairing off (thanks for the links Ray) and found the source of the leak. Unfortunately it's the radiator. I started the bike and everything looked good until it came up to temperature then I could see coolant spraying out of the fins on the upper back side of the radiator. It's a pretty serious leak.

Now I don't know if I want to tackle the replacement by myself. I'm just not confident in my wrenching abilities. I don't even know what parts I'd need other than the radiator itself. Unfortunately, I'd have to partially reassemble the bike and rent a trailer to get it to the shop.

The classic redneck fix is to cut the leaking tube at the leak then fold the top and bottom with a crimp that you somehow seal from leaking.

Lowes and Home Depot sell brazing rods for aluminum. Commonly used to repair HVAC coils. Requires MAP gas torch. If you can safely get fire in there then consider this repair.