| Author |
Message |
Posted by:
David Rankine
Monday, October 19, 2009
05:56 pm | 95 1500SE that has the above problem. Did it last winter also. When it warmed up all was well. Did some riding this summer, over 10,000 miles. First cold day this year (40's) go out and underneath the bike a wet spot of anti-freeze. Saw somewhere on here that someone else had this problem when it got cold, but couldn't find it with a search. I was planning on pulling the carb this winter and checking all the hoses under it. Anybody have this problem and tell what they replaced or tighten I would appreciate your input. |
Posted by:
James Jones
Monday, October 19, 2009
06:01 pm | David, the radiator hoses tend to leak a small bit on the 1500s at the clamps. All they probably need is a touch of tightening to stop. Honda wraps some kind of tape or something around the neck of the water pump and up above there.
James I. Jones |
Posted by:
Joe Jeoffroy
Monday, October 19, 2009
06:52 pm | My 94 started the same thing last year for the first time. Tightened all clamps, replaced hose from radiator to overflow container and its clamps. Changed radiator cap as well. Not the water pump either.The amount of fluid lost has never been where I needed to add more.Stopped when it warmed up last spring and just began the other day when temperature dropped. I think it may be a gasket that contracts when it gets colder. I just keep an oil drain pan under the left front.
(Message edited on October 20, 2009) |
Posted by:
James Blackwell
Monday, October 19, 2009
07:11 pm | I think that is a pretty common thing on the 1500's. My '99 did it a few times. It was never over a teaspoon and I usually just tightened all the clamps I could get to and it would stop. Not much of a problem, just lets you know it's there. JB
Jim Blackwell
'08 Navi
Time is God's way of keeping everything from happening at once!!
Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story! |
Posted by:
Richard T. Seater
Monday, October 19, 2009
09:07 pm | There are tubes that from the heads to the carbs. The tubes have "O" rings where they fit into the heads. The "O" rings crack and leak when cold, when its warm they swell up and seal. The antifreeze comes out of the fitting and lays along the head gasket joint until enough collects to let it run off the end. When you first start looking for it, you think the head gasket is leaking. To find it you have to pull all the front tupperware and pressurize the system while its cold. Nine PSI and lots of patience will do it. I'll try to find the part number later this week. |
Posted by:
Robert Dowdy
Monday, October 19, 2009
09:14 pm | Don't feel bad, it does it on the 1800s also. Just my personal experience, may not happen to the other guys 1800s.
Stu mentioned one time about the spring type hose clamps that many of the car mfgs are using. I haven't converted yet but I can understand how they will keep tension as the aluminum radiators contract when it gets colder. Steel clamps doesn't contract as much as the radiator, so the hose seeps when cold. I get the smell, a trace of stain, but don't find a puddle. I have an 02, afraid now the hoses are too stiff to try the spring clamps.
Bob |
Posted by:
Fred Lammlin
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
04:02 am | My 03 showed a couple of drops of anti-freeze when I got it out to warm it up and change the oil last week. After I changed the oil and ran it again, there were a couple more drops. Hasn't done it before--that I know of. Fluid level is still ok, so I'll just watch it. Like was said, probably a cold weather thing. I think my old 1200 did it too--for 8 yrs., but never was a big problem. |
Posted by:
James Jones
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
04:06 am | Robert, I have stopped the leaks on several 1800s by removing the gas tank and tightening the clamps in the rear top of the engine by the thermostat housing. There is a Y there made of plastic that 3 hoses attach to and it has been the culprit along with the other hose clamps in that area. I even had to show the mechanic that in one of our local Honda shops. He had to get the maintenance manual out to figure out how to remove the tank. I stood there and guided him thru it to make it easy for him the first time. Since then, he has removed several tanks on the 1800 and stopped the leaks. It is not hard to do, just a little time consuming.
James I. Jones |
Posted by:
Keith Cobb
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
06:10 am | What Richard said is exactly what was wrong with mine.
I had mine pressure tested and found a few small leaks.
Do what James said. It IS time consuming but worth the work for the peace of mind.
If it IS the O-rings, get ready for a LOT of work.
(Message edited on October 20, 2009) |
Posted by:
Alex Bereczky
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
07:15 am | James: "the radiator hoses tend to leak a small bit on the 1500s at the clamps. All they probably need is a touch of tightening to stop."
> I think he needs to verify that the hose is fully-seated on it's connection too, prior to just tightening it.
> When mine leaked, the hose above the thermostat became unseated... it was very difficult to see that, and just tightening the clamps would not have fixed it... had to first remove that notorious clear tape that Honda had installed on connection, then re-seat the hose, then tighten the clamp. |
Posted by:
Alex Bereczky
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
07:16 am | David: "underneath the bike a wet spot of anti-freeze"
> Where did the leak appear? |
Posted by:
David Rankine
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
12:33 pm | The leak appears at the bottom front left or right below the fairing when on the center stand. To the left front when on the side stand. This is a 95 and only started to do this last winter and not this summer. 2 cold (40's at night) days and it's back. I ride (take trips) a lot 237,000 miles and nothing has had to be done other then preventative maintenance since I bought it new. |
Posted by:
Robert Dowdy
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
12:59 pm | James,
Thanks for the info, I have been there, tightened them, stopped that seepage in that area. What I have been watching the last two years is the left radiator, small 1/4" hose at the front that goes down. It is stained, only wet at the top opening when cold and engine started for about the 1st 10 or 15 seconds. I have snugged it several times but afraid to tighten too much for fears of collapsing the tube. I am going to keep watching the fluid level, maybe next year when I change the fluid again, I'll try the spring clamps too. Thanks for the info about the hoses under the tank and info for assistance.
Bob |
Posted by:
Alex Bereczky
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
01:43 pm | David: "The leak appears at the... left front when on the side stand"
> That's where mine was, when the hose above the thermostat was leaking... It ran down the right side, then into the cover for the timing belts, exiting at the front left (when on side stand).
> The only way you're going to find this one is to remove one or both the fans and then run the bike (parked) until it warms up and the thermostat opens... at the time you'll see a gush of fluid emerge from the hose atop the thermostat.
|
Posted by:
George Wick
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
06:48 pm | Had the same problem with my GL 1800. When I changed the air cleaner I tightened all the hoses I could reach and haven't had the problem since. Not sure which one it was, but the leak is gone. I think what happens is when the temperature goes down all the connections contract and allow more room for leakage. |
