Coolant leak around the fake cooling fins could be head gasket. How is the engine running other than leak. Any white smoke etc?
Also very difficult to trace coolant leaks so what I would do is wipe the area with paper towel and put paper towels under the engine/rad and then run up the engine wiping everywhere from the top down and you should find the source.
Finally, some Autozones/Oreillys offer a tool loaner program so you can "borrow" a rad test kit and that means you don;t have to run the engine to pressurize.

Update: Let's not get ahead of ourselves with engine teardown. These engines don't blow head gaskets unless really abused ie improper maintenance or a lot of high rpm driving. My guess is a leaking tube/pipe or even rad cap and the coolant is spraying so do the paper towel wipe first.

 

only when i first start the bike up is there a little white smoke but not once it gets warm, i hope its not the heads or leaking from the heads, it so how much is the fix, and is it a hard tear down, to fix the gasket if the heads ain’t cracked or warped?! and any repair manuals you know of that i can follow to fix, once i diagnose where the leak is coming from

 

Im riding a VT700C from 1985, and had my share of problems with blowing headgaskets.

Try removing the radiator filler cap, and start the engine. If you see white smoke, or it blows out bubbles (might be BIG bubbles), then you have a blown head gasket.

I did the repairs myself (Im not in any way a mechanic), and only costed me the price of new gaskets.

It is however a big project, that will require you to remove the entire engine from the frame, and you have a cam shaft chain that will require your utter most attention, to get installed correctly again after.
Otherwise, just take pictures as you go, so you are sure to get everything put back in the right order

 

thank you man, when i have time later this week im gonna go do that and see what the diagnosis is, hopefully i dnt have to do what you did and tear the whole motor off, but if that’s what i need to do, it needs done, cuz i love the bike and its my first 1.. i wanna eventually pass it down to my son, when he’s able to ride.. but we’ll see thanks a lot and any other tips or tricks on the whole tear down if that’s what’s needed im all ears man, really appreciate the info 🤘🏼

 

Best to wash off the old coolant with water and let it dry then run it and look for the beginning of the leak.
So you don't go the wrong direction.
On the models with a crossover coolant pipe in between the cylinders, it could seep and the coolant run around the fins and fool you into a wrong diagnosis.
Easy to fix with 2 O rings if that is what it is.

 

i’ve seen someone tell me that same exact thing on Reddit, that’s another thing i’ll try, i had it started like a few wks ago, so i’ll check it out when i go up later this week, i appreciate all the help & info you guys!

 

The early 700-750 and 1100 engines had hydraulic tappets so that is good advice.
But the later 750s have adjustable valves and rockers. Simpler on top.

 

You should be able to find the service manual in our "service manuals" thread. They will come in handy.

Honda Service Manuals

Honda Service Manuals The following list of manuals has been accumulated by forum members over the years: 500C VT500C: Honda Service Manual - English Only (Posted by reno1051) 600C HSM VT600C,CD VLX 88-89 91-96 (61MR107).pdf 750C VT750C ACE: Honda Service Manual - '83 (Posted by Kathy M)...

www.hondashadow.net

 

I have a radiator pressure tester that works on the Hondas if you're in the Kansas City area...

 

I Had TWO leaks to fix ==>
I had to replace the "Crossover Tube" O rings and the O Ring on the waterpump also on mine...
Same basic Bike,
Dennis

 

Easy DIY pressure test with a bicycle pump or air hose and just add 10 pounds of pressure to find the leak safely into the overflow hose nipple.