I can check oil level but is there a way to check the water level in the radiator? Heading to Daytona next weekend and want to ensure all my fluids are good, tire pressure, etc. Thx
jjizhere
How do I check the water level in my radiator?
You will have to remove your fuel tank or scoot it back enough to see the radiator cap on the left side of the bike.
my reservoir tank is empty. Is it supposed to be so if it starts to overheat it overflows into it?
There's a high and low level on the reservoir. The level should be in between the two. As eagle mentioned, you should only need to check/add at the reservoir, but in your case, where you don't check it often enough, move the tank to fill the radiator. In the future, you can save yourself a lot of grief by keeping up on regular maint. Topping off fluids, etc. Your manual is your friend here. You DO have a service manual, don't you?
On my 98 750ACE, I slide the plastic cover outta the way, to access the fill cap on top of the radiator, fill, run, burp, refill, run, burb, refill, burp, until it stays full... replace cap, fill reservoir to the proper level...
Daytona?
Hook up with Raider Bill, he lives there...
RIDE Captain, RIDE,
D
Daytona?
Hook up with Raider Bill, he lives there...
RIDE Captain, RIDE,
D
Difficult Normal Maintenance
I have had the same problem on a '98 VT 1100, and it can be damnably difficult to diagnose and fix. The overflow/surge tank is squashed up in the bottom of the frame lattice. The high and low level marks are impossible to see without pulling panels and using a flashlight and mirror. The reservoir stays coated in road grime, obscuring the level. The radiator fill cap is behind an easily removed plastic panel, but the filler neck and cap are in a hole. My fingers aren't strong enough to twist the cap off, so I use a pair of channel locks, taking care not to scratch paint from the tank, frame, cap, everything in the way. Only then can you see the real level of coolant in the engine, and you must do all this with the coolant below its boiling point or you'll get a face full of hot coolant. Way too difficult to do on the side of the road when the bike has overheated, which it will do in a big hurry with its small coolant inventory.
IMHO this is a common weak link in all water cooled motorcycle engines. Something as simple as a water pump seal leak (engine removal to fix), leaking hose, or faulty fan temp switch (my problem) will disable the bike, and you can't tell what's going on because you can't see the reservoir level. My bike had an intermittently faulty fan switch. The fan and temp light would come on in alternating, uncoordinated, and random order in relatively cool weather, boiling off engine coolant by blowing it out to the reservoir. Very hard to diagnose.
I have had the same problem on a '98 VT 1100, and it can be damnably difficult to diagnose and fix. The overflow/surge tank is squashed up in the bottom of the frame lattice. The high and low level marks are impossible to see without pulling panels and using a flashlight and mirror. The reservoir stays coated in road grime, obscuring the level. The radiator fill cap is behind an easily removed plastic panel, but the filler neck and cap are in a hole. My fingers aren't strong enough to twist the cap off, so I use a pair of channel locks, taking care not to scratch paint from the tank, frame, cap, everything in the way. Only then can you see the real level of coolant in the engine, and you must do all this with the coolant below its boiling point or you'll get a face full of hot coolant. Way too difficult to do on the side of the road when the bike has overheated, which it will do in a big hurry with its small coolant inventory.
IMHO this is a common weak link in all water cooled motorcycle engines. Something as simple as a water pump seal leak (engine removal to fix), leaking hose, or faulty fan temp switch (my problem) will disable the bike, and you can't tell what's going on because you can't see the reservoir level. My bike had an intermittently faulty fan switch. The fan and temp light would come on in alternating, uncoordinated, and random order in relatively cool weather, boiling off engine coolant by blowing it out to the reservoir. Very hard to diagnose.
Remember how you can put your finger over the end of a straw and take it out of the glass of water and it will show you the level of the water til you lift your finger off ?
I got a clear piece of small plastic tubing and dip it and with my finger over the end it will show you the coolant level inside the overflow tank. Easy tool to make. Make sure the bike is straight up as mentioned before.
I got a clear piece of small plastic tubing and dip it and with my finger over the end it will show you the coolant level inside the overflow tank. Easy tool to make. Make sure the bike is straight up as mentioned before.
I`m happy with my 98 ACE!
And yes, my reservoir is accessible and I remove the cap to see it`s level...
That is easier than trying to look through the white plastic...
When I change coolant, it is not that bigga deal to do whatever is needed...
PLUS it ain`t an every day thing...
Once the radiator is full, it does its thing automatically through the reservoir...
I ride solo, so I don`t need to remove the rear seat, only the front...
I`ll then slide the tank back a few inches, remove the neck cover and radiator cap...
However, I`ll go ahead and remove the tank in most cases, cause I`m checking, cleaning and lubricating other stuff under the tank area, anyhow...
I Like Wrenching
LOVE RIDING,
D
Biketober Fest 2015 ain`t in our plans, however Raider Bill did invite us to come...
And yes, my reservoir is accessible and I remove the cap to see it`s level...
That is easier than trying to look through the white plastic...
When I change coolant, it is not that bigga deal to do whatever is needed...
PLUS it ain`t an every day thing...
Once the radiator is full, it does its thing automatically through the reservoir...
I ride solo, so I don`t need to remove the rear seat, only the front...
I`ll then slide the tank back a few inches, remove the neck cover and radiator cap...
However, I`ll go ahead and remove the tank in most cases, cause I`m checking, cleaning and lubricating other stuff under the tank area, anyhow...
I Like Wrenching
LOVE RIDING,
D
Biketober Fest 2015 ain`t in our plans, however Raider Bill did invite us to come...
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