K11 Owners Group

slyderx · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:41 am Post subject: Radiator or worse?

I notice the smell of cooked coolant and a worrying puff of smoke emanating from top of fairing followed by a small pool of coolant under bike. On inspection i noticed that coolant return tank is full and return hose to was cut from radiator fill cap section. Yippee I thought problem solved.
However after topping up and running the bike in idle i noticed a small drip that seemed to be coming from the top of the radiator itself and again the ominous puffs of smoke. The hose fixings are dry and no I cannot see anything from the water oil pump. I did notice that the oil glass seemed to be a quarter full but i dont know if this is relevant. I cannot get the radiator to weep everytime i idle the bike so pinpointing the radiator as the culprit is more a case of not being able to spot anything else. The fan does come on and goes off. All suggestions gladly welcome
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)

jr'sbmw · Big Brick Rider Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Fl

I have a Stant cooling system pressure tester for vehicles, but drilled out an extra K bike radiator cap so the tester hose could be screwed in. That way I can run the radiator pressure up to 15 lbs. + with the engine off while looking-listening for leaks.

Some leaks are easy to find, like when my LT fan slipped on the shaft and chewed a hole in the radiator core!!! Good luck.

slyderx · Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject:

thanks ..ive pulled the radiator so il see if it can be recored or whatever. Im more worried about coolant in the oil but i cant detect any of the usual signs milky residue etc. Is the head gasket particularly difficult to change?
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 9:53 pm Post subject:

Have your radiator pressure tested for leaks. Probably less expensive to have it replaced with a good used one than to try and re-core your existing one.

Check the weep hole on the bottom of the water/oil pump.
If this hole gets plugged up,(very common to fill with road debris) and your shaft seals start to wear out, you can have to potential for oil/water mixing as it can't escape thru the plugged up drain hole.
This is much more common to happen at the pump shaft than at the head gasket.
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Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
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"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

slyderx · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:45 am Post subject:

thanks . must have a close look at the pump housing...cant see anything except the temp sender and the other electrical covered sensor. there's no leakage or weepage as far as i can see and apart from my unease about the oil not moving from the window i will just monitor it.
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)

slyderx · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 7:22 pm Post subject:

radiator renovated at a cost of 170 euro and reinstalled. i'l take it for a test ride tomorrow.....and i found the weephole for the waterpump yippee
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)

slyderx · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 5:14 am Post subject:

as a matter of feedback..repairing the rad seems to have cured all ills with the Light Truck. Thank you to everyone that responded to my query.
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)