K11 Owners Group

[Milton]

Went for a short lunch ride with the wife last week. When we got back into town after a few stops I could smell radiator fluid. Stopped at a tavern for a cool beer (hot day for this time of year, 91F) and parked the bike; radiator fluid was spewing out of the overflow but the curious thing was that the fan wasn't on nor had it turned on anywhere along the stop and go (fan is good as I replaced a junk one last summer and I have verified that it works). Finished the beer, rode home and topped off the overflow.

Saturday rolls around and me and the wife go on another ride, this time a longer one. Climbing hills in traffic causes the temp to rise but I don't think the bike is spewing fluid this time. Head home and need to stop for gas, pull off freeway and go through 3 traffic lights and when we get into the gas pump lane and park the bike it is spewing big time. I let it cool down and top off the overflow with my remaining water bottle (I'd give my last drink of water for her). Ride 65 miles to the barn and everything is fine.

So I pull the tank back and open up the radiator. Under the cap is a soft rubber/plastic washer. It has a slight wrinkle in it. So I pull it out and heat it up in some hot water and work the wrinkle out of it. I put it back together and it seems to have cured the problem. What I'm guessing is that the washer wasn't making full contact and the wrinkle was allowing 213 deg. water to blow by the radiator cap. Since it was spewing before the fan came on I'm guessing this is what was happening.

On a side note while fitting the gas tank back on I got to thinking that if I should ever have a high speed get off what the he11 would hold the tank to the bike and not have it bouncing along with me coating me with gas so I could go up like a roman candle. There are 2 circular tabs hanging down close to where the tank pushes down into the rubber grommets but nothing to securely secure the tank to the bike. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks,

Milton S.
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Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

[Flying Duck]

There are clips that go on the ends of the posts at the rear of the tank. You're right, without them your gas tank stands a good chance of coming off in an accident.

Part number is: 07119932863 Quantity 2 About $0.50 each.
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IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
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[rydor]

Your radiator cap gasket problem happened to me at HM, except my gasket was toast. Ted ran me to an auto parts store (and a grocery store for distilled water), where he spotted a Crysler master cylinder gasket that fit the bill. It fit perfectly after Abreeze carved a bevelled edge into it.
Rather than take a chance on it happening again, I would recommend you replace both of the o-rings in the filler cap...

[Milton]