K11 Owners Group

[Stew Dutterer]

While out for a ride today I noticed some coolant on my left boot, temp gage
was at it's normal spot about 1/3 up so overheating doesn't seem to be an issue. When I got home I pulled the radiator cowl off and saw coolant at the bottom of the core/end cap interface. Here's the strange thing, there was no leaking while running in the garage, only when I was riding. Any ideas whats happening ? Could I have shot radiator ?
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Redrider

[SugarHillCTD]

WAIT A MINUTE.......

Green Bay, Wisconsin- January 31st and riding a motorcycle???????

I, I, I-------don't have an answer for your tech question but am VERY jealous that you are riding and I am very far from it!

Sorry for the thread detour, but I am famous for just that. Ask Jim @ Saltcreek.

John
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

[Off the grid]

Tech forum.

No, I don't have an answer.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Scott_Anderson]

Stew, don't know what your riding, helps if you put it in your sigline.

There is 1 hose that connects from the top/left side of the radiator down to a fitting on the top of the block behind the left side of the rad and behind the throttle body assy.
There is a 2nd hose that connects from the same block fitting and runs across the back side of the radiator to the thermostat housing on the right side.

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/ShowImage.aspx?image=Diagrams/B0003036.png&rnd=4352464
Part #1 and #4

It's possible that one of those could be leaking and collecting on the top of the motor until you ride and it blow's back and down onto your boot.

The only real way to get to those without removing the radiator is to remove the lower airbox assy and look. All of the hoses have clamps that can be tightend if they are loose.
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Ride safe.



1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

[Stew Dutterer]

Thanks Scott,
The bike is a 97 K1100LTSE, just turned 35K.
I looked at the hoses I could see, I'll pull the air box and look further..
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Redrider

[Stew Dutterer]

Found the leak, next to the top left hose there is a small leak at the interface of the core and tank. It starts to leak as the engine warms up then quit when the engine got to run temp. That explains why it didn't leak when I got home from the ride. Now what to do, are the radiators repairable or should I replace it ? I've been riding most of the winter, yesterday was 20 deg. but I've had the K out in colder than that, I'm not sure if going from a cold start at 20 deg would have ant effect on the radiator, it doesn't in cars.
Thanks for all the comments.
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Redrider

[Ted]

Sounds like it is leaking when the thermostat is closed. I am not sure about K11 radiators, but I had the radiator on my '61 TR3-A repaired easily. It was leaking where the return tube collar met the radiator at the top. The radiator shop guy heated up some lead in a cup and then the radiator with a butane torch then dribbled the lead around the collar where the crack was with an old-school soldering iron. Never leaked again and cost me all of $15.
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Ted
KOG#1

[Stew Dutterer]

Can't solder this one, the end caps are plastic and the core is crimped to the plastic with a rubber seal in between..
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Redrider

[Scott_Anderson]

[Flying Duck]

I've got a nice 3-core, and I might have some 2 cores as well.
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