Coolant seep

I bought a spare ST1300 front cover for that purpose. For ST1300s, it's not if, but when will the waterpump go out. I took said cover to a local Hondashop, left the instructions (how far to push the new pump in.) Of course it didn't come back with the correct measurements. So Byron and I had to play with it and got it where it needed to be.

I'm going to go to Harbor Freight one of these days to pick up their small press. That way I can fix my own! And have one sitting on the shelve ready to go in at any time. (Which I haven't done yet)

From the one picture, I can't really tell if the leak is coming from the round hole or the square hole. If it is the square hole, your leak in in the valley under the throttlebody. The next question to ask, how fast is the coolant leaking out? My commuter '04 has a constant leak, where I having to put in an ounce ever couple of weeks. I'll be fixing that in a few weeks, after I get this new '04 going.
 
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STroll said:
This is a bit of a cross post

I have the dreaded seep...

I think it is the water pump... where can I get one toot quick?

I plan to leave for OhSTOC THU or FRI

EDIT: I just looked at the manual... what a pain to replace the mechanical seal, you do not replace the pump you repair it and I don't have the tools... bearing pullers, hydraulic press... sheeze... I want my 1100 back


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Clean it up and check the hoses under the throttle bodies as I be that is the source of your leak, the water pump is less likely the problem.
 
STroll said:
So pull the throttle bodies?

I pulled the radiator and tightened the thermostat clamps a good amount

there are more clamps under the throttle bodies?

pic
http://mdturley.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Ricks-ST1300-procedures/i-vvPbvmg
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i would not pull them just yet, now that u have tightened up the clamps u can put radiator back on and fill the system then run it for 10 mins or so tell it gets upto temp. then see if u still have a leak happening. if not then u can bolt everything back up and good to go. if u do still have a leak, then i would get all new hoses and clamps and replace them all and so u know it will be a long time before u have to worry about it again.
 
There are 5 clamps on the thermostat housing. There are two clamps on o-ringed-elbows attached to the heads. Then there are even more smaller hoses that run around, like to one of those wax do-hickies on the throttle bodies, and elsewhere. You can look at a parts fiche on the water pump, the water pipe, radiator, etc., for all the dang hose clamp locations!

Some guys here have replaced the conventional screw drive hose clamps with some of those spring loaded jobs which keep constant pressure on the hoses. I think the jury is still out on whether that really fixes the hose clamp leaks. Just because it hasn't leaked yet doesn't mean it won't.

Then I was surprised to hear that the 2008 and newer bikes put a hose bib on the weep hole. Apparently too many water pump seals were getting replaced under warranty when the real issue was the clamps.

I've done the thermostat clamps on mine, but it was leaking again a couple years later - when it was still under warranty and the dealer managed to fix it. I was just too lazy. :eek::

BTW, I think Wendleboe had oil coming out of the square spot when he had improperly fitted his valve cover gaskets. It's easy to get both coolant AND oil into the V, so it adds to the confusion.
 
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Did nobody see his video? Thanks for posting that by the way. Mine was starting to do this and I just replaced my water pump this weekend. If you need any info or help on how to do it, PM me.
Igofar
 
The first thing posted was a picture with an arrow pointing at the bottom edge of the water pump coveer labeled "drip, drip, drip." The video makes all the difference and would have been a lot more helpful to have seen first.

Yes, that's the water pump seal.

--Mark
 
OK guys

It was tough to figure out where it was coming from... it was oil, then coolant then oil and a mixture of both

Square hole at first... it wasn't until I pulled the radiator, tightened the worm clamps in the thermostat area, pulled the air box, checked everything upstairs, reinstalled the radiator (and antifreeze) restarted the bike. AFTER all that, the weep hole showed it's true character.

Stealth leak... it was laughing at me I think :D
 
SupraSabre said:
I bought a spare ST1300 front cover for that purpose. For ST1300s, it's not if, but when will the waterpump go out. I took said cover to a local Hondashop, left the instructions (how far to push the new pump in.) Of course it didn't come back with the correct measurements. So Byron and I had to play with it and got it where it needed to be.

I'm going to go to Harbor Freight one of these days to pick up their small press. That way I can fix my own! And have one sitting on the shelve ready to go in at any time. (Which I haven't done yet)

From the one picture, I can't really tell if the leak is coming from the round hole or the square hole. If it is the square hole, your leak in in the valley under the throttlebody. The next question to ask, how fast is the coolant leaking out? My commuter '04 has a constant leak, where I having to put in an ounce ever couple of weeks. I'll be fixing that in a few weeks, after I get this new '04 going.
Click to expand...

Suppose this press would work... ??

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

less $ than the shop min. at Montana MARINE and honda
 
STroll said:
Suppose this press would work... ??

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

less $ than the shop min. at Montana MARINE and honda
Click to expand...



I used that same press this weekend....the handle bent and it was missing a couple parts on top of that.
I took it back and got a refund. Do yourself a favor and get a brand name quality arbor press instead.
If you need any assistance p.m. me or use the white courtesy phone.
 
I want to post a quick update. First - I have to say many thanks to Mark as well as the others, for the assistance in this issue.
Long story cut short: When I took my bike into a Honda car and bike dealer for winter storage I asked them to look at a small coolant leak. When it came out in teh spring, the leak was still evident and got gradually worse. This dealer would or could not fix it, giving many excuses like: all bikes leak, what do you expect for a bike of this age and mileage, it is normal etc.
Mark offered to help me fix it if I could make it down to Virginia in June. Unfortunately part way there, my wife decided she'd had enough long distance days, and wanted to go back home. So we never made it to Mark's, which is a shame, I'd have learned so much and I am sure the bike would have been fixed once and for all.
So when we returned to Ottawa, I called Honda Customer Service in Toronto, and they arranged for me to go to another Honda (and other makes) franchise. They had the bike for three weeks, and the bike now seems to be fixed. I just returned from a longish (700 km's) run to Lake Placid, NY, and it was dry as a bone. So the second dealer resolved the issue - I am not very comfortable with them as the back yard looks like a motorcycle graveyard, and they take so long to fix bikes - I bought it there and they took three weeks to replace the computer, again under warranty.
So - we found a third Honda dealer about an hour from home, for the 38400km service I wanted done prior to Lake Placid. And in their report they noted evidence of a prior coolant leak - funny! The first dealer couldn't find it. So, I will never go back to that first dealer again, I'll only go to the second dealer if I am in no rush for the return of the bike, and now I make a nice hour run out to Embrun, ON, for any future work and storage.
Almost a slight confession: we went to look at a new FJR while the ST was in for it's three-week stay. Very nice, very nice. I was so down-hearted by the problems with Honda dealers, if I had the money, I may have gone for it. But I didn't, the ST finally came home, and I will say I do love it.

So - thanks to all on this thread and forum, very special thanks to Mark. As agreed, $20 donation made to the ST-owners fund.

Hugh

Edit to tag Mark in case he doesn't see this post.
Blrfl said:
--Mark
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Snave said:
I am not very comfortable with them as the back yard looks like a motorcycle graveyard, and they take so long to fix bikes
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If they take a long time because they're loaded with work, that's a good sign.

So - thanks to all on this thread and forum, very special thanks to Mark. As agreed, $20 donation made to the ST-owners fund.
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You're welcome.

Keep an eye on it as winter approaches. I think you said that you store your bike in an unheated garage. You may find the problem will rear its ugly head as the ambient temperatures drop below about 55?F/13?C. Hang onto those clamps you bought.

Edit to tag Mark in case he doesn't see this post.
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The moderators see all, hear all and delete all. But don't think for a minute we know all. :)

--Mark
 
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