Water Cover O-Rings/seals

Aladinbama

Aladinbama

Joined
Sep 11, 2011
Messages
341
Location
Pearland, Tx.
Bike
97 ST1100 04 ST1300
1997 ST1100 w/120K miles - currently rebuilding carbs and replacing stuff under the rack. I also just de-paired it.
I would really like to change the O-ring #9 and the seal #10.
Does the water cover #5 come off without removing #4 Water tube? I'm asking as bolt #14 looks near impossible to get to and then there's 1/16" for it to move outward.
This is off the Water Pipe parts page for a 97
Sorry about all the numbers, but that was kind of fun
Thanks

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I did the seal (10) a number of years ago on my '95 and didn't need to touch that bolt, so it must have had some free play. However, I don't think those parts are a big concern for replacement, as the old one came out looking fine.
 
I just looked in the honda st1100 service manual, chapter 6, on cooling system.

Not a word about how to remove this tube.
Probably covered in another section.
Cylinder heads maybe.... Nope.

Ah ! Here. On Mike Martin's maintenance page.

"It isn't possible to remove the water pipe from the engine, because a bolt through a mounting tab can't be taken out unless the timing belt rear housing is removed. But an open end wrench can loosen this bolt, allowing the pipe to pivot around this bolt. After removal of the bolts securing the water cover, it can be pulled off the water pipe for seal replacement."


You owe me one. ; -)
 
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I did my '97 in 2013 and decided to just leave parts 9 & 10 alone, knock on wood its still good today. I made the same assessment you did, that the bolt is difficult to access and clearance looked to be minimal, so rather than get it halfway apart and hit an obstacle, I just left it alone. I think I've read here where others have mentioned they also didn't bother with replacing those parts.
 
ChriSTian_64 said:
You owe me one. ; -)
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I'd buy you a burger and a beer (or Iced Tea - my favorite), but you're kind of far away!
Thanks!

I loosened the bolts on #5 (before even looking) so I'm not trusting that thin o-ring that seals it (after 24 years).
I'll see if I can wiggle #5 off and if not, loosen the bolt and give it some more wiggle.
 
I removed that cover to replace the o-rings a few years ago. Don't recall the details, but I probably wouldn't do it again. Was a real pain.
 
I did this many years ago and I needed to use the open ended wrench that came in the bike’s tool kit to be able to squeeze in there to loosen that bolt. It was thin enough to do the job.
 
Success

Loosening the bolt allowed the pipe to move about 1/4" which was enough to get the cover off. Cleaned it all up, replaced the seal and O-ring, added a bit of silicone grease and it slid together pretty easy.
Everything under the carbs is done now - Just waiting on carb parts now. I'll have them mostly done Monday for the parts coming in on Tuesday.
 
Aladinbama said:
Success

Loosening the bolt allowed the pipe to move about 1/4" which was enough to get the cover off. Cleaned it all up, replaced the seal and O-ring, added a bit of silicone grease and it slid together pretty easy.
Everything under the carbs is done now - Just waiting on carb parts now. I'll have them mostly done Monday for the parts coming in on Tuesday.
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Hello Aladinbama, I'm in the middle of doing this on my 97. This past fall I replaced all of the coolant lines/seals with the exception of the bypass line that runs from the thermostat housing to the top of the water cooler cover off. Turns out I still have a leak, but not from any of the components that I replaced. I pulled everything yesterday, PAIRs included, and it looks like the cover is the culprit. Came to the same conclusion, loosened the bolt to get about 3/8" of clearance and was able to remove #9. I noticed that the inside diameter of #9 has indentations on it, almost like teeth. Was the new #9 a standard shaped packing or was it uniquely shaped to fit into a cogged type of channel? Were you able to use a mirror and visual inspect the cover surface to ensure that the new #9 was in place after install? How did you separate the cover from part 4 to get at #10? I don't suspect that #10 is leaking but it is going on 25 years old, if I have it torn down this far I might as well put a fresh one in.
 
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Here is a question regarding the waterpipe. I have changed all the hoses and it still leaks and in leaks I mean it pours And it seems to be coming from the tube the the Oil cooler hose is connected. I checked up top at #5 in the photo above and its all dry there. Just wondering if any has heard the water pipe itself leaking from a crack or the connector that hose goes on.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Bringing an old thread to life and 're-asking' a question that does appear to be answered -
How do you get the metal tube (#4) out of housing(#5) to replace that o-ring?
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As far as I remember, having done it though, it just pulls straight out. I did it when replacing seals on the elbows, I unbolted the coupling that the pipe you are trying to move plugs in to , and just twisted and pulled.
 
You need to loosen bolt #14 which is very tight to get to. You need a thin open ended wrench (like the one in the tool kit) you just need to loosen enough so that you can make it move to allow you to take the bolts out of 5 and get it away from 4. I did it many years ago so going from memory, but I recall the O ring was in perfect shape, but replaced it anyway. It wasn't corroded like the infamous aluminum elbows.
 
Sunday Rider said:
You need to loosen bolt #14 which is very tight to get to. You need a thin open ended wrench (like the one in the tool kit) you just need to loosen enough so that you can make it move to allow you to take the bolts out of 5 and get it away from 4. I did it many years ago so going from memory, but I recall the O ring was in perfect shape, but replaced it anyway. It wasn't corroded like the infamous aluminum elbows.
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I've already got the pipe out as it is easy once the water pump is removed.
And I finally got the pipe out of the cover but I buggered up the cover doing it.
And you can't buy the cover from what I find - though it's listed as 'available' on some websites (they're 3rd part jobbers that order stuff from Honda and carry no inventory themselves - so they don't know). :doh1:
 
Uncle Phil said:
I've already got the pipe out as it is easy once the water pump is removed.
And I finally got the pipe out of the cover but I buggered up the cover doing it.
And you can't buy the cover from what I find - though it's listed as 'available' on some websites (they're 3rd part jobbers that order stuff from Honda and carry no inventory themselves - so they don't know). :doh1:
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I don't know how you have the patience to work on all those beauties (at least not at the same time). Hopefully you can find the part, maybe it will be used or on the spare engine you have?
 
Sunday Rider said:
I don't know how you have the patience to work on all those beauties (at least not at the same time). Hopefully you can find the part, maybe it will be used or on the spare engine you have?
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Since I have 4 runners, I don't have to be in a push to get one fixed. :biggrin:
I've got 'spares' on my spare engines - it's just such a pain in the anatomy to get that particular assembly off.
I'd gladly pay for one - even used in good shape - to save that time and hassle! ;)
 
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Uncle Phil said:
Since I have 4 runners, I don't have to be in a push to get one fixed. :biggrin:
I've got 'spares' on my spare engines - it's just such a pain in the anatomy to get that particular assembly off.
I'd gladly pay for one - even used in good shape - to save that time and hassle! ;)
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I wonder if they are interchangeable with other Honda models. I did a quick eBay search and there appears to be lots of them in Germany and a couple in the UK Maybe a wrecker near you has on that is being parted out.
 
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