Damn it... A coolant leak. And an oil leak, too.

Message

Viking · #1 Post by **Viking** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:03 am

Morning all,

How common are split coolant lines on the Falco?

I've been noticing a white film on my clutch cover the past few weeks, and have managed to trace it back to what appears to be a split coolant line.

It's hard to see in there, but it appears to be a hose connected to the 'T' connector right behind the lower frame rail that's leaking a bit.

How hard is it to get in there and replace the line (and the 'T' connector)?

Also, I parked the bike after a long run yesterday (~2.5 hours at a good pace) and when I came back to her, there was a good-sized puddle of oil just behind the side-stand. It appears to be coming from somewhere behind the front sprocket cover and is dripping down the side-stand switch.

There was no leak under the bike this morning (after a similar ride home again), but when I stopped to fill up with petrol this morning I could see what seems to be oily water dripping in the same place, and there's a similar puddle there now (about 5 miles later).

The only change I've made lately was to top up the oil, as it seemed to be very low. (As in _no_ oil in the sight tube when warmed up and the bike vertical and idling.)

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers,
Viking

Nooj · #2 Post by **Nooj** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:14 am

Do you have a Scottoiler? Mine oils the front sprocket and tends to dribble down the stand when the bike's hot following a ride.

Viking · #3 Post by **Viking** » Mon May 14, 2007 3:30 am

Hi Nooj,

Nope, no ScottOiler installed. It's on the 'To Do list', though.

Okamoto · #4 Post by **Okamoto** » Mon May 14, 2007 6:01 am

Could be the clutch cylinder.........thats what happened when mine started to leak .....all over the sidestand switch, keep an eye on the res' level to confirm

D-Rider · #5 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:52 am

What airbox are you running, Viking?

I know that when some of the performance versions are fitted, there is the problem of what to do with the oil breather (which is normally fed to the standard airbox). I believe a common solution is to route it to lube the chain near the front sprocket. Slightly over filling the oil would, presumably, give the symptoms you describe ..... assuming you don't have the standard airbox.

Viking · #6 Post by **Viking** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:42 pm

Morning all,

Okamoto - the clutch fluid level is still OK - hasn't dropped at all. If it was the clutch, the fluid would have run out ages ago.

D-Rider - it's a stock standard airbox.

I'm guessing that I've put too much oil in, as the level is past the 'Max' line when I check it.

(Or check it as best I'm able when waiting for traffic lights to change...)

I'm more concerned about the coolant leak. Which seems to have a bastard mind of it's own. Sometimes the white powdery stuff comes back after I clean it, sometimes it doesn't.

By looking at the manual and tracing various hoses, I've managed to work out which piece appears to be leaking.

It's parts 1, 11, 12, and 13 on the following picture:

Anyone ever replaced these parts?

Fausto · #7 Post by **Fausto** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:24 pm

Viking - the picture is not opening for me. Want to try and redo it?

Samray · #8 Post by **Samray** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:57 pm

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If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.

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D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:06 am

Fausto wrote:Viking - the picture is not opening for me. Want to try and redo it?

I couldn't see it either ... right-click on it and then click "view image" ..... worked for me.

Viking · #10 Post by **Viking** » Wed May 16, 2007 2:46 am

Sometimes I hate the web server here....

Let's try again, shall we??

Wot-bike-isit · #11 Post by **Wot-bike-isit** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:46 am

Really what you should do is strip the bike to see what you can see. It's not that bad really.
As for the oil by the stand, have you had a look at the oil line that goes from the tank to under the counter sprocket? There was a recall on early model falcos for that line....mine blew out at speed.
The magnetic plug? filter cover?
________
Honda Airwave history

Wot-bike-isit · #12 Post by **Wot-bike-isit** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:57 am

Viking wrote: D-Rider - it's a stock standard airbox.

I'm guessing that I've put too much oil in, as the level is past the 'Max' line when I check it. (Or check it as best I'm able when waiting for traffic lights to change...)

That's no way to check the oil. As the oil pours down the tube while running it will always look maxed. Get the engine HOT, where the fans kick in, switch it off and put it on the stand and come back in 5.

I would be more concerned with the oil leak than the cloolant.
Have a look about your airbox and the vent line from the rear cylinder too for signs of oil. Or even the spark plugs....If they have worked loose.
________
vapir air one

Viking · #13 Post by **Viking** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:01 am

Wot-bike-isit wrote:As for the oil by the stand, have you had a look at the oil line that goes from the tank to under the counter sprocket? There was a recall on early model falcos for that line....mine blew out at speed.
The magnetic plug? filter cover?

Yep, checked all under the bike and all the covers. I have yet to pull the sprocket cover off and poke around in there. With luck, I'll be able to do that this weekend (if I can get out of bed early enough and before I have to go to work...)

As for the bike, it's a late '03 build according to the sticker on the frame (under the seat there), and it has the Marzocchi forks.

Viking · #14 Post by **Viking** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:06 am

Wot-bike-isit wrote:That's no way to check the oil. As the oil pours down the tube while running it will always look maxed. Get the engine HOT, where the fans kick in, switch it off and put it on the stand and come back in 5.

Easy done. I'll give it a crack tomorrow. I don't think that the people at work would appreciate me running the bike outside their offices for the time it takes to get that hot.

As an aside, why can't Aprilia give us an easy way to check the damned oil level? I've heard about 5 different ways, and they're all different.

EDIT: OK, there's too much oil in her. The level is up over the 'Max' line. Thanks for the easy method, Wot-bike-isit.