Coolant leak

[Baloo]

Hello guys!

We are having such a wonderfull weather that (at last) I'm doing the maintenance on my 99 IS to get ready for the new season. When I stopped her for winter storage last fall, I had a light, but bothering coolant leak (dont't like anything leaking from my Valk). Then, I found a few loose hose clamps and thought that might be the problem, but i still have a small leak. Looking further, it seems to be coming from the thermostat housing, probably from the pipe o rings there.

Did any of you have a problem with it and is this a big job to repair? Guess I'm in for a tank removal and a good day of work...

[Chrisj CMA]

more like a radiator removal and a good day of work.  Mine was leaking from the upper hose that comes off the thermostat housing, all I had to do was remove the top bolt on the radiator, lean it forward and I was able to reach in there with a flex drive extension with a socket on it and tighten that clamp.  If you have to replace the O-rings.........get the Honda book, its detailed......drain coolant, remove radiator, remove thermostat and then the housing then you can get to 2 of the three O-rings.  The third is at the other end of a pipe that goes off to the clutch side.........good luck

[Black Dog]

Had the same issue, but only happened after I did the 'DeSmog'.  Probably caused the leak when doing the R&R on the carb bank.

Before you tear in to it, order the 'O' Rings (11 & 12) in the picture, as that is where mine was leaking.  



You will need 3 of the # 11, and 1 of the # 12.  The job is not too bad, but you need to drain the coolant, remove the radiator, and to make life much easier, remove the frame cross member that blocks clear access to the thermostat.

Another thing to consider...  Your bike is 11 years old.  This is a great time to replace the upper and lower radiator hoses.  Also, I replaced the thermostat and gasket, and some sensors, but that may have been over kill on my part.

At the worst, it's a 3 scotch job...  Also a great way to get to know yer lady better, and to put yer mind at ease, knowing you have replaced some pretty old rubber parts.

Black Dog

[Baloo]

Thanks for the info, guys!

Black Dog, if I understand correctly, you got in there from the front? Removed the radiator instead of going from the to by removing the fuel tank? Is this easier done this way? I did removed the tank and air box in the past for cruise control installation, so there, I'm in known area. But I did not have to remove the radiator yet.

Thanks again for the help and info!

[Black Dog]

Just my opinion, and worth every penny of what you paid, but I'd go through the front in a heart beat, rather than removing the tank and air box 

Like I mentioned in my first post, removing the frame cross member (once the radiator is off, you will see what I mean) makes the access to the thermostat housing quite easy.

Here is a link to the write up I did quite a while ago...  Hope it helps.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/forum/tech_archive.cgi?noframes;read=1267544

Black Dog