need advice to find a problem!!!

[Sandy S.]

Hello everyone! I have been a VRCC member since 2000 when I purchased my Valkyrie and have never
posted on the forum before. Everyone that posts as well as the how to articles have helped me learn
to work on my motorcycle. Anyway I just adjusted the valves, oil change, coolant change, replaced
brake fluid & hydralic clutch fluid. Then I got brave and did a desmog. Everything seemed to turn out
great except whenever I ride now I smell antifreeze. Is there a particular problem I should be looking
for. Also my valkyrie is a 1998 standard (blue and cream) with 51,000 miles on her. Thanks in advance
for your help. 

[Pete]

Smelling coolant, look for any sign of a leak, even a small one. A little coolant can generate a large smell, especially on a hot engine or exhaust.

[DFragn]

Welcome aboard,
My bet would be hose clamps. Check 'em all especially the upper hose at the thermostat, that one always loosens up. Hard to get to, it's behind the radiator. Rad is on a single bolt at the top and then will pivot forward. My hands were too big I still couldn't get to it. I had to drain and slide the rad off its lower mount to the left.

DBL check the radiator cap, drain screw & reservoir. Be careful, the fill neck is easy to bend.
Make sure your reservoir line isn't pinched, especially as it passes over the top of the rad and under the steering head.

If you can't see the signs of a leak anywhere, my money's on the upper hose and coincidental with your change.

[Robert]

+1 dfragn's post also if you spilled antifreeze in the radiator or anywhere else on the engine wash it well antifreeze stinks for quite awhile.

[Ricky-D]

So you're saying this is the first time you've changed the coolant.

If you drained the coolant by loosening the front radiator hose at the bottom, chances are you got coolant on the bottom of the parts in the front of the motor. Maybe other places too when you were filling it back up.

Don't worry about if if you see no leaking.

Wear a nose clip for a couple of weeks. The smell will then be gone when you lose the clip.

10 years!  Lucky it will still hold coolant!

Probably ought to go ahead and buy some head gaskets as a precautionary measure.

***

[Sandy S.]

Thanks guys. I have changed the coolant every 2 years and never had this issue before. Wondered
if I could have dislodged something doing the desmog. Your help is always appreciated,

[RLD]

Check where the coolant pipes enter the block, they have small o-rings with no way to tighten them. As your bike gets older, they harden and will start to leak when cold. The leak usually stops after the engine warms up. Seems most prevalent in the spring and fall. I chased this problem for two years before finding the problem. Cheap fix and it isn't too bad to repair once you de-smog. You will need 4 o-rings, two into the thermostat housing, and two into the block.

[1FAST6]

Are you seeing any drips on the floor?  Draw circles around the radiator cap, hoses underneath near the water pump, etc.  If there's a leak, it will show in the chalk.  Mine was in the lower T-Hose going from the block to the water pump.  Also had a loose radiator cap and had to bend the tabs up just a bit.  Many have had leaks at the thermostat on top of the engine and it runs down the left side when you put it on the stand...

[Chrisj CMA]

So you're saying this is the first time you've changed the coolant.

If you drained the coolant by loosening the front radiator hose at the bottom, chances are you got coolant on the bottom of the parts in the front of the motor. Maybe other places too when you were filling it back up.

Don't worry about if if you see no leaking.

Wear a nose clip for a couple of weeks. The smell will then be gone when you lose the clip.

10 years!  Lucky it will still hold coolant!

Probably ought to go ahead and buy some head gaskets as a precautionary measure.

***

What a bundle of Joy 

[Ratdog]

So you're saying this is the first time you've changed the coolant.

If you drained the coolant by loosening the front radiator hose at the bottom, chances are you got coolant on the bottom of the parts in the front of the motor. Maybe other places too when you were filling it back up.

Don't worry about if if you see no leaking.

Wear a nose clip for a couple of weeks. The smell will then be gone when you lose the clip.

10 years!  Lucky it will still hold coolant!

Probably ought to go ahead and buy some head gaskets as a precautionary measure.

***

What a bundle of Joy 

Ain't that the truth !!!

For the OP... double check the tabs on the cap to see if they're giving a good seal... trying tweaking the tabs a little bit.  Also... did you loosen the tiny screw on the cap which keeps it securely in place?  If not... things may've been tweaked out of shape.

Second... pull the L/S cover and inspect the overflow tank/hose connection point.  If people are not carefull with that tank/hose connection... the plastic can crack.

It also could just be that if you spilled any coolant... it may just be burning off.  Keep an eye on the coolant level until you're sure there's no leak.

[Farther]

After I changed my coolant I failed to fully secure the cap.  Coolant misted onto the bike.  I had to wash it twice to get the smell off.  If you don't find a leak, try washing the bike.

[Divot]

I just recently changed the coolant in my bike and have the same antifreeze smell after it warms up.  Didn't have a leak before and don't have one now.  I just dribbled some antifreeze onto the radiator when refilling it and haven't had a chance to hose it off yet.  It is a persistant smell and I'm guessing you don't have a leak if you don't see a puddle somewhere.