Water pump

[saddlesore]

I've been having an intermittent anti freeze leak and searched for it today.  I didn't find the leak including the weep hole.   What made me decide to replace the water pump was looking at the bottom of the drain pan for the anti freeze.  There were fine silver shavings.   Has any one else encounter this?
I was reading posts in the tech section and didn't see any mention of it.
I have a 1999 standard with 158,000 miles on it.  I replaced the radiator hoses last summer.  I didn't do the thermostat, the bolts were frozen. 
 
Thanks

[mrgeoff]

Hey Saddle...If it was me, I would change the water pump out with a new one...You have 150K+ miles on your bike so I would just do it...They aren't too expensive and easy to change...This is just my thoughts...Good luck on your decision...!!!

[Ricky-D]

An intermittent leak is not enough to make me start to change out parts, especially if the leak origination is undiscovered. I suggest to simply put a teaspoon of stop leak into the radiator to cure the leak. This has been an acceptable method to deal with these kinds of situations.

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[Savago]

I once had a leak that was getting worst and guess what? It was only a loose bracket on the radiator hose (that goes on top of the engine).

The fix was to remove the gas tank + radiator and torque the hell of it.

The original post:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,70874.0.html

Savago

[saddlesore]

Since I just put new hoses on a couple of months ago I figured something was loose but I couldn't find a leak.   What has me concerned is the silver flecks in the drained antifreeze. 
Is there a specific stop leak to use?  I thought I had some, will get some more.   

[Michvalk]

Where there usually a leak, is the top hose clamp on the thermostat housing. That one lets the antifreeze drip right in the place where the water pump would leak. You can get to it with a long screwdriver, unless the clamp is in the wrong position. as for shavings in the coolant, there really would not be anyplace else for the shavings to come from, but the water pump, I don't think. DON"T use stop leak, except for a last resort

[saddlesore]

Water pump replaced. Now time will tell.   When I replaced the hoses I turned the upper hose clamp so  i could get to it.  Was tight and no noticeable leak.   I saw no trace of wear in the old pump but as long as I had the new pump I installed that.
Thanks to all.