Water pump life.

[BigM]

Going on a trip in a few months and going over some maint. Run water wetter and no leaks. All is fine. Drained the antifreeze and going to replace with honda hp.
 At 135k on the I/S think i should go ahead and replace the water pump? Also T-stat life?

[Pete]

If it is not broke I think I would leave it alone.
A typical water pump failure starts as a slow leak with plenty of warning to get somewhere for a fix.

Since 1972 I have personally seen 00 thermostat failures on a motorcycle.

[BigM]

yeah. didnt really want to spend 150 plus if not needed. Ya know when anything is over 100k ya start thinking before a trip. Any feedback on maybe mileage when some have replaced them.
 Like said to I  have changed it around 50k and use water wetter which i could tell ran cooler while sitting in traffic. That maybe also served as a lubricant for the pump not sure.

[falconbrother]

I had one go on a 1977 Goldwing.  It didn't go all of the sudden.  I just noticed that it seemed to start running warmer -n- such.  I wouldn't replace that pump if it's working. 

[gordonv]

I had anti freeze leaking from my 82' GW GL1100, back in 2010. Easy job, but time consuming.

It will start to leak first, if the seal is going, most likely would never loose enough in a year to even worry about toping it back up (depending on how far you drive).

If the pump goes, I would think you would have less cooling. I feel this would show up as the fan running more often. Since it almost never runs in the first place, I think this would be noticeable. But how to tell if it is running? Add a light?

[Savago]

Given that our bikes are approaching 20 years, why not add more instrumentation? Like a water temperature gauge:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90490.0.html

If the water pump is bad, it would for sure change the behavior of the temperatures displayed in the gauge.

[Cracker Jack]

Water pump failures are either noise (bearing) or leaking (seal). I never say never or always but if I did, I'd say water pump failures never affect the pumping efficiency. They just don't fail by diminished pumping as long as they're free enough to turn and are turning and coolant is present.

[Harryc]

Water pump failures are either noise (bearing) or leaking (seal). I never say never or always but if I did, I'd say water pump failures never affect the pumping efficiency. They just don't fail by diminished pumping as long as they're free enough to turn and are turning and coolant is present.

Unless water only is used and coolant is never changed then the impeller blades rust away. That'll put a hit on pump performance.

[Firefighter]

I installed water temp, Voltage, and oil pressure gauges on my IS years ago also have two small led green lights that come on if the fan runs. I like to know if something looks different or is beginning to go south before the idiot light shines.

[gordonv]

also have two small led green lights that come on if the fan runs.

I like the idea of adding a little LED light to show when the fan fires up. I never recall the fan running, unless almost unmoving in traffic on a hot day.

How did you add the light, just in the circuit to the fan, so when it grounds and runs, it also lights up the light. Or?

[Firefighter]

I made a bracket and mounted the three gauges on top of the fairing vent just behind the wind screen and mouted two little LED green lights under the gauges in the same bracket. I did not drill any holes in the fairing and was able to utilize the vent openings to accomplish this. I will have to check but I think the lights have power all the time (with the key on) and the lights ground through the fan switch. I believe the fan is powered all the time and the fan switch grounds. Has been years now but it was not difficult. If you decide to do this and have any trouble I will investigate mine and help you.

It is hot most of the time down here and the fan will run after a couple of minutes when I come to a stop. I can of coarse watch the temp. on the gauge. The fan also cools well enough so as to shut off (cycle) while I am at a stand still in 100 degree weather. The LED lights were cheap ones that I bought at O Reillys auto parts.

[fudgie]

I got one of them temp radiator caps. Works great. Can watch temp change when the fan kicks on.

[gordonv]

I will have to check but I think the lights have power all the time (with the key on) and the lights ground through the fan switch. I believe the fan is powered all the time and the fan switch grounds. Has been years now but it was not difficult.

This makes sense. Utilizes the same ground through the fan switch, with switched power to the fan indicator LED.

I'm wondering if a diode or something needs to be added? No rush, most likely a want to do. Will most likely do it when ever I get around to mounting the GW gear switch in the Valk, for an indicator light for 5th gear.

[Firefighter]

I didn't use a diode.

[Tfrank59]

I got one of them temp radiator caps. Works great. Can watch temp change when the fan kicks on.

I had one of them a couple of years ago and it quit working (little needle fell off inside) after a few months.  Twas nice until it failed--and at least it didn't leak when it died!  I went back to the OEM cap.

[3fan4life]

The one on my 99 Interstate is going strong @ 120K miles.

I had to replace the one on my 2000 @ only 40K miles.

It did give me plenty of warning.

[BigM]

Glad to know. Went ahead and changed the antifreeze. Reason ask I (was my mistake) several years ago changed the antifreeze in a wing and I was out of state and the weep hole on pump started pouring. Well, my mistake and didnt know I used the silicone based reg. prestone antifreeze. (may not be made anymore EPA reg.) Kills dogs and eats the waterpump seal or something. So now use the Honda HP.

[Chrisj CMA]

Glad to know. Went ahead and changed the antifreeze. Reason ask I (was my mistake) several years ago changed the antifreeze in a wing and I was out of state and the weep hole on pump started pouring. Well, my mistake and didnt know I used the silicone based reg. prestone antifreeze. (may not be made anymore EPA reg.) Kills dogs and eats the waterpump seal or something. So now use the Honda HP.

Silicate not silicone.  Its not silicate that kills dogs.  Silicate is basically fine sand and that is what ate your water pump.  Almost all antifreeze is now silicate and phosphate free, but I still only buy a jug that states that on its label.  Prestone 50/50 long life 150K mile formula is silicate free, just fine for our bikes and way cheaper than the Honda stuff.  I did buy PEAK long life 50/50 last time because it was the only one I could find that still said "Silicate and Phosphate Free"

[Cracker Jack]

I recently bought a gallon of Prestone Dex-Cool concentrate at Wal-Mart. I read all the labels and this version was the only one that specifically stated silicate and phosphate free. The most expensive also.

Maybe all are that way now, I wanted to see it stated on the container.

[Savago]

I recommend Honda Coolant:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,88221.0.html

[Chrisj CMA]

I recommend Honda Coolant:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,88221.0.html

Just costs twice or more but if that's what you want. The last time I tried to buy Honda coolant, the head mechanic there told me to not buy it just go go an auto parts store and get silicate free.

[Savago]

The honda coolant is good for "5 years or 60000 miles", which makes USD 24.11/(365.25 * 5) = 0.013 a day or 39 cents a month.
:-)

[Chrisj CMA]

The honda coolant is good for "5 years or 60000 miles", which makes USD 24.11/(365.25 * 5) = 0.013 a day or 39 cents a month.
:-)

Most brand name products have similar age and mileage claims. I still change it every couple years.

I change more often because I feel those claims come from the automobile industry. I think we have smaller amounts of fluid working harder every ride. That's just me, someone will chime in proving I don't need to do it every couple years but I don't really care.

[Savago]

Chrisj
+1 on changing with higher frequency.

[Jess from VA]

I just changed mine this summer, and played hell looking for the magic words silicate and phosphate free.  Up and down the aisle reading every one, and lots of small print.  I already had some Prestone (without the magic words), and came in a looked at their website, and it was unclear there too. 

Just because it all may be silicate and phosphate free now, I wish they would say so when it is.

Ended up using some orange stuff (it said it was free of one of the two, can't remember which).  I hope it was OK.  No problems so far.

[Cracker Jack]

I just changed mine this summer, and played hell looking for the magic words silicate and phosphate free.  Up and down the aisle reading every one, and lots of small print.  I already had some Prestone (without the magic words), and came in a looked at their website, and it was unclear there too. 

Just because it all may be silicate and phosphate free now, I wish they would say so when it is.

Ended up using some orange stuff (it said it was free of one of the two, can't remember which).  I hope it was OK.  No problems so far.

See my post above. Advertised good for 150,000 miles too. To get all the information, you may need to read all the thread.

[Jess from VA]

I did read ALL the thread.