Coolant hoses

[thfrider]

Getting ready to change all my coolant hoses.  Exactly how many should I change to make sure I'm covered?  I know about the upper and lower radiator hoses, but what about the ones under the tank?  Also, what type of coolant are you guys using these days?

[Hook#3287]

Why are you changing the hoses?  Some problem with them or just because?  I think you can use just about any coolant that does NOT contain SILICANTS, otherwise you'll be replacing the water pump. 

[thfrider]

The bike is a 1998, and 13 years is a long time for rubber.  I hate breaking down when it is something I could have avoided.  Besides, I don't look cool riding on the back of my wife's VTX.

[Ricky-D]

You ought to be able look at them and feel them and see if they are good!

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[3W-lonerider]

i replaced my hoses as well this year. mainly because i had to cut the upper one to get it off the radiator neck and the bottom because when i installed the new water pump and went to install the hose it split right up the back side. sucks filling up the radiator and looking under the bike to see it running out almost as fast as your putting it in.

[alph]

If i remember correctly, there are three hoses total.  one on the top of the radiator, one in the front of the radiator, and one on the bottom, behind the radiator that goes to the thermostat housing.  If you're really concerned about over heating, go ahead and replace the thermostat, but don't change the temp rating, that'll really screw up your MPG.  It did for me.

Be careful when you remove the thermostat bolts, I stripped out two of ‘em and had to weld the holes up, drill and retap ‘em the bolts were rusted pretty badly and messed up the threads as they came out!!   I coated ‘em with antisieze when I put new stainless steel ones in it..  Then I had to mill the top flat, later after I was all done I saw that pinwell sells ‘em for about $10 on ebay!!!  oh well, it was a learning expierence.....