coolant leak

[Earl in Pensacola]

For the last couple of months I've noticed that the radiator when I checked it (cold), it would be down an ounce or two.  It never used to do that, so I started looking.  I found no sign of leak from radiator or either hose, no sign of oil contamination or volume increase, no sign of oil etc. in radiator, new radiator pressure cap.   I put paper under the bike and ran the engine to 200 degrees and kept it there for several minutes. No leaks.  I pulled the reserve tank & checked for leak, none. I replaced the over-flow hose from radiator to reserve tank.  My problem was --I can't smell anything!!  A club member smelled the antifreeze and followed his nose right to the leak.  It is the "O" rings on the cross-over pipe between the heads, under the carbs!  The antifreeze has been pooling there, out of sight, and evaporating!  I've ordered the necessary "O" rings. Jeff (CMA) found a little seepage under there on his too.  My bike has 275K and the "O" rings are the originals, so are Jeff's at about 150K.
Might be something to take a look at if YOUR radiator is not staying full!!

[old2soon]

Good catch. Someone else pointed out that these beasts of ours are aging-gracefully actually.  RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya Earl, thanks for making me look, but I got lucky, mine was a top hose on the thermostat housing.  Tipped the radiator forward and was able to reach in there with socket extensions and tighten her back up......Leak gone.   

Yours will take a bit more work, but should be a POC though as soon as the ice thaws

[MarkT]

I run Evans waterless permanent coolant in Deerslayer and BluByYou (wing).  Found out right away - if you have a leak, you'll know immediately cause it STINKS.  Like the smell they put in natural gas. Just the little bit wetting the end of the radiator hose takes weeks to stop smelling. You don't want your Evans leaking.  It's $40 a gallon.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras/car-care/waterless-engine-coolant/index.shtml

[Jess from VA]

My nose is pretty bad for subtle smells, but a fingertip in the liquid to the tongue will tell you antifreeze instantly.  Sickly sweet.  (nothing subtle about skunk or beer farts)

The stuff is deadly poison, so no more than a taste is recommended.