Coolant change info

[Robert]

Did a coolant change on my bike, I know its early blah blah blah, but I wanted to kind of warn all who would eventually do a coolant change of something that I learned. I looked for info on it and there is alot for the Wing, but the wing radiators and systems are slightly different from our systems. We don't have the bleeder hose at the top of the radiator like some wings have. So you need to take off both pod covers and open the plastic bleeder at the top of the left radiator and also use that to drain the system. If you don't the left radiator will still have air in it, Just a heads up.

[mrtappan]

That's good to know.  If I still have my bike 95,000 miles later I'll definitely use that. 

I'm just picking.  That was a super super super early coolant change. 

I just checked the coolant on a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 in my shop the other day.  Original coolant....... looked brand new.  I've never changed the coolant in any bike I've ever personally owned and never had any issues.  Maybe I'm just lucky.

[Robert]

I put water wetter in the coolant and dilute the coolant to 10 percent roughly. I found that it helped to keep the air that comes from the radiator cooler along with the engine and down here in Fla that is a good thing. They do call for a coolant change on the Valkyrie every 2 years, and I have found that the chemicals in the coolant that are in suspension do fall out of suspension after a couple of years. This can cause the radiator to clog. I looked in the radiator of my 01 Valk and wondered what that white silt like stuff was. I looked at other systems and found out it indeed was the stuff suspended in the coolant. I am pretty particular on the mechanical end of things on my bike and I totally agree that a change is not needed, so you are correct. Between tinkering with something I enjoy and the water wetter and water I was itching to do it. Heck I haven't received my bags, my seat or a couple of other accessories to install I had to have something to do. 

[dinosnake]

I could use some tips to get those pod covers off.  The outer covers seem to be held in place with automotive-style, reusable push-clips but when I press into the center of the pin (the usual way to release the clip), nothing happens.

I must be missing something.  Any help appreciated!  :-)

[hubcapsc]

I could use some tips to get those pod covers off.  The outer covers seem to be held in place with automotive-style, reusable push-clips but when I press into the center of the pin (the usual way to release the clip), nothing happens.

I must be missing something.  Any help appreciated!  :-)

I took them off... push harder... I took off so many plastic parts a few
months ago that I don't remember which were which... some have knobs
to pull instead of buttons to push, but they are obvious...

Of all the ones I took off, I only broke one. They cost a million dollars
each from Honda, I got a box of 80 assorted ones (including some that
were perfect matches for the one I broke) for $20.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GXJIWRA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Mike

[dinosnake]

I could use some tips to get those pod covers off.  The outer covers seem to be held in place with automotive-style, reusable push-clips but when I press into the center of the pin (the usual way to release the clip), nothing happens.

I must be missing something.  Any help appreciated!  :-)

I took them off... push harder... I took off so many plastic parts a few
months ago that I don't remember which were which... some have knobs
to pull instead of buttons to push, but they are obvious...

Of all the ones I took off, I only broke one. They cost a million dollars
each from Honda, I got a box of 80 assorted ones (including some that
were perfect matches for the one I broke) for $20.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GXJIWRA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Mike

Thanks, that's great, and thanks for the Amazon link!

[goldstar903]

Robert, I believe you are just a Type A bike owner. You need several hobbies!   

[Robert]

Robert, I believe you are just a Type A bike owner. You need several hobbies!   

Got that right 

Problem is most of my hobbies get me in trouble.