Anti Freeze on garage floor

[kwn306]

I started the bike last night to get it out of the garage, moved it 100 feet up the driveway so I could back my truck to the garage door and unload a new to me radial arm saw.

I backed the bike back into the garage without starting it (all down hill) and put it on the side stand.

This morning I go to get on the bike to take it to work and there are two small puddles of antifreeze just in front of the vent tubes (I assume those come from the gas tank) on the floor of the garage.

I'm supposed to go on a trip Friday morning...........any thoughts where this could be coming from? The weather has cooled off in VA in the evening (high 40's to low 50's) I'm thinking a radiator hose clamp my have loosened up................the bike only has 1200 miles on it.

Help !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[klunsford]

Are you sure it was Antifreeze? those tubes are vents from the gas tank if you just filled up. Have you checked the hose connections on the radiator?

 

[racer1735]

There is a coolant vent tube just in the front-right hand side of the block (opposite side from the fuel vent hoses). This tube is about 4 inches long. Mine usually is plugged with road grunge. You may have possibly burped some coolant thru this. I'd check your hose clamps. If you don't see any visible signs of leakage (and the tell-tale smell of hot coolant), and the puddles weren't more than a few drops, then I wouldn't worry about it. I know things like this get in your head and you star thinking worst-case.

 

[kwn306]

Are you sure it was Antifreeze? those tubes are vents from the gas tank if you just filled up. Have you checked the hose connections on the radiator?

Yep, pale green and smelled like anti-freeze................the low fuel light is flashing so it isn't gas coming from the two vent tubes that hang through the bash plate.

 

[kwn306]

There is a coolant vent tube just in the front-right hand side of the block (opposite side from the fuel vent hoses). This tube is about 4 inches long. Mine usually is plugged with road grunge. You may have possibly burped some coolant thru this. I'd check your hose clamps. If you don't see any visible signs of leakage (and the tell-tale smell of hot coolant), and the puddles weren't more than a few drops, then I wouldn't worry about it. I know things like this get in your head and you star thinking worst-case.

If I pull off the tupperware off the left side of the bike can I get access to the coolant hoses and clamps?

 

[racer1735]

You will find some. The water pump is on the lower RH side. It has a large L-shaped hose entering it.

 

[kwn306]

I found the lower radiator hose and the water pump hose connections extremely loose (2 to 4 full turns on the clamp before getting snug.)

Couldn't access the upper hose clamps..........but the fluid was not leaking from that location.

Thanks for the assistance fellows :

 

[Dogdaze]

Any idea why the clamp was loose? Did it just go into a dealer for work?

 

[klunsford]

I had that issue on my 2012, found a few drops of anti freeze on the garage floor and found a loose clamp. tightened it up and never had another issue.

 

[kwn306]

Any idea why the clamp was loose? Did it just go into a dealer for work?

Last time it saw a dealer was the middle of December when I took delivery in 4" of snow in West Virginia.

I strike it up to poor build quality. I was able to tighten 3 hose clamps, all three hose clamps took a different size socket, which is a little puzzling.

Anyhow it appears to be fixed, so I'm off tomorrow morning for a three day trip to the mountains of VA and WV. ::26:: ::001::

 

[Dogdaze]

Last time it saw a dealer was the middle of December when I took delivery in 4" of snow in West Virginia.

I strike it up to poor build quality. I was able to tighten 3 hose clamps, all three hose clamps took a different size socket, which is a little puzzling.

Anyhow it appears to be fixed, so I'm off tomorrow morning for a three day trip to the mountains of VA and WV. ::26:: ::001::

I guess it happened in the best place and the best time, enjoy the ride out. ::008::

 

[WJBertrand]

Those screw type clamps are notorious for loosening up in cold weather when the rubber bits have all contracted. Often the leak will stop upon warming up the engine. I wish MC manufacturers would adopt more of the constant tension type clamps the auto industry uses.