Gertrude Gets a Frosty Nose

[GrandpaDenny]

Went to visit a friend in Far Northeastern Pennsyltucky a couple of weekends ago. This is what I woke up to:

Scraped the windshield gently with a credit card. Turned on the seat heat. All was well.

[cushman eagle]

Yeh,GrandpaDenny,it is getting cold .I rode my bike to the doctors office yesterday for my checkup,and when I was riding back home I happened to look at my TPMS monitor and saw the tempurature for the front tire was only 2 centigrade

[GrandpaDenny]

Yeh,GrandpaDenny,it is getting cold .I rode my bike to the doctors office yesterday for my checkup,and when I was riding back home I happened to look at my TPMS monitor and saw the tempurature for the front tire was only 2 centigrade

Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle, and that's warmed up after riding a bit?

Gertrude's developed the cold weather overnight coolant dribble. So for now I top off the coolant weekly. Adding to The List Of Things That Are Waiting For Warm Weather To Return, Or For Gene To Finish That Little Bike He's Been Goofing With (And Complaining About) For Six Months

[cushman eagle]

Yah,GrandpaDenny,my VXII did that a couple years ago,and I found it to be the o-rings between the water manifold and cylinder block. That presented a good opportunity to clean the radiator and change all the o-rings and hoses in the cooling system

[GrandpaDenny]

I think yours was the post I found that had mentioned the o-rings, and why I didn't panic. I bet that's what it is too, especially since the side the leak hits the pavement depends on whether the bike in on the side stand or center stand (I live on a slight hill, so where I usually park she's not level on the center stand but tilted slightly to starboard).

[cushman eagle]

Changing those makes for a good [winter service] project

[VoyKimmer]

Yes Loren is right. Good winter project in the heated garage. Not an easy job by any means.
All front plastic, radiator, exhaust pipes , and other stuff all have to be removed. If your not careful torquing the coolant manifold evenly you can ruin it. Also don’t forget to use new oil line gaskets. I made the mistake of using the old ones and they leaked . Read all the threads and watch any videos you see on this repair.

[GrandpaDenny]

Ugh no heated garage - apartment with street parking. If Gene ever finishes that little Zephyr... jobs are piling up, money to be made, Gene. Carbs (finally), drain and refill front forks, and now these o-rings. And she needs a new front tire. I'm not sure of the mileage on the front tire, but I've put 30,000 miles on the bike since I got her, and probably all but 1-2000 are on that front tire.

I work to support my Elephant.

[Nails]

All front plastic, radiator, exhaust pipes , and other stuff all have to be removed.

As I recall, I got to those o-rings from the top without taking off the radiator, exhaust, &etc. But I might've done this when I already had the valve covers and first airbox off. It's right there, between the coils and just a little further down. All you have to do is make your hands really, really tiny.

Whatever, it sure would be difficult parked on a Philly street, unless maybe tote all the crap you take off inside and cover the bike. From what I remember living in Philly, not something I really even want to think about. (I had trouble just finding my car after the motorgrader buried it, well and truly, in snow.)

[cushman eagle]

Nails,I think you are referring to the coolant outlets off the top of the cylinder head.
The water manifold is below the exhaust header pipes,behind the radiator.

[Nails]

Yeah.