Avoiding Tank Removal for Coolant Change process.

- Rick (RickAlloway)

Here goes with the short cut, too easy to say it was original but no one else has mentioned it before. Avoids Tank Removal for Coolant Change process.

I have a scrap piece of plywood, 3/4" Th. x 1 & 5/8" W. x 18 & 1/2" Lg., I'm sure something close to that size would do but I would have about that length and strong enough to hold the tank with fuel.

Take an old hand towel or half a polishing towel and wrap the board in it, Throw on a couple rubber bands to keep the towel in place. (Fig 1 and 2.)

 

• Now after you have centered or raised your bike, removed the seat, the speedo & cover, you can see the tank bolts.
• Loosen the rear bolt that is under the front of your seat about halfway. Make sure you have plenty of bolt still threaded in to hold the rear of the tank.
• Remove the front tank bolt completely but before you move anything, check to see that your fuel lines are still well in place on the tank tubes.
• Now with your towel wrapped board in your Left hand, grab the center front of the tank with your Right hand and lift straight up. Lift just high enough to slide the board under the tank, above the center rail of your bike, about 7 to 8" from the front of the tank. You want the board centered over the rail & under the tank to get a good balance. I believe the bottom of my tank ridges are about 15" apart, so get your board centered for good balance.

Now you are ready to continue the job of draining, flushing & refilling your radiator. You should not only be able to see the radiator cap and bleed valve, but should also have access to them to accomplish this job. Yes I did flush my radiator & run the motor to circulate the flush with the tank in the raised position. I had no problem with this method but it is on each individual to decide if this is for them or not.

With the drain, flush, refill and bleeding out any air in the system complete, ( you did retighten that upper air bleed valve, didn't you ) you are ready to remove the board and rebolt the tank. Double check your fuel lines to be sure all are still well in place on the tank. The last thing anyone needs is a leaky fuel line as you motor down the highway.

Hope this helps some folks out, I find it easier than removing the tank for minor maintenance.