coolant change WOW.

[Bucko]

The old coolant comes out looking so clean, I don't bother flushing any more, I just drain and refill with fresh coolant.

[greenbarn]

I have Honda Coolant from my former motorbike.

There is one question left that some-one may have an answer to. As explained I poured the old fluid into bottles and took the same amount of fresh fluid out the Honda can, being 2.4 liters. Now I have a larger coffee cup full of coolant left. What did I do wrong or does somebody know an explanation. Greetings Alfred

I used Honda coolant as well - I hear it's pretty good stuff.

On the coolant amount - Am I understanding correctly, that you drained 2.4L out of the system, but you could not fit 2.4L back in, having some left over??  If that's the case, you have an air bubble in the system.  If you run it a bit, let it warm up and circulate, you should be able to get the rest of the fluid in.

[pcarrell]

Welcome, and you'll probably find this page quite helpful: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=70

It's a link on the main Mods & Tips page: http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=47

These are specifically Drifter pages.

You might want to book mark that last one, and this one also: http://www.gadgetjq.com/gadgetsfixitpage.htm  There's some coolant stuff in the maintenance section.  This page is about Nomads and Classics mostly, but most of the stuff that applies to a Classic also applies to a Drifter.

[dciple33]

Hey all, first time poster.  I have read a lot of threads and searched the net but haven't found the exact answer. The forum hasn't let me down so far and I am just short of purchasing the manual. I have a 2002 1500 and am trying to change the coolant.  I am wondering if I have to have to pull the tank off to get to the radiator cap.  I know this thread is older but I would appreciate any help.  Thanks!

[nhtrikes]

Every day I find more info in this forum that will save so much time and aggravation for a mud ass mechanic like me. You guys are awesome! I will always check this forum before I go to my service manual. Thanks for that great tip on changing the coolant.

Pete . . .

[DC]

 . . .and me too!   

[49Reo]

  ..oh well you just kept someone else from all that work and aggravation.....

....yeah; me! .....thanks, John!

Regards and such,
49Reo

[CDNRatMan]

   John if you read the fourth post here I said on the 800 you just had to remove the speedo and volia the cap was right there and it is an easy off, sorry you ride a 1500.......lol....oh well you just kept someone else from all that work and aggravation.....

[John Hopkins]

What a load of fuss about nothing..it was an easy job..one screw and off came the instrument panel, reach in and remove the radiator cap, remove the drain bolt under the radiator and drain into a big tray,,place an old rag under the pump drain screw and remove the screw, remove and clean the reservior tank, stick it all back together, flush with clean water and refill with coolant..

Very easy..

John.

[John Hopkins]

According to the manual it is a really difficult job..I can see a few short cuts that repair shops probably use, but why do the manufacturers make it so difficult to reach the radiator cap when the coolant is one of the most important things on the bike...I can't help wondering how many bikes have overheated due to the complex nature of the job..

John.

[49Reo]

Glad to see you are right p to snuff on that job, John; now, if you could come over here and do mine.......

[CDNRatMan]

on the 800 you just have to remove the speedo housing and the rad cao is right there to get into it and work on it.....

[John Hopkins]

No I haven't done it yet..My Drifter is in my workshop which is up three stairs..I have to unlock some double wooden doors, fit a ramp, ride it out of the building and around the block to get to a place I can run a hosepipe to it to flush it out..It means moving two bikes out of my garage and into the workshop to make way for the Drifter..Probably have to wait a week before I can do that..I have two other bikes in the workshop that some people have put offers on and if they collect them I shall have a lot more room..

It's not really as complicated as it sounds...

If I ignore my Haynes manual I think I can slide the tank back about three inches to get at the radiator cap..

John.

[ChilliDrift]

After I removed the dash, it was fairly simple to remove the radiator cap.. Perhaps the tanks after 99 were made differently?

[John Hopkins]

The time has come for me to change the coolant on my 1500..What a difficult job that should be simple..

Remove tank..not the simplist of jobs..

undo radiator cap..

Place drain pan and undo radiator drain plug and pump drain plug..

Flush with hose until clear water runs out.

replace plugs.

fill with water..

refit tank.

Start engine and run for ten minutes.

remove tank.

undo drain plugs.

Drain tank.

refit plugs.

fill with water and flushing fluid.

refit tank.

run engine for ten minutes.

remove tank.

drain system again.

fill with coolant.

bleed system.

refit tank..

This is not a job I would trust someone else to to..

John.