Coolant change

[gwilki]

I don't know why that bleeder valve is there.  I've never used it.  Assuming the cooling system is full enough, it should self purge any air without having to use the bleeder screw - maybe using the screw allows it to purge faster, but in any case, any air should be purged after one heat/cool cycle.

Thanks. This one is so corroded that it's a wonder anything can come out of it. I neved knew it was there. It is not shown in the service manual that I have. At any rate, it's good to get a second opinion.

[Bucko]

I don't know why the filler neck bleeder valve is there.  I've never used it.  Assuming the cooling system is full enough, it should self purge any air without having to use the bleeder screw - maybe using the screw allows it to purge faster, but in any case, any air should be purged after one heat/cool cycle. 

[gwilki]

Tks, much Paul

I figure that I am worrying to much over nothing. I've had a few hundred km riding since I did the change and the level has not changed in the overflow reservoir.  No temp warning light and the fan comes on when needed. Maybe some day, I'll find out what that "bleeder" is.
Mine had chrome handlebar when I bought it. I blacked them. For the rest, the shock covers, headlight and most else is black. If I could afford it, I would get the exhaust done in black ceramic, but that's not on at least in the near future.
Take care. Keep the rubber side down.

[drifter-paul]

The '99 & '00 were blacked out (minimal chrome)- black painted forks , rear shocks, headlight, tank console , rear tail light , side covers , with black-chrome handlebars .

Subsequent models went for the more chromed look - bloody pagans (    ) .

I can't expand your Profile photo to get a better look, but yes, it is a J 

Mine is Australian issue with hard-wired headlight (only difference I can identify), but even though I stripped it down to the bare frame in 2011-12 , I can not for the life of me recognise the configuration in your photo (which I can enlarge).

Maybe it is a peculiarity of the Canadian (or Californian) version ?

As a bye the bye , the high hose connection to the radiator has for years leaked a little (this is not uncommon) - I just keep the reservior topped up .

Sorry I can't be more help .

[gwilki]

Is this a J model '99 or '00 - Black chrome handlebars, fork covers , indicators .?

I'm sitting in the garage and can't visualise where that is !!!

Yes, it's a 1999 J model. You can see by my profile pic that it is not stock, so I don't know the answer to your "black" questions. In brief, this was the Kawasaki raffle bike at the 1999 Toronto Motorcycle show. So, the paint scheme is custom and it has a Cobra two into one exhaust. I am the 4th owner so I don't know all the details of what is custom, but from what I can see, the drive train is stock.
I hope that helps to clarify things.

[drifter-paul]

Is this a J model '99 or '00 - Black chrome handlebars, fork covers , indicators .?

I'm sitting in the garage and can't visualise where that is !!!

[gwilki]

OK, it seems that I now have a new issue. To back up, I had no problems with leaks or cooling. I simply figured that it would be good to drain and fill the system since I do not know when the previous owner did it last.
I started the bike, ran it for 30 seconds or so, then shut her down and removed the bleed screw from the water pump. If a drop came out, that was it. So, I squeezed the lower rad hose and a bit more came out. Great, or so I thought. I put the bleed screw back in but noticed more coolant on the garage floor than what came out of the bleeder. So, I squeezed the hose again and saw coolant dripping from behind where the lower hose enters the pump. It's really tough to see, but after a few attempts, I saw that it was not coming from the hose.
There appears to be some kind of plug or bolt behind the hose that inserts into the pump parallel to the hose, so perpendicular to the 4 bolts that hold the pump. I'm attaching a pic from the service manual. It does not show this plug/bolt. The only way to get to it will be to remove the exhaust and the lower hose.
The only time that it leaks is when I squeeze the hose.
Can someone tell me what this plug/bolt is, please?
thank you

Edit. I used a boroscope camera to take a pic of where I believe the "leak" is coming from. It  looks like there is a through hole in some kind of bleeder. It looks pretty corroded. Now that the bike is completely cooled down, squeezing the rad hose does not push any collant out.
Grant

[gwilki]

I bled only a trickle, from just the water pump on my J. I'd start the girl and run her for 20 secs or so , then try again .  Then a run around & around the block to see if the Coolant light comes on .

Tks much. As soon as it stops raining, I'll give that a try.    

[drifter-paul]

I bled only a trickle, from just the water pump on my J. I'd start the girl and run her for 20 secs or so , then try again .  Then a run around & around the block to see if the Coolant light comes on .

[gwilki]

OK, I'm back. I drained the rad, the overflow tank and a very small amount from the water pump bolt. No worries there. Even I can figure that out.

I topped up the rad and the overflow tank. I loosenedd the bleeder bolt on the water pump, but nothing has come out. Same thing with the thermostat bleeder.

According to the manual, both of these should bleed a little before starting the bike. Is this correct? With no pressure in the cooling system is it only gravity that should push coolant out the pump?

Tks for any advice. I've drained and filled literally dozens of cars, but never messed with bleeding systems.

[gwilki]

You must have a J model. The R model requires tank repositioning to access the filler cap. The opening you see with the cap does not exist with the 5 gallon tank.

Thanks much for this. It sure makes it easy. I like easy.   

Grant

[Troll]

You must have a J model. The R model requires tank repositioning to access the filler cap. The opening you see with the cap does not exist with the 5 gallon tank.

[gwilki]

I've read the service manual instructions on changing the coolant. I've also read the two articles here on doing it without removing the tank.

I've had the Drifter for 3 years and not changed the coolant so I think that I am overdue.

However, when I remove the dash and the speedometer nacelle, I can easily get to the rad cap and the thermostat bleeder, without doing anything more with the tank. Is there something I am missing on why the tank needs to be raised or removed?

thank you

Grant
Ottawa ON