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Posted by gwilki
- June 26, 2025, 10:46:18 AMOK, 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
Posted by gwilki
- June 26, 2025, 05:55:50 AMQuote from: drifter-paul on June 26, 2025, 04:26:46 AMI 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. 
Posted by drifter-paul
- June 26, 2025, 04:26:46 AMI 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 .
Posted by gwilki
- June 25, 2025, 14:34:54 PMOK, 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.
Posted by gwilki
- June 25, 2025, 10:07:06 AMQuote from: Troll on June 25, 2025, 07:06:13 AMYou 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
Posted by Troll
- June 25, 2025, 07:06:13 AMYou 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.
Posted by gwilki
- June 24, 2025, 10:23:37 AMI'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