A bit of heat exchanger help...

[Smythson]

Hi all,

My heat exchanger appears to be leaking but very very slowly, just enough to bleed over the surface around as opposed to actual dripping.

My plan was to check the torque of each bolt (if anyone knows the settings for the main housing and in/out flows that would be great)

Failing that is this a warranty issue? It's a 59 but i bought it used at 400 miles in May, it's now at about 1700...

Any advice would be gratefully received,

S

 

[Sooty09]

I must admit I have lost the plot with registration numbers. If its less than 24 months since first registration or you have purchased an extended warranty the dealer will investigate it for you.
I have not see many reports of issuse in this area except a few initial stories of stone damage, many expected trouble which never materialised.
Is it coolant or engine oil you are seeing. Is the head gasket leaking, check for grime sticking to the engine round the cylinder head , you will see it best on the right hand side just below the frame tube. It can seep down the front onto the area you describe.

 

[Smythson]

I must admit I have lost the plot with registration numbers. If its less than 24 months since first registration or you have purchased an extended warranty the dealer will investigate it for you.
I have not see many reports of issuse in this area except a few initial stories of stone damage, many expected trouble which never materialised.
Is it coolant or engine oil you are seeing. Is the head gasket leaking, check for grime sticking to the engine round the cylinder head , you will see it best on the right hand side just below the frame tube. It can seep down the front onto the area you describe.

Thank you for the input.

I should've used normal English - Oct 2009. I got it approved used last month from a Motorrad dealer so it has the used warranty which is a year. My concern with the used warranty, as opposed to the new warranty, is what they call routine items failing. I've looked through the booklet and there's so many items not covered i'm struggling to see what is!

I couldn't find much on any forum searches bar some poor chap sticking a screwdriver through his when he was changing the oil filter.

I think it is coolant leaking - quite thin/light in texture though it's hard to tell as it's a very slow leak. Head gasket ok but i'm a little concerned about the gasket within the exchanger - oil and coolant mixing can't be good...

Got manual en route so once torque on all bolts checked it'll be the dealer i guess...

Looking at microfiche breakdown there's not much in there so i'm guessing draining oil and coolant, new gasket, then fill it up again.

Fingers crossed nothing more serious than that. Will update as things progress.

S

 

[BBB61]

If it was first registered in October 2009 then it should still be covered by the 2 year warranty that comes with the bike.

 

[v8legend]

If it was first registered in October 2009 then it should still be covered by the 2 year warranty that comes with the bike.

+1, just what I was thinking.

You've got full manufacturers warranty til October. Don't muck about with it, just take it back.

Are you sure it's leaking? Maybe your bike was prepped with ACF50, and that is what you're seeing.

 

[Smythson]

+1, just what I was thinking.

You've got full manufacturers warranty til October. Don't muck about with it, just take it back.

Are you sure it's leaking? Maybe your bike was prepped with ACF50, and that is what you're seeing.

Thank you gents - i should've asked a little more about warranty stuff when i bought it!

Definitely leaking - the very edges of the paint have begun to bubble around the seal where the heat exchanger meets the front of the engine

Will call today...

 

[BBB61]

Just out of interest, what part are you referring to when you talk about the heat exchanger? It's a new term for me.

 

[MikeMike]

It's the rectangular thing beside the oil filter.

 

[divelandy]

 

[Smythson]

Some pics...

I was looking at the very top part of the spread (first photo). I'm guessing that if it were leaking from that join then it would go up as well as down due to capillary action

Dealer says bring it on in. A bit of a relief but not out of the woods yet...

 

[MikeMike]

Well, if it makes you feel better, your bike is a helluva lot cleaner than mine!