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Spyder trouble free until now

rider2554

New member
Walked out to the garage today and noticed a few drops of antifreeze on the floor under the Spyder. So started to take the skin off thinking it was a loose hose clamp or having to replace one of the substandard clamps they put on at the factory. All the clamps and hoses looked good so got the bike jacked up to get a better look at the underneath. That's when I noticed a drop of antifreeze on the front of the engine. I wiped it off and ran the bike and watched for other drops to form. It would drip one drop about every half hour or so. Nothing major but still a leak. To get a better look, I would have to tear the entire front off due to where the leak was. Kinda hard to see from up above. I did notice a small puddle just under where the starter bolts on and when enough would accumulate, it would roll down the front of the engine case. Thought it might be the seal ring on the water pump housing but ruled that out because of the location of the leak was nowhere near there. For now the only thing I think it could be is the gasket on the case bolting to the engine. Any help or suggestions from anyone? Since I have it torn down this far, I think it's time to add a cold air intake (not putting the air box back on), a juice box, new wires and plugs and whatever else I can find to spend my tax refund on. Any opinions out there on Juice box, Power commander, which one works the best for you? If anyone has one for sale, I would be interested in a intake and juice box. Thanks for any help and input on this. Hope you don't say take it to the dealer. Don't trust the one we have here. I do have the best warranty until 8/13 but will take it to the coast if I have to.
 

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Some, maybe not several yet, but some coolant reservoirs have ruptured on these. There's also transparent overflow tube on the inboard on the res, some times those have coolant residue dripping out. Not sure right off the bat where the weep hole on the coolant pump is, possibly from there. I'd say run the engine parked and try to track it down, or just take it in and let them find it. Looks minor at this point, so little fluid that it could have been slosh from the overflow tube. Did you have the coolant res cap off to top of the fluid, those have been installed incorrectly many a time.
 
I personally would take it to the dealer, trust issues or not, but you can track it down yourself with a lock of craning your neck wiping things up, and some diligence...or maybe some dye and UV light. I'd suggest you print out the parts diagram for the cooling system, and check every joint and component carefully. Remember that coolant will seep along the crevices to the lowest spot, and can be pushed back by the air movement and fan, so it can drip anywhere. Your leak may be far away...even at the coolant tank or radiator. A common source of leaks is the connector. It usually leaks at the back, so you are more likely to feel, rather than see the leak.​
 
Walked out to the garage today and noticed a few drops of antifreeze on the floor under the Spyder. So started to take the skin off thinking it was a loose hose clamp or having to replace one of the substandard clamps they put on at the factory. All the clamps and hoses looked good so got the bike jacked up to get a better look at the underneath. That's when I noticed a drop of antifreeze on the front of the engine. I wiped it off and ran the bike and watched for other drops to form. It would drip one drop about every half hour or so. Nothing major but still a leak. To get a better look, I would have to tear the entire front off due to where the leak was. Kinda hard to see from up above. I did notice a small puddle just under where the starter bolts on and when enough would accumulate, it would roll down the front of the engine case. Thought it might be the seal ring on the water pump housing but ruled that out because of the location of the leak was nowhere near there. For now the only thing I think it could be is the gasket on the case bolting to the engine. Any help or suggestions from anyone? Since I have it torn down this far, I think it's time to add a cold air intake (not putting the air box back on), a juice box, new wires and plugs and whatever else I can find to spend my tax refund on. Any opinions out there on Juice box, Power commander, which one works the best for you? If anyone has one for sale, I would be interested in a intake and juice box. Thanks for any help and input on this. Hope you don't say take it to the dealer. Don't trust the one we have here. I do have the best warranty until 8/13 but will take it to the coast if I have to.
Best thing I ever did was the combo of exhaust, intake and JB. As far as the fuel controllers go well they all work well with the other two mods, your choice based on what you want to spend for features. The original JB that I have requires an initial period of feeling out the right settings but I haven't had to touch it for over a year now.
 
Update on antifreeze leak

Some, maybe not several yet, but some coolant reservoirs have ruptured on these. There's also transparent overflow tube on the inboard on the res, some times those have coolant residue dripping out. Not sure right off the bat where the weep hole on the coolant pump is, possibly from there. I'd say run the engine parked and try to track it down, or just take it in and let them find it. Looks minor at this point, so little fluid that it could have been slosh from the overflow tube. Did you have the coolant res cap off to top of the fluid, those have been installed incorrectly many a time.

AMTJIM gets the gold star today for his knowledge of where to look for my antifreeze leak. It was coming from the weep hole. Not alot but a drop every half hour or so. Had to use a small mirror to be able to see the leak. Will have to wait till tuesday to talk to the dealer on what is needed, hopefully just a water pump shaft or ?. Don't really want this dealer I have here touching my machine. I can rebuild Harleys with my eyes closed so hopefully this is something I can deal with. Thanks to all with their input on this.
 
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