2011 RT - Checking coolant level. What is the best procedure to remove the plastic rivet holding the right service cover ?

[BlueSliver]

Wanting to check coolant level 2011 RT SM5 - what is the best way to remove the plastic rivet holding the right hand service cover?

 

[jjc54]

I pry up the center button a bit and then use my fingernails to get under the outside. Usually comes out easy.

 

[BlueSliver]

I have a 2011 RT SM5 I bought used with 12,500 miles. I want to remove the righthand service cover to check the coolant level in the overflow reservoir. How do you remove the plastic rivet?

 

[BlueSliver]

I pry up the center button a bit and then use my fingernails to get under the outside. Usually comes out easy.

I will try this thanks

 

[Woodaddict]

They make push pin pullers. I don't have any, just use a thin flat blade screwdriver

 

[Peter Aawen]

I have a 2011 RT SM5 I bought used with 12,500 miles. I want to remove the righthand service cover to check the coolant level in the overflow reservoir. How do you remove the plastic rivet?

I don't have a 2011 RT handy to check that it's exactly the same as my 2013, but I'm pretty sure it is, so you can see below that those plastic rivets are a push pin type. For these, you need to gently/carefully pry up and the lift the centre locking piece, without pulling it right out of its surrounding rivet; then you should be able to lift & gently pull the rivet &/or cover out. You'll probably need a strong fingernail, a small screw driver, an engineer's probe or pick, or maybe one of the many purpose designed tools to do the pry up & lift bits @Woodaddict mentioned, but it's truly not as difficult as you appear to be thinking it might be.



Just pull the middle bit up, then either remove the cover with the plastic pin in situ (as shown below) or if you find that difficult, pull the rivet out entirely (just don't lose it, or any of the bits!) and then lift & pull the cover forwards & out to the side to remove it so you can see the reservoir.



Be aware that once you've got access, the reservoir cap is buried in and back a bit, so it's pretty difficult to access & remove/refit easily (many never get that cap back on and tightened properly the first time, causing themselves all sorts of worrisome issues! ) so try to avoid removing the cap unless you need to top up the coolant - use a torch to make it easier to see the level - shine it up from below if you must!

And at the risk if teaching anyone's Grandma to suck eggs, but included for those who don't know - don't forget that your coolant level is ABSOLUTELY FINE if it's at or just above the lower mark when the engine/cooling system is cold - the coolant will expand and the level will rise as the engine runs & the coolant heats up! It really doesn't matter if the level is any higher than that lower level when everything is cold, as the reservoir will overflow to release any excess if there's too much coolant in there; and then once you shut everything down and it all cools off again, the coolant will contract, the expanded coolant still in the reservoir will be sucked back into the radiator, and if everything is OK, you should end up with the coolant level at or just above the Lower mark. If you can still see the level in the reservoir but it's lower than that lower mark when everything is cold, simply add some clean water/identical coolant to bring it up to the above the lower mark, but don't whatever you do mix coolant types - adding tap water or even water from a puddle that's been filtered thru a sock is better than mixing non-compatible coolants! But if the coolant reservoir is completely drained/dry when it's all cold, check everywhere for leaks first, then if none, add the correct/same coolant to bring it up above the Lower mark. If you've needed to add coolant to an empty reservoir, you should really leave the reservoir cap OFF and, ensuring that the coolant level never drops below the Low mark, fast idle the bike with the front end raised a few inches for 30 mins/at least 2 on/off fan/thermostat opening cycles to purge any air from the system before ensuring the coolant level is up at or above the top mark (cos everything hit) firmly closing the reservoir cap & shutting it all down! You can ride on, or let it cool then, but either way, check the coolant level when it's cold next time, and if it's at or above the Low mark, all is good. But if the coolant level is once again below the Liw mark, you've got a cooling system problem that you need to fix!

Sorry I don't have pics of the reservoir handy, but I'm sure you get the drift!