Puddle of Antifreeze

[SpyderMonkei]

I just got back from my initial 10 miles on the bike, parked it in my garage, and then about 10 minutes later pushed it out to work on it. There was a big puddle of antifreeze (yellowish) on the garage floor. It is not leaking anymore, it was not leaking when I was driving it, there is no leakage on my driveway ... do you think that maybe it was just an overflow issue stemming from the initial setup?

 

[aka1004]

I just got back from my initial 10 miles on the bike, parked it in my garage, and then about 10 minutes later pushed it out to work on it. There was a big puddle of antifreeze (yellowish) on the garage floor. It is not leaking anymore, it was not leaking when I was driving it, there is no leakage on my driveway ... do you think that maybe it was just an overflow issue stemming from the initial setup?

Is it dripping on your right suspension arms? If it is you might have cracked coolant resevoir like mine did. I thought it was just coolant over flowing at first but once it started to leak as soon as I filled it again. I looked underneath it and looked like it was leaking from hose at the clamp but dealer found cracked reservoir. One Ryder on our last weekend ryde also had his replaced.

 

[Rando]

My hose clamp was never tightened at the factory! Thanks to this forum, I was able to diagnose my problem when mine started leaking.

 

[ataDude]

Chances are it's the filler cap not seated correctly. There are two distinct "notches" when tightening. Sometimes, the pre-sale guys get it only to the first.

.

 

[vt228]

leak

My hose clamp was never tightened at the factory! Thanks to this forum, I was able to diagnose my problem when mine started leaking.

Same here I had mine leaking they tightened them and no more leak:2thumbs:

 

[aka1004]

Chances are it's the filler cap not seated corrected. There are two distinct "notches" when tightening. Sometimes, the pre-sale guys get it only to the first.

.

Yea it's not the best fitting cap...

 

[Recluze]

I had the same problem. The little plastic fitting on the top of hte radiator was cracked. Probably just a defect when built. A 25Cent part covered under warrenty. Good luck

 

[rpdata]

same here...

When new i took a ride then it dumped fluid all over the ground - from the factory the coolant cap was not sitting properly...no issues since.

 

[SpyderMonkei]

Recent Puddle

well since the initial puddling ... I have ridden 2 times, just long enough to get some pressure on the cooling system ... I could not find a single drop leaking down over both rides ... I am assuming it was just some extra fluid they put in at initial servicing ... but of course will keep an eye on it before I venture too far from the house. I still have the bags to put on, I finished up the backrest and the new seat yesterday. Risers and CHAD windshield next week. GPS and autocomm also.

 

[Roaddog2]

My hose clamp was never tightened at the factory! Thanks to this forum, I was able to diagnose my problem when mine started leaking.

Been there done that had some loose odeker clamps :gaah:update 7/1/09 coolant bottle (rez) stroked out on me last night

 

[NancysToy]

well since the initial puddling ... I have ridden 2 times, just long enough to get some pressure on the cooling system ... I could not find a single drop leaking down over both rides ... I am assuming it was just some extra fluid they put in at initial servicing ... but of course will keep an eye on it before I venture too far from the house. I still have the bags to put on, I finished up the backrest and the new seat yesterday. Risers and CHAD windshield next week. GPS and autocomm also.

You've been a busy boy! Enjoy the Ryde!
-Scotty

 

[SpyderMonkei]

Leak Back

It has happened both times now after I ride somewhere, stop for about 10 minutes and then ride a second place, in this case both times to my garage. There is no leak when I get to my first destination, but when I get to my second after about 40-50 seconds it starts leaking from the reservoir and down on the right side (it's more of a pouring not a leak). If it was a cracked reservoir don't you think it would leak after a couple minutes and the engine warmed up? If it was a loose clamp (which does not appear to be lose) wouldn't it also leak after some initial pressure in the system? I checked the cap there was no way to get it on any tighter. It appears almost like a theromostat issue to me.

In any event I guess I have to trailer it back to Knoxville because I also hear a whining sound ... I am thinking that is not a "new" issue. It's almost like the sound you hear when you downshift and take your hand off the throttle. In any event I never heard the sound on any of the demo bikes I rode.

 

[NancysToy]

It has happened both times now after I ride somewhere, stop for about 10 minutes and then ride a second place, in this case both times to my garage. There is no leak when I get to my first destination, but when I get to my second after about 40-50 seconds it starts leaking from the reservoir and down on the right side (it's more of a pouring not a leak). If it was a cracked reservoir don't you think it would leak after a couple minutes and the engine warmed up? If it was a loose clamp (which does not appear to be lose) wouldn't it also leak after some initial pressure in the system? I checked the cap there was no way to get it on any tighter. It appears almost like a theromostat issue to me.

In any event I guess I have to trailer it back to Knoxville because I also hear a whining sound ... I am thinking that is not a "new" issue. It's almost like the sound you hear when you downshift and take your hand off the throttle. In any event I never heard the sound on any of the demo bikes I rode.

The whining sound on some Spyders and not others is usually a result of the belt tension. Several of us here have found that it happens less when the belt tension is a bit lower. BRP's spec is pretty tight, IMO. I woundn't worry about that, but if you can't trace the leak, you may have to get back to the dealer. Should be able to ride it if it isn't losing much antifreeze. Reported problems causing leaks have been:
A. Cooant cap tightened only to first notch
B. Loose hose clamps
C. Cracked/split coolant reservoir
D. Broken nipple on coolant reservoir
E. Leak at thermostat housing on engine
With luck you can spot the source. They often leak more after shutdwn, or after the engine cools (while it is cooling?). Also more often the source is a slow leak, so doesn't really collect (or evaporates) while riding, but accumulates enough to puddle while sitting still in the garage.
-Scotty

 

[SpyderMonkei]

Thanks Scotty ... this looks to be one of those leaks that start after you shut down the bike and it sits for a minute and then just POURS out and then stops, about the same amount each time, almost like something shuts down and the antifreeze that was caught somewhere in the system pours out. The dealer is the next stop.

The whine I guess I will just mention to them while it's there. I have a ton of mods to add on and this is cramping my mod-ing time.

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks Scotty ... this looks to be one of those leaks that start after you shut down the bike and it sits for a minute and then just POURS out and then stops, about the same amount each time, almost like something shuts down and the antifreeze that was caught somewhere in the system pours out. The dealer is the next stop.

The whine I guess I will just mention to them while it's there. I have a ton of mods to add on and this is cramping my mod-ing time.

That type of leak is most commonly the radiator cap.
-Scotty

 

[SpyderMonkei]

Puddle

I got around to pulling off the plastic on the right side, started the bike got it good and warm, stopped it for awhile, started it again until the fan kicked in stopped it, etc , 2-3 times. I could find no leak around the clamps, no leak around the cap which is on correctly, but my fluid is still a little high in the overflow basin, I am going to assume that since it is not leaking now, or I can't make it leak, and that it only leaked when stopping the engine and it was more of a pouring out instead of a leak, that the problem was someone put too much coolant in the bike. Looking back on how much poured out the first and second time and that the level is still above the max line (not much) I am thinking it was overflow at this point.

 

[NancysToy]

I got around to pulling off the plastic on the right side, started the bike got it good and warm, stopped it for awhile, started it again until the fan kicked in stopped it, etc , 2-3 times. I could find no leak around the clamps, no leak around the cap which is on correctly, but my fluid is still a little high in the overflow basin, I am going to assume that since it is not leaking now, or I can't make it leak, and that it only leaked when stopping the engine and it was more of a pouring out instead of a leak, that the problem was someone put too much coolant in the bike. Looking back on how much poured out the first and second time and that the level is still above the max line (not much) I am thinking it was overflow at this point.

Sounds reasonable. Glad you figured it out.
-Scotty

 

[SpyderMonkei]

Still spewing out fluids

will have to trailer it back to Knoxville to the dealership it appears. I can't tell what's wrong with it. It doesn't ride hot, only happens when turning the bike off after a ride ... I guess it is something to do with the thermostat.

 

[seaspyder]

Thanks for the help. I had the same problem, and found my filler cap was not tightened all the way.

 

[SpyderMonkei]

still there

well my problem continues, we (dealership) thought it might have been some air in the system that was causing the spillage (again only happens when the bike is ridden and then parked ... maybe 60 seconds later. It does not do it every time and of course did not happen when at the dealership. They checked and rechecked the cap ... and clamps. If it is an air issue, what is the solution for that?

I guess it will just go back on the trailer to Knoxville and it will sit there until they happen to start it, ride it, and it leaks out ... Until then I am kind of reluctant to ride it very far from home.