| Author | Message | ||
     Red93stang |
I know those stupid factory engineers! They don't know what they are doing. Come on! Really? How many millions of dollars do u think manufactures spend a year on fluid technology? | ||
| Red93stang |
Moose I will agree their might be better fluids out there. Just my 2 cents is all..... | ||
| Budo |
Alot of years ago a number of guys had problems with their Gold Wings having water pump failures, they had used auto anti-freeze that contained silicate. To be safe I would use the HD product or stopy by a Honda shop and use the Honda coolant, it's good stuff and much cheaper than the HD brand. For the guys with dissapearing coolant, is there any chance the coolant is getting into the combustion process? (Message edited by budo on December 15, 2009) | ||
| Moosestang |
Have you checked your coolant Budo? | ||
| Budo |
Man I always check and top off my coolant and blinker fluid. | ||
| Keef |
Hey Plymouth has a sale on blinker fluid  | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Blinker fluid ... Dyno or synthetic?! | ||
| Keef |
blended  | ||
| Puredrive |
So it has been confirmed that Dexcool is the same as HD coolant? BTW Dexcool and VW G12 are the same. | ||
| Doctorneon |
Yah, good coolant, I used to use it in my 1969 vw beetle.  | ||
| Hildstrom |
I have not had any overheating problems, but I decided to check mine yesterday after reading this thread. The overflow tank was completely dry and the right radiator was down a few inches of fluid when I removed the cap. Ridiculous. 2009 1125R 1900 miles | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
I checked mine just so I could get used to the procedure since, obviously, no one can see the coolant through the peep hole. My bike only has about 130 miles on her and the coolant was half way between empty and the "cold" line. I don't know about you, but the only things going in my bike are the approved fluids from H-D, as sucky as it is. The way I see it, and I work with engineers everyday, is that we have borderline exotic sport bikes and if the engineers call for a specific fluid, by God I'm going to use it. It's just not worth it to me thinking "is this stuff gonna' hurt my engine?" while I'm riding. $20/gallon is pretty steep though, hopefully I can buy a few gallons in bulk online somewhere. | ||
| Captain_america |
i did the same thing as Hildstrom and found the same result. WTF!?!    (Message edited by Captain_america on January 14, 2010) | ||
| Justa4banger |
20.00/gallon.... holy sheitt batman..... Just find the same type of coolant and use that. it sure as hell doesn't need to be the HD stuff... | ||
| Froggy |
I am going to be buying HD coolant tonight, one of the local dealers is having a 25% off sale. Not worth stressing over damaging the bike due to using the wrong stuff. Hell, its still much cheaper per ounce than oil. | ||
| Nm5150 |
Checked my coolant for the first time today since 1000km service.Tank was bone dry.Any idea why the owner's manuel says not to pull off the radiator cap?Not just when it is hot.It says to take it to a dealer if filling up the tank deosn't work. | ||
| Froggy |
Most cars say it too these days. Lawyers. | ||
| Leroysch |
Checked mine today...just shy of 900 miles and the dealer performed the 1st service. I guess 6 screws were too much of an imposition...reservoir tank was bone dry and coolant was not visible in the radiator with the cap off. Went thru the service manual's purge recommendation, topping off the radiator twice in the process...though it was cool to see the coolant disappear when the thermostat opens. (Yeah, I know...easily amused). I just don't get this sub-par approach to service. I mean..doesn't the V-rod have a radiator? Seriously, maybe what's needed is a listing of dealerships certified as competent for fluid level checks. I gotta go now....I bet I'm low on blinker fluid. Rant over. | ||
| Tbones1125r |
I'm with you...the proper torx bit and my cordless drill did the job easily...My tank was light a fair amount of coolant. The oil change was a breeze...a bit messy but it was my first time. I learned a few tricks to make it less so...can't wait until April...a bit nippy on my 50 mile ride on Saturday here in CT. | ||
| Petebueller |
I'd done less than 500km and I found my bottle was empty. Kept peering through scoop and couldn't see anything for the level. The bike had been running hot so I pulled the cover off. It took 1/2 litre of premixed coolant to bleed the system and top up the bottle. This was on a day when the ambient temp riding home from work was 42 C (about 110F). The coolant temp hit 104C. It had generally been running around 90C on a "normal day". With coolant at the right level it now runs 10 C cooler. I'd been watching the temp only because the battery light is coming on when I stop and I wanted to check the charging. I think the battery is stuffed. It drops to 11.9V not long after I switch off the engine. | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
Came up with a simple little fix to see me coolant level. I installed a light under the scoop behind the bottle and a momentary switch in side the opening where my hand is. Push the button and the view port is illuminated! Simple and cheap.  sorry for the lousy pics,Bob | ||
| Illbuell |
My over flow was empty when I picked it up from the dealer... Weird | ||
| Petebueller |
I can se that one getting copied a lot Bob | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
I'll sent you my address for the royalty checks,  | ||
| Mountainstorm |
Thanks Bob. I'll be using an UV LED...hope the stuff glows  | ||
| Petebueller |
I was thinking glass fibres so that the light source is external | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
Mine is a incandescent idiot light bulb,soldered wires to it, used a piece of the good heat shrink with the sealant to stabilize it. A little silicon high temp rtv in the gap between the rad and the bottle to hold it in place. I adhere to the KISS principles , keep it simple stupid,Bob | ||
| Petebueller |
I was think that finding a way to use sunlight would make it simple. Shine a torch on the outside at night. How do you power the bulb Bob? | ||
| Wbrisett |
I don't know about you, but the only things going in my bike are the approved fluids from H-D, as sucky as it is. The way I see it, and I work with engineers everyday, is that we have borderline exotic sport bikes and if the engineers call for a specific fluid, by God I'm going to use it. If you did a bit of research on anti-freeze, you would quickly realize that as long as you get Ethylene Glycol based anti-freeze you're fine. But, if you want to give HD your money, knock yourself out. Short of warranty work, and the odd part or two, HD will never see my bike or money again, end of story. it's a bike, it's not all that exotic, uses similar parts and engines as Aprilia. Hell, the reality is HD had little to do with this bike, in fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that HD probably hated this bike since it used even less parts from the Motor Company. Wayne | ||
| Justa4banger |
I don't know about you, but the only things going in my bike are the approved fluids from H-D, as sucky as it is. The way I see it, and I work with engineers everyday, is that we have borderline exotic sport bikes and if the engineers call for a specific fluid, by God I'm going to use it. SOmeone just likes to give there money away.. HD loves this kind of customer, no questions, just forks the cash over...} |
