Coolant Leak: see pic!

[theflamanguy]

Has anyone had any experience with this? It appears that the tunnel bracket has worn through the running board heat exchanger and there is a slow leak that will probably get worse with time. Looks like a lot of work just to change! Who has experience with this???

 

[NY_Nytro]

I remember reading a RX-1 (or Warrior) thread about that problem, but it was years ago. I thought Yamaha made a change to fix it, I guess not.

 

[RTXRay]

Your heat exchangers are cracked. This happened on my 02 viper and it just happened on a friends 06 apex. You can probably pull them off and get them welded. They crack on the inside of the tunnel. I think its from the running boards flexing. Do you do a lot of standup riding?

If your still in warranty it should be covered, if not try and see if the dealer can get some good will.

Ray

 

[SharkAttak]

that isn't good

 

[kinger]

Easy fix, fairly uncommon.

 

[theflamanguy]

Yes I do alot of stand up riding and would of never guess that this would have been a problem on a "cross over sled" But if it's a simple fix then I'll get out the wrenches and start fixin

 

[stoutner]

If not warranty, find the crack, throw some JB Weld on it and forget about it.

 

[theflamanguy]

I was thinking the same thing Stoutner, however I hav to pull the bracket for the suspension which means removing all those pretty little black headed rivets first b4 I can find the crack cuz it must be cracked in behind that bracket. The coolant is actually noticeable on the suspension mount and nowhere else

 

[ApexRtxGuy]

i had that problem this year the heat exchanger was cracked inbetween the tunnel and the support bracket. had it tig welded (that didnt hold) i picked up a used heat exchanger from local salvage shop for half price of new.

 

[theflamanguy]

ApexRtxGuy, how was the removal? Straight forward???
Thanks

 

[apltx08]

I remember reading something on this a while back, some guys where putting a peice of thin rubber material between the tunnel and rad for protection, it stops the rubbing and chemical reaction of steel and aluminum corrosion.

The bracket is STEEL and the rad is ALUMINUM and as we all know they DON'T mix very well...

We build ALUMINUM trailers and use a BOND braker between any STEEL making contact with ALUMINUM to prevent CORROSION!!! :exc:

 

[Austlor]

Easy fix, fairly uncommon.

How can I easily fix this issue? I have both sides leaking. Thx

 

[Austlor]

I was thinking the same thing Stoutner, however I hav to pull the bracket for the suspension which means removing all those pretty little black headed rivets first b4 I can find the crack cuz it must be cracked in behind that bracket. The coolant is actually noticeable on the suspension mount and nowhere else

What did you end up doing. I’ve got the same problem on both sides. Ugh

 

[kinger]

How can I easily fix this issue? I have both sides leaking. Thx

I have NO idea why I wrote that or why that picture is in there lol. It’s not easy. Removing the heat exchanger you have to drain coolant and drill out all the rivets which may mean removing skid. The rivets are also very hard. You need fresh sharp bits. GL!!!

 

[Austlor]

I have NO idea why I wrote that or why that picture is in there lol. It’s not easy. Removing the heat exchanger you have to drain coolant and drill out all the rivets which may mean removing skid. The rivets are also very hard. You need fresh sharp bits. GL!!!

Removed both sides today. Went fairly well. Used only one bit. Was a $6 Milwaukee cobalt one. Coolant all over the garage floor. Pressure tested them and they both had 2 hairline cracks where the skid brackets rub. So 4 hairline cracks total. Took a dremel with a round head diamond bit and followed the lines. Likely will use aluminum braze filler rod to try and seal them up. Still weighing my options. Would post a few pics but all are too high resolution