Hello all - Ill try to keep this post short. After 5k miles, my radiator sprunk a leak in one of the tell-tale areas (near the left or right hanger brackets). I was pissed because I was on a trip, 4 hours from home and had to rent a truck to get back. Long day.
Anyway, I started investigating probable causes, and eliminate heresay and speculation. I rarely ever get the front wheel off the ground, so thats not a factor. So then what?
So I uncovered THIS video someone recently posted, and it made complete sense:
Because the tank moves, and can move side to side laterally because of shifting position, knee pressure, etc, I took what he did in the video and did one more thing. He bolstered the tank from moving. In my mind, there may still be some movement or applied pressure to the radiator causing metal fatigue.
So at where the side fairings attach to the radiator, I opened the holes on the fairings, added rubber grommets, and instead of reusing the shoulder bolts, I simply installed m5 x 30mm bolts with a wide head/flat washers and secured from the back of the snap nuts with a m5 nylock nut. This allows the bolt to be firmly fastened and act like a "stud" vs snugging the bolt down and making the radiator absorb that flex and movement applied by the fairings.
I am horrible at videos...its not my thing...but I did one anyway to help explain:
I hope this helps those that are A) having the issue or B) help those prevent the issue
Anyway, I started investigating probable causes, and eliminate heresay and speculation. I rarely ever get the front wheel off the ground, so thats not a factor. So then what?
So I uncovered THIS video someone recently posted, and it made complete sense:
Because the tank moves, and can move side to side laterally because of shifting position, knee pressure, etc, I took what he did in the video and did one more thing. He bolstered the tank from moving. In my mind, there may still be some movement or applied pressure to the radiator causing metal fatigue.
So at where the side fairings attach to the radiator, I opened the holes on the fairings, added rubber grommets, and instead of reusing the shoulder bolts, I simply installed m5 x 30mm bolts with a wide head/flat washers and secured from the back of the snap nuts with a m5 nylock nut. This allows the bolt to be firmly fastened and act like a "stud" vs snugging the bolt down and making the radiator absorb that flex and movement applied by the fairings.
I am horrible at videos...its not my thing...but I did one anyway to help explain:
I hope this helps those that are A) having the issue or B) help those prevent the issue
