Radiator reserve tank

[Rangastorm]

I found my bike leaking coolant onto my left boot during a ride recently. I found that there was a hairline crack in the bottom of the radiator reserve tank. It would only develop into a very small but annoying leak when the cooling system was pressurised and the bike was up to temperature.

I sourced a replacement tank of Ebay for $10 Australian (3-4quid). I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else wants to replace theirs.

Getting the tank out seemed simple on paper. Remove the fairing, remove a couple of bolts and the hose that runs to the right hand side radiator and it should slip out. However to actually get the thing out was much harder. You need to pull it away from the pilot hole, then push the tank down below the pilot hole lifting the bolt point above the frame on the right hand side and twisting the tank about 90 degrees to the right (clockwise). It will then only come out with a the application of quite a lot of force. This is quite tricky and had me wondering for a while if i would have to remove the tank, airbox and carbs. Fortunately i didn't have to and it eventually popped out.

Popping the replacement tank back in was much easier and it seemed to want to go in, just reverse the sequence above. Getting the bolt which attaches the bracket to the reserve tank to the frame which is on the underside of the reserve tank was bloody difficult. You cannot pre-attach it or it wont fit in the frame, but once the tank is in place there is next to no clearance space to do up the bolt. It took me about twenty minutes, multiple attempts and much cursing to get it done. I used a simple 10mm spanner and my pinky finger. After that its easy. Hose reattached to right hand radiator, overflow hose routed back to original position and Coolant topped up in reserve tank. BTW you don't need to drain all of the coolant from your system, just the reserve tank. Ridden & tested, perfect.

[8541Hawk]

Yeah that is about how it went when I had to replace mine.....

[VTRDark]

I would have taken the carbs off. Did you manage to get the nipple at the at the rear back into the hole in the frame. And yes your right that front mounting bolt is a fiddly little wombles.

(:-})

[Rangastorm]

I would have taken the carbs off. Did you manage to get the nipple at the at the rear back into the hole in the frame. And yes your right that front mounting bolt is a fiddly little wombles.

(:-})

Yeah it went back in fine, the easiest part of the job

[darkember]

To get to the carbs only takes half an hour taking it easy.

[VTRDark]

half an hour

They should be off in 10mins max, and that's including the tank and airbox.

(:-})

[darkember]

half an hour

They should be off in 10mins max, and that's including the tank and airbox.

(:-})

I like a cuppa between each phase plus I need to drain my tank prior to removing due to the separate petcock.

[VTRDark]

plus I need to drain my tank prior to removing due to the separate petcock.

Something I learnt yesterday working on a later Storm. Disconnect the carb fuel hoses at the diaphragm (only a tablespoon of fuel loss), Undo the 8mm bolt on the bracket that holds the unit to the frame and take it off with the tank full of fuel.

(:-})