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Tiger Time => Steamers (1993-1998 Tigers) => Topic started by: ghulst on July 01, 2016, 09:35:19 PM

Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 01, 2016, 09:35:19 PM
Riding out towards Rotterdam today, something has hit my radiator. It must have been something hard hitting it, as the right side radiator support has actually broken. So the radiator is now only leaning on the exhaust manifold. Not a very good position to be in. I hadn't noticed and then I stopped at a traffic light and felt like a cheap magician when I disappeared in a huge white cloud of vaporizing coolant. :(

Anyway, are there any specific things I need to keep in mind when replacing the radiator (and coolant)? Special procedures for getting all the air out etc?
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: JayDub on July 04, 2016, 05:42:05 PM
I don't know about changing the rad, it looks straight forward enough - but when I refilled mine after replacing the fan switch I filled it to just below the neck, replaced the cap then topped up the reservoir to the correct level and ran it until the fan cut in.  I watched as the air bubbles came through into the reservoir and so presumed that its self burping due to the height of the filler in relation to the engine/radiator... and maybe a squeeze or three to the water pump hose (behind the metal cover) helped.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Timbox2 on July 04, 2016, 06:23:31 PM
Only trick on the Girlies is fill slowly, and I mean slowly. Think its easier on the steamers, isnt there a bleed tube on the top hose?
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: threepot on July 04, 2016, 06:27:06 PM
Do as JayDub says. Pretty easy to fill the Steamers.
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 04, 2016, 08:32:51 PM
Great thanks.

However, the damage is a bit bigger than I expected. The fan has completely melted as it rested on the exhaust. :( If anyone has one lying around...
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Nick Calne on July 04, 2016, 08:36:08 PM
I have a fan and a radiator and I ship international! Anything else you need?
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 04, 2016, 08:37:17 PM
Thanks Nick. The right hand side radiator support has broken, so if you have that...

Let me pm you.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: JayDub on July 04, 2016, 08:55:52 PM
Quote from: Nick Calne on July 04, 2016, 08:36:08 PM
I have a fan and a radiator and I ship international! Anything else you need?
Helluva guy  :eusa_clap
(thanks again for the discs mate  :thumbsup )
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Sin_Tiger on July 04, 2016, 11:41:41 PM
I've got a spare fan that has a broken plastic leg only if Nick doesn't find one for you.

No drama with filling, check the thermostat while you have it open, they don't often fail but we're all getting older. Now is a good tinge to clean out all the crud that collects in the bottom of the expansion tank.
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 05, 2016, 07:15:09 AM
Thanks. The whole system seems to be exceptionally clean. Very happy about that. ;) All the coolant was still nice and green and very transparent. No muck in there.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: threepot on July 05, 2016, 01:31:18 PM
Quote from: Sin_Tiger on July 04, 2016, 11:41:41 PM
I've got a spare fan that has a broken plastic leg only if Nick doesn't find one for you.

No drama with filling, check the thermostat while you have it open, they don't often fail but we're all getting older. Now is a good tinge to clean out all the crud that collects in the bottom of the expansion tank.
:augie
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Nick Calne on July 05, 2016, 02:21:05 PM
Found the rad and fan. Not got the support (yet).

Pm me an address!
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 05, 2016, 07:26:00 PM
Great! Sent you a pm earlier this afternoon.
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 15, 2016, 03:00:08 PM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160715/1a591104d7cf0a6ae38fb76200fd673f.jpg)
Thank you Nick!

I'll probably give it a quick check and a respray before mounting the radiator. And a quick clean of the fan. ;)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160715/2f8b6bf9510b367a66a92da935b834e5.jpg)
Yesterday's State of the Tiger. I'm changing the airfilterbox and finally mounting the crashbars.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160715/3ae3055f7db9f164503fcfcb42a57639.jpg)
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 16, 2016, 12:33:20 PM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160716/ba70feef0b908465275c157c9cec7559.jpg)

Checked, cleaned, repainted and ready to go back on the Tiger.



Next week. ;)
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 18, 2016, 11:10:06 PM
Ok, so now I find out that the only way to mount the radiator is to remove the two supports that the radiator sits in. Crap. On one of the sides the bolts are stuck very, very much. :( So, nothing happened tonight as I have just soaked them in oil and I'll try them again tomorrow.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Nick Calne on July 18, 2016, 11:13:15 PM
You are not having much luck are you?
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Sin_Tiger on July 18, 2016, 11:59:58 PM
We have a saying up here "If it wisnae fur bad luck I'd hae nae luck at all"  :icon_frown:
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: nickjtc on July 19, 2016, 01:18:24 AM
It's stuff like this that makes us just love our bikes so much more. :icon_lol:
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 19, 2016, 07:14:41 AM
Quote from: Nick Calne on July 18, 2016, 11:13:15 PM
You are not having much luck are you?
Hahahahaha, well, I don't know. I mean, I did pull it out with one of the supports broken, so instead of putting it back on first, it might have been better to leave it off, then try to mount it again. :) I'll get there. At some point. ;)

Quote from: Sin_Tiger on July 18, 2016, 11:59:58 PM
We have a saying up here "If it wisnae fur bad luck I'd hae nae luck at all"  :icon_frown:
Nice one. Cultural optimism runs deep I guess. ;)
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 19, 2016, 11:48:24 PM
Well, good news. The Tiger has a radiator again. I was able to get everything off, and get the radiator mounted. (Though I came across a couple of things that made me believe that it is probably a lot easier to do when you are assembling the bike in the factory. But hey, it works.

The only question I have now, is can someone show me how the fan wiring runs on their steamer? Mine is pretty close to the engine and I am not sure about that. (On the other hand, as the mount had broken, I have got no clue where it originally ran.)

Now I am only waiting for the airfilter. :)
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 20, 2016, 12:31:55 PM
I got it from a local motorcycle club came by last night. And after explaining to him what I have been doing to the Tiger he remarked: "Tiger is not the name of the bike, it is the nickname on the owner going through all he has to to replace any part on the bike."

Thought that was funny. And very right. ;)
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: threepot on July 20, 2016, 10:59:00 PM
Don't think the 'steamer' is hard to work on? :icon_scratch:  Airbox...yes :augie
Try removing some plastic panels off jap bikes!
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 20, 2016, 11:18:52 PM
None of the jap bikes I have had, had the need to tear half the bike apart just to fit a new airfilter. ;)
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: ssevy on July 21, 2016, 04:11:08 PM
This is why I keep a big can of Never Seize nearby whenever I am reassembling any of my machines. Makes "the next time" a little less painful.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 22, 2016, 07:25:22 AM
Good thinking. Luckily everything did come off without breaking.
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 23, 2016, 05:33:05 PM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160723/bf21119f9ebc66a433606edc7f582786.jpg)
Modified the air box today. Ready to be put back in.

Just two questions:
- I have two small hoses coming off the carbs, over the filter box and then they seem to be loose. Is that right?
- There is one long small hose on the bottom rear of the filter box that is hanging loose. Is that right?
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: GavD on July 23, 2016, 06:24:39 PM
Yes and
Yes
They are vent pipes from the carbs, and a drain for the airbox should anything get in there.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: JayDub on July 23, 2016, 07:12:11 PM
the airbox drain tube is supposed to have a plug in the end, (which you remove to drain the box), otherwise it lets unfiltered air in.
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: GavD on July 23, 2016, 07:51:15 PM
Quote from: JayDub on July 23, 2016, 07:12:11 PM
the airbox drain tube is supposed to have a plug in the end, (which you remove to drain the box), otherwise it lets unfiltered air in.

Now I need to go and check that, don't remember seeing it when I changed the airbox. I guess I can just fold it over and cable tie it if it's missing.
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 23, 2016, 11:39:02 PM
Thanks guys. The one hose going down has a plug in it, so that is sorted out then. Time to put the thing back back together. :)
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: Sin_Tiger on July 24, 2016, 11:29:35 AM
Quote from: GavD on July 23, 2016, 07:51:15 PM
I guess I can just fold it over and cable tie it if it's missing.

:nod
Title: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on July 24, 2016, 11:15:27 PM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160724/787b61c4429ac7176052392aa04ca0d3.jpg)
The bike is getting there, but I have a problem with parts going AWOL...

I am sure they were there when I started and they should've stayed on my workbench, but they haven't. :(

I'm desperately looking for the black lid that goes on the left side expansion chamber (left side as sitting on the bike). And I am missing the tube that one of the bolts holding the bottom of the tank goes through.

Is there anyone that can help me with these?
Title: Re: Radiator replacement
Post by: ghulst on August 19, 2016, 09:01:40 PM
I thought I would finish the story...

Anyway, the Tiger has been off the road in the non-fun sense since the 1st of July, so after my three weeks holiday and extra days at the beach etc. It was time to get some work done tonight. I attached a list to the fairing when I went, just to make sure I wouldn't forget anything, and I think I didn't. Anyway, I put the cross bracket in on the crash bars and mounted some small stuff. Then I went on a search for something that could replace the missing sleeve that is around the bolts that hold the tank in place at the rear. I found one from RVS and cut it to size, so the tank is fixed now as well. :)
Time to fire it up and get the air out of the cooling system. That went pretty well and when the fan came on, I was a happy camper. Even though there were some black clouds at the horizon, nothing was going to stop me now. So I mounted the fairing with the new bolts I found, put on my summer gear and took it for a spin.

Doesn't it just look right.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160819/3a3b318790c3f6f9760079aae98bf837.jpg)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160819/61480299ad4d41f80b662132117b036d.jpg)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160819/5c01639ae5c6806bf7f70435c954c737.jpg)

And pretty tough with the new crashbars. ;)
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