oil/antifreeze leak

[Wingin-it]

:help: my bike {81 plain gl1100} is leakin oil and antifreeze out of the same place under the front of the engine whats the deal??

 

[dan filipi]

Welcome to the forums.

Sounds like a leak from the water pump weep hole usually telling you it's time for a new water pump and seals, but if the bike has been sitting for a long time, a year or more, the leak could slow or stop after putting some miles on. It has happened.

How bad is the leak?
Mine will drip oil a few drops when sitting, minor, I just ignore it, but if your water pump is old the bearing may be going out.
Easy to check with the lower radiator hose fitting removed, try to push the impeller side to side, there should be little or no movement.

 

[Wingin-it]

i just got the bike last week and it only has 27,500 miles so im pretty sure it's been sittin for a while and it only drips a little bit. thanx for the help :good:

 

[Smokey66]

It`s the water pump.Mine leaked like that too.Just a few drops on the floor under the bike after riding.I rode it like that about 2500 miles,no problem.But don`t push your luck,change it as soon as posible and the belts too when your in there.

 

[Wingin-it]

How difficult is it to change a waterpump??

 

[dan filipi]

I would say it's about a 4 hour job.

 

[Smokey66]

It`s not at all difficult,the worst/hardest part is scraping the old gasket off.The pump was relativley expensive too.You`ll also need a gasket set and fresh antifreeze of course,I can`t remember but I think the oil has to be drained also before pulling the front cover,please correct me here somebody if I`m wrong.I did mine during the winter down time.Went ahead and pulled the motor out and did the waterpump,belts,pulled the rear cover and redid the starter clutch,checked the clutch plates,and the alternator,checked and cleaned the vacum advance unit,also removed and cleaned the oil screen on the lower right-side of the block,and thoroughly cleaned the motor(almost 3 decades of crud had built up on it).One thing I forgot(and now regret) was the seal on the shift lever shaft.Did I get too far off subject again?Sorry!

 

[NavyMarine1978]

Welcome to the forums.

Sounds like a leak from the water pump weep hole usually telling you it's time for a new water pump and seals, but if the bike has been sitting for a long time, a year or more, the leak could slow or stop after putting some miles on. It has happened.

How bad is the leak?
Mine will drip oil a few drops when sitting, minor, I just ignore it, but if your water pump is old the bearing may be going out.
Easy to check with the lower radiator hose fitting removed, try to push the impeller side to side, there should be little or no movement.

I am a fairly recent owner of my 81 1100 Interstate. I just took it out of storage from sitting all winter and noticed a few drips of oil/antifreezefrom the weep hole. Is this a normal thing to happen after storage? I have not done anything other than idle the engine warm. Could driving it reseal the o-rings or is driving it a risk?

Thanks,

 

[dan filipi]

I would put some miles on it before tearing it down.

 

[NavyMarine1978]

Thanks. I will give it a good couple of runs down the highway ans see what happens. What should I be watching for?

 

[dan filipi]

Watch your oil level. If it gets higher or gets milky your getting coolant into the oil which is murder on engine bearings.

 

[slabghost]

Watch for any puddle of coolant on the ground and check your coolant level before starting the bike. A few drops leakage may become dry after a few rides. If it gets noisy or begins to need coolant added it's time for a new pump.

 

[NavyMarine1978]

If it gets milky, is that too late? I will keep an eye on the oil level. Is the milkiness checked in the oil filler cap or can it be seen through the glass?

 

[NavyMarine1978]

How much of a puddle is too much? During that initial start and idle warm, I noticed between a teaspoon and tablespoon of coolant on the ground. Mind you, the ground was a very dusty under ground parking garage. I am unsure or how much coolant actually drippedout apart from the 2" circle in the dust.

 

[slabghost]

If it gets milky, is that too late? I will keep an eye on the oil level. Is the milkiness checked in the oil filler cap or can it be seen through the glass?

Likely visible both places. A little bit is normal condensation and will disappear once the bike is warmed. As for the leak. Put a coffee can lid under it to moniter volume.

 

[NavyMarine1978]

Sounds good. I will put a drip tray under it after I ride it to monitor the amount.

 

[NavyMarine1978]

I have drove the bike down the highway twice now since taking it out of storage. During the initial start up, just idling warm, it lost about a tablespoon of coolant/oil. Before the first ride, maybe three drips and none after a good ride down the highway. I just rode the highway today and had one drip during the initial idle warm and none after the ride. The drip now looks like pure coolant than oil/coolant mix. Should I be concerned about the water pump?

Thanks,

 

[NavyMarine1978]

Likely visible both places. A little bit is normal condensation and will disappear once the bike is warmed. As for the leak. Put a coffee can lid under it to moniter volume.

I have drove the bike down the highway twice now since taking it out of storage. During the initial start up, just idling warm, it lost about a tablespoon of coolant/oil. Before the first ride, maybe three drips and none after a good ride down the highway. I just rode the highway today and had one drip during the initial idle warm and none after the ride. The drip now looks like pure coolant than oil/coolant mix. Should I be concerned about the water pump?

Thanks,

 

[dan filipi]

It sounds like the leak is lessening pretty quickly.
I'd pull the lower coolant fitting and see if the pump impeller has any play, if not I'd change out the coolant mix and keep putting miles on it, maybe the seals will soften and stop leaking.

For what it takes to change the pump it's worth a try to avoid it now.

 

[NavyMarine1978]

It sounds like the leak is lessening pretty quickly.
I'd pull the lower coolant fitting and see if the pump impeller has any play, if not I'd change out the coolant mix and keep putting miles on it, maybe the seals will soften and stop leaking.

For what it takes to change the pump it's worth a try to avoid it now.

I am guessing, that in perfect working order, that the water pump should not let out any amount of coolant? I keep checking the site glass for any signs of froth. There isn't any showing up there. I have not checked the filler cap yet. Is this the best way to keep an eye on the water pump?