Coolant leak

Well my bike is now 30yrs old, its time fix an interment coolant leak at the joint from the coolant pipe to cylinder. I have seen the topic posted posted. I assume its an o ring but how to you get the pipe out to get to the o ring? whats holding it in there? I am going to replace as many of the o rings as I can in the coolant lines. I am surprised they lasted this long.
Jay

 

What bike?

 

Sorry..... Its an 86 XJ700X, the coolant leaks where the coolant tube goes onto the cylinder. The repair manual is not very helpful here. How do you remove these? Want to get all my facts before I dig into it. I intend to replace all gaskets in the coolong lines.
Jay

 

Does this picture help?
I got it from this site:
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/model_ye ... ies/157142


Cheers, Graham

 

Theoretically, it's pretty easy. Just pull a couple bolts and the parts slide off.
And, you need to do just that EXCEPT that there are two parts I have always had trouble getting apart. The joint where the elbow (part #24) slides into the water pump housing seems to get seized together. Aluminum inside aluminum exposed to antifreeze aparently a bad combo.

If it won't come apart there, you'll probably need to pull the clutch cover (with the water pump attached). That's not such a bad thing since you should really do the water pump shaft seal at the same time you are doing the other parts to make sure you don't have another leak in a couple weeks. Are you sure it's not the water pump that's leaking now? There is a small weep hole out the bottom of the pump housing to indicate a bad shaft seal.
I have an engine partially torn down and could take some pics if you need.


Be careful putting #33 back in it's hole. It is tucked down behind the alternator and if you get it cross threaded you'll be sorry.

 

Thanks everybody for the input.

I know I have a slight intermittent leak at #30/31 on Grahms above post. My leak that I am concerned about taking apart is at pipe #1 with gasket o- ring # 3 on my pic. Do those pipes just pull out of the cylinder?

Sorry about the bad diagram. For some reason it won't let me give a higher quality pic. Must be my Mac thing.

 

**EDIT**
Oops, looked at wrong picture.

 

Here's a bigger picture.

 

From's Graham's first image, you can remove 30/31 without taking all the coolant lines apart. Simply pull the two hex bolts (33 & 35) out and then it will slide out to the left. The small tube #36 might come along for the ride and it might not (it's easy to get out either way)
Don't disturb the seal on joint #29 to the block though or you will probably have tear the whole system apart.

You should be able to just replace the (2) orings #37 and the oring #31

You'll need a 8mm box end wrench and flexible fingers. #33 is a bear to get back in. Don't cross thread it on the way in since it would be darn near impossible to get a tap in there.

 

Its the joint at #1 and #2 with o-rings#3 that worries me the most. How are those fit into the cylinder? How do you work with these?

All this is really great info guys. I am planning on keeping this bike forever, already have owned it for 20 years. This is my "classic" of my fve bikes

 

Those are the EASY ones

They "piggy back" on the two bolts that hold the intake boots on.
un-do the hose on top, and CAREFULLY remove the screw that holds them in. Use an impact driver if you have one.
Simply give the tubes a little twist and pull them out.
The tube part goes into the head a little ways to pilot it in and hold it in place and the Oring simply seals around the outside. You'll probably want to use some scotchbrite to clean the holes up a bit before you put new Orings in and check the tube for rust pitting.
If they are pitted, it will be hard to get them to seal properly.
I have an extra set that's usable if yours are shot.

 

Mike, thanks for your help. Took a look at your photobucket, Beautiful job on the bikes! Mine looks good now but someday it will need a frame up. What shocks did ¥ou use?

 

They are progressive air shocks.
Got them from Chacal (he had the best price)
They are SPENDY, but the ride is greatly improved and my laptop that hitches a ride on the back seat appreciates it.
Unfortunately, the laptop does not return the favor and is killing my seat cover with the stand under the case.
I gotta do something about that before I'm recovering them AGAIN.

Yours in looking very well cared for cr7198 NICE X...Clean pipes like that are pretty hard to come by.