Checking coolant level in overflow bottle???

Guys
Please tell me Im reading the service manual wrong............
I want to check the coolant level in the overfill bottle.
Its says if I read it right.
Remove the front fairing????? blah blah.......

Edit: Or is it just having to removing the left side engine cover?? As in page 4-16 of the service manual.
And the right side pocket taken out where the cap is??????

My left foot is burning up and a lot of heat on that side.
Plus the fans coming on a lot even if it is 90 degrees here.

It's behind the left side engine cover. White plastic bottle with black lid.

Jay, I ride a 1500 so Mine is probably a little different, but I don't believe Honda would make you take the faring off to check fluid levels. On mine next to the handlebars on each side is a piece of plastic that pops out so you have access to the coolant reservoir on one side and the radiator cap on the other. Yours should be somewhat the same thing, access should not be that hard otherwise people will not check the fluids. Good luck, let us know if you found it..

bustedwing said:

Jay, I ride a 1500 so Mine is probably a little different, but I don't believe Honda would make you take the faring off to check fluid levels. On mine next to the handlebars on each side is a piece of plastic that pops out so you have access to the coolant reservoir on one side and the radiator cap on the other. Yours should be somewhat the same thing, access should not be that hard otherwise people will not check the fluids. Good luck, let us know if you found it..

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I had a 1999 Valk F till I sold it last month.
On the Valk standard. The radiator is exposed, with the cap on the right side. No fairing on an F.
The bottle is under the left side cover.
The Valk was a pleasure to work on compared to a Gold Wing.
I hated working on the Valk.
Im from a V-Twin background.
They have almost nothing in common besides 6 cylinders believe it or not.
Everything else is in almost 100% a different place between a 1500 and a newer 1800.
Takes 3 times as long to get to on an 1800.

msrvpeig said:

It's behind the left side engine cover. White plastic bottle with black lid.

Click to expand...

Thanks I was hopping it was that simple.

Just be sure to check the overflow bottle when the engine is up to temp.

Mick said:

Just be sure to check the overflow bottle when the engine is up to temp.

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I did it today when I got home. It shows a full.
So thanks for the location tip.
Now Ive been looking for the dragon drool tube and cant see one.
Do we even have one??
There are 2 rubber down tubes on the left side but that's it for me.
Its the ex Valkyrie owner in me sorry .
The owners manual is pretty useless and the OEM service manual well Im on some stupid pills and just not seeing what Im looking for lately.

FWIW its in the 90's here and if Im wearing shorts it gets pretty warm on the trike and the fans kick in a lot in traffic out here. The only other question I would ask is when was the last time you changed coolant?

Mick said:

FWIW its in the 90's here and if Im wearing shorts it gets pretty warm on the trike and the fans kick in a lot in traffic out here. The only other question I would ask is when was the last time you changed coolant?

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I haven't.
Im the 2nd owner bought the bike with 10K on it.
Found the cap and just looked at it a few months back.
I didn't know at the time 2 years was the change interval.
I do know and now.
So I have something to do this weekend I guess.
I found the drool tube too.
On this bike its on upper left hand side over the valve cover.
Honda actually uses its real name wouldn't you know.
Crank case breather valve.
Hey whod a thunkit??

If you have a Honda car dealer near you they have the 5 year 50,000 mile coolant which a gallon runs around $22.00. For about the same cost as 4 quarts of green which you change every 2 years you could save some money using the car coolant and extend your maintenance interval.

Mick said:

If you have a Honda car dealer near you they have the 5 year 50,000 mile coolant which a gallon runs around $22.00. For about the same cost as 4 quarts of green which you change every 2 years you could save some money using the car coolant and extend your maintenance interval.

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I was thinking about using a 70/30 mix.
Let the water move the heat around a bit more.
I also picked up some Royal Purple Ice.
Purple Ice® - Radiator Coolant Additive - Royal Purple

My fans seem to be on a lot more and a lot sooner in this upper 80s 90 degree weather.
My gauge is where it belongs but the idle period at a red light is enough to have the fans kick on.
Plus again a ton of heat is being tossed off the left side.
Very uncomfortable for me.
Im wondering if the lever that controls the vent flow even works??

Lately Im also wondering why someone who paid cash for the trike sold it ??
One little gremlin after another has been popping up.
Nothing major just annoying.

Jay

Be sure to read the label really good. Some of the "Engine Ice" coolant will not mix with regular anti-freeze that is in the motor. I put some in my bike when I hanged the radiator and then a month or so later I was reading the label and noticed this "Ensure the system is drained and flushed to remove all of the coolant before installing Engine Ice Coolant". I drained it out and flushed with DI water and installed regular Yamaha premix coolant.


Ray
2009 Kawi/Champion
Tijuana Border

Rmitchell55 said:

Jay

Be sure to read the label really good. Some of the "Engine Ice" coolant will not mix with regular anti-freeze that is in the motor. I put some in my bike when I hanged the radiator and then a month or so later I was reading the label and noticed this "Ensure the system is drained and flushed to remove all of the coolant before installing Engine Ice Coolant". I drained it out and flushed with DI water and installed regular Yamaha premix coolant.


Ray
2009 Kawi/Champion
Tijuana Border

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Im starting from scratch. Full drain and flush. Since I have no clue if its ever been done or not before. I have pure on hand its what Ill use. I will mix a batch with distilled water.
The Water Ice you just add a few ozs per gallon.
While Im at it I will also drain the crankcase tube.
That I might change the tube till its under the bike.
Removing a cover to do that is a PIA.
They don't call it Dragon Snot for nothing. Its pretty disgusting stuff.
Also will install the new voltage/ air pressure LED that MT sent me.
Ill check the radiators make sure they are clean outside no bugs or whatever can get in there.
The only thing I still haven't a clue about is the air filter.
Everyone here has said more or less forget about for a bunch of miles.
I just turned 14K today. The bike had 10K when I got it.
If Honda has a service record?? Might be worth looking into.
I have a bad feeling the original owner bought it. Used it sold it back to a dealer and didn't do any servicing what so ever.

Ill have a 4 day weekend to do all this in a 100 degree plus garage and take my time.

Got everything done this weekend.
Fans are still coming on in the heat.
I hate to think thermostat on this beast.

Might just see whats what when it eventually cools down around here.
Id hate to think the stats bad on a 3 year old bike with 14K miles.....:gah:

JaysGone said:

I had a 1999 Valk F till I sold it last month.
On the Valk standard. The radiator is exposed, with the cap on the right side. No fairing on an F.
The bottle is under the left side cover.
The Valk was a pleasure to work on compared to a Gold Wing.
I hated working on the Valk.
Im from a V-Twin background.
They have almost nothing in common besides 6 cylinders believe it or not.
Everything else is in almost 100% a different place between a 1500 and a newer 1800.
Takes 3 times as long to get to on an 1800.

Click to expand...

I am going from a 2 cyl Yamaha 1700 to a Valkyrie trike.

Id have liked to use the Valk as my trike but ran into too much trouble finding a builder down here for the kit I wanted to use.
My other biks is also a RoadStar and I will never give that one up.