Riding home yesterday after the annual MOT (safety inspection), which it passed, stopped at traffic lights and noticed some steam coming up through the fairing. Engine temp was normal.

Stripped the bike today and noticed slight dampmess on the rad core. Ran the engine until fan kicked in, initially a few drips of water, then steam as the temp increased. Stopped the engine and although a section of the core is damp, there were no drips.

As I don't want to fork out £370 gb pounds on a new rad., have any of you tried a rad additive, like radweld or similar. Another alternative is to get the rad recored, provided I can find such a company these days.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Motorworks asks £ 120,- for a used one.

Go with the secondhand unit, however get them to pressure test it first.

Another possibility

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K100-Radiator-/330718502416?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item4d005bde10

I've never had a bike one done but I've had many diesel engine ones done - over here a re-core runs about €180-€220 + the Vodka and Tonic (V.A.T).

I never had any issues with quality one re-cored ones.

88KE

wasnt someone parting out an rt-lt a week or so ago ...."lesso"

have a look in parts for sale ?

Thanks Guys

There are a couple on e-bay, plus the one from Motorworks.

I have found a few companies that recore bike rads. and am awaiting a quote from West Mercia Radiators, they also give a 2 year warranty.

BEEJAY wrote:Thanks Guys

There are a couple on e-bay, plus the one from Motorworks.

I have found a few companies that recore bike rads. and am awaiting a quote from West Mercia Radiators, they also give a 2 year warranty.

Here is a tip to plug a leak on a radiator.

Cut the leaky part and start to roll both remaining sides (like the cover of an old sardine can). After each turn, take a pair of pliers and flatten the core. The pressure of the steam/water will never 'unroll' the core.
When you are satisfied, open a can of grounded black pepper and throw it in your radiator.
Refill the radiator and go to ride for a least 10 min.
You must think that I am crazy (Ok, yes I am, but this solution is very serious). The black pepper will plug any small leaks like the expensive automotive products. (If you have this type of problem, you can ring the bell at any house and ask for pepper to fix your bike )

When crossing the Sahara desert in the 80's (with a car) we didn't have an electric fan but one mechanically driven from the engine with a belt. The gearbox touched the ground resulting of the engine tilting forward and the fan blades chewed multiple cores on the radiator. We were 100s of kilometers away from any home or repair shop.
We used this method to fix the leak and drove another 1,500 kms before we had the radiator professionally repaired. During the same trip, we also drove over a boulder and tear off a 1" gap in the gas tank. How did we fix it? We made a paste composed of white bread, soap and water and stocked it on the gash. Guess what, it instantly plugged the leak and lasted for ever.
I don't think this would work on a K100 gas tank as the heat of the engine would cook the bread and it would lose its rubbery texture.

These are organic materials and it's no need for chemical product!
If you want to learn many tricks like these, just talk to adventure riders (or drivers).

CRAZY frog (ah ah)

Have now sorted my cooling problem by buying a used one off e-bay for £48 including postage.

A recore would have cost £150 - 250, used one from Motorworks £120 and a new one about £400.

I did try some RadWeld before getting another rad and although the leak was much less, it was still leaking some steam.

Repacement rad arrived this morning, fitted this afternoon and all working fine.

Good value for the Rad Beejay. You can ride with peace of mind again!
88KE

[quote="Crazy Frog"]

BEEJAY wrote:Thanks Guys



Here is a tip to plug a leak on a radiator.

Cut the leaky part and start to roll both remaining sides (like the cover of an old sardine can). After each turn, take a pair of pliers and flatten the core. The pressure of the steam/water will never 'unroll' the core.
When you are satisfied, open a can of grounded black pepper and throw it in your radiator.
Refill the radiator and go to ride for a least 10 min.
You must think that I am crazy (Ok, yes I am, but this solution is very serious). The black pepper will plug any small leaks like the expensive automotive products. (If you have this type of problem, you can ring the bell at any house and ask for pepper to fix your bike )

CRAZY frog (ah ah)

I've done the rolled core thing too. I have never heard of pepper being used but we used ground ginger several times as a rad sealer with great success so if the house has no pepper then ask for ginger.
BTW there's a Merc 1734 truck somewhere in Africa with a rad sealed with ginger as my old one was exported to there