Coolant dripping... - Ducati.ms

jobst3 · Jan 23rd, 2012, 7:26 am

After a recent 250mi ride (nice break in the weather) I have a small puddle under the bike. Coolant is leaking from the waterpump cover inlet tube and it is nicely corroded too. (this bike isn't that old?!?)

Is there a simple repair for this, or does it require replacing the cover?

While the billet covers are cool and all, I have used up most of the bike budget and it's only January!!!!

RUNnDUC · Jan 23rd, 2012, 7:53 am

A photo of the failed part and a more complete description of the failure would be a help to the rest of us in assisting you in the offering suggestions for the repair.

Not seeing it my first thought is checking with Gotham for a used replacement cover and a new gasket. You may only need a gasket. Their prices are reasonable and the times that I have traded with them they were very professional. As far as replacement will cost, it is as about a cost effective as replacement can be.

stryder · Jan 23rd, 2012, 9:08 am

Coolant leaks from ST bikes are common and most often fixed by....tightening the hose clamps.

Stick · Jan 23rd, 2012, 9:12 am

Coolant leaks on our STs are very common. I believe it's due to the OEM hoses that are not very good quality. I think they weep out of the fiber inner layer. One cure is silicone hoses (kit). I've tightened, retightened, replaced hose clamps with wider ones.

A few years back, I alerted my local dealer to a brand new ST3 on his showroom floor with a coolant drip onto the carpeting. It's usually the top hose on the radiator. And you can feel it thru the left air conveyer.

I tend to live with mine, and the weeps seem to subside in warmer weather. It's COLD in my garage, and I noticed a small drip this past week on the concrete. Same ol' same ol'.

edit: Frank beat me to it. I agree. Start by firmly snugging all of the clamps.

tonered · Jan 23rd, 2012, 9:31 am

Also, the inlet tube is threaded into the water pump cover. Some folks have a very bad time getting a good seal there when they go to a billet cover. So, don't rule out that the inlet pipe is leaking from the threads. You shouldn't have to replace any parts.

When I replaced my coolant hoses with silicone ones, I found coolant weeping from the fabric layer like Stick noted.

Have a good one.

Stick · Jan 23rd, 2012, 10:14 am

Tony, about how much $$'s for those aftermarket hoses, and where would you recommend buying them?

Not sure I need the extra bling, since the fairing hides all that cute stuff! (and anti-freeze is relatively CHEAP!!)

tonered · Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:13 am

I got mine from desmotimes. I think I paid $160 for the kit (hoses and clamps). LT has a waiting list now. The cost is a bit more now.

They have three layer of fabric / four layers of silicon. Attached is a pic. You can see some of the construction on the lower rad hose. I couldn't attach full size.

These are definitely lifetime hoses judging that the originals made it about 10yrs.

Have a good one.

tonered · Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:27 am

BTW, the red of these hoses goes well with my blue ST. I would think that they would look just as good on a yellow ST. But, it is a lighter shade of red that might look a bit off on a red ST, depending on how you feel about thinks like that.

This was definitely a functional purchase for me.

Have a good one.

jobst3 · Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:35 am

Thanks for the input guys!!
I will drain the coolant and see what I can see. (pix too)

The silicone hoses look like the long term fix, but I've only seen them for the ST4, not the ST3's -- in the pix they seem to be different?

It needs a coolant change anyway so...

tonered · Jan 23rd, 2012, 1:15 pm

Sorry for the OT. The ST4/ST4s use different lines.

Good luck.

Have a good one.