h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, as it was a nice day today I decided to do something I had been putting off for far too long.
I changed the coolant in my bike.
This *should* be a fairly quick job (not withstanding the Mensa level puzzle of disconnecting the petrol tank and removing it, and the remote fuel switch, from the bike!).

As I was fully changing it I had to drain the system. And on doing this I discovered why it is a good idea to regularly perform this task (regularly here meaning more than never in the entire time I have owned it....ooops).

I can honestly say I did not expect there to be *lumps* of congealed coolant looking for all the world like the outcome of an experiment by Lord Percy (and they were, indeed, green). Caked lumps that is. Build up in the hoses, in the thermostat housing and gawd knows where else in the system that I couldn't see.

So I decided to dismantle and clean the whole top end of the coolant system, removing all the hoses and components leading up to the radiator. And then flushing the whole system using the garden hose (not recommended, green gloop shoots out of all the bits you just disconnected hoses from, ). Amazing the green gloop and flaked lumps that came out.

However, what really got me was the aluminium thermostat housing and the pipe joints. They showed clear signs of having been eaten away. Literally little sections (largest was about 3mm by 4mm by 1mm deep) dissolved away. Not enough to warrant changing it, but a quite remarkable demonstration of why you have anti corrosion components in coolant. I'm a bad boy for not doing this sooner, and glad I did it now before it got any worse. Goodness only knows what damage there is inside the system - although I doubt it will be of the same scale or enough to worry overly about.

Think I'll keep this change for a month or two and then cycle the fluid again just to make sure it is all fully cleaned out.

Oh, and when doing this, a warning. The coolant goes *everywhere*. Yes, I know it is toxic and shouldn't go into the water system and so forth. But the stuff just wees out all over the place! That's one pair of jeans that I doubt will be the same again. Oh, and it did occur to me that if you design a mechanical device with a toxic liquid system that on no accounts should allow said liquid to come into contact with painted surfaces - then sticking the drain plug right above the painted frame rails is either a) bloody stupid or b) somewhat cruel.

I await to see how the grass on the edge of the patio grows this year.
Mind you, the patio itself (oh ok, concrete slabbed area, not really a patio!) is looking very pristine at the moment

Oh, and a further warning - unlike most cars I've had where the thermostat is on top of the radiator at the front - on my bike the thermostat (and thus the pressure relief cap) is underneath the petrol tank right in the centre. It is impossible to get to without removing it, and impossible to check on the cap to see if it is leaking without removing the tank. On removal I found a fair amount of dried encrusted gunk all round the area. Presumably at some point the bike has overheated and dumped stuff. Whether during my ownership or not I can't be sure. But not much of a design.

As an extra element of suspense, if I post within the next few days then we'll know I didn't manage to swallow any of the coolant that sprayed on me and that using the kitchen sink and work surface to clean and prep the components and new coolant didn't contaminate my evening meal

Checked your brake hydraulics lately?

My son has just obtained a bike licence (in Japan) & is buying a bike - think I ought to pass this on!

Hope no long term ill effects...

Tal: Sort of - replaced all the OE hoses with Goodridge braided last year. So fully revamped the whole system and cleaned out the cylinders and whatnot.

Teaswill: Is he the sort to do home maintenance? Although TBH modern stuff kinda prevents you doing so, should be done with regular servicing. Be interested to hear how it goes for him, my knowledge of bikes in Japan is that anything over about 600cc is horribly expensive to own.

Weird thing from yesterday - tried to buy a torque wrench in town. Couldn't find one. Even halfords pro range stuff didn't carry an individual one (apparently only in larger stores) and the local back street spares shop said "No one wants to buy them - at 40quid they don't think they're worth it"
To which I replied that I, standing there in their shop, did want to buy one and did consider it worth it. I guess it is all part of the decline in home maintenance and mechanics.

He lives!

Although if you carry on at this rate with your home repairs you'll start to resemble the Bionic Man!

Since when has expense put boys off toys?

Knowing my son, if his approach to his bike is anything like that to computers & other equipment, he'll be trying to take it apart in no time

good lad! Glad there are still some of us out there - far too many people these days seem to be happy to get the garage to do even the little jobs.

He wants to watch out for the cops over there though, their bike cops are extremely well trained and they have a novel way of capturing groups of bikers - they erect a large net between two inflatable posts either side of the road !

Although I'm sure he'll be a good, responsible, mature rider

As an anxious mother, I hope so!

He did say that on his first long trip (on a hired bike) he was keeping to the speed limit & all the cars were passing him...

Ah, purest Green!

I hope you fashioned some new jewellery out of it. :D

heh, nah, not the sort of thing I'd want anywhere near me after seeing what it did to the ally components!