Radiator Guard warning and tip

[richiomtt]

Was shocked to see that my rad had generated a pin-hole leak after riding to work yesterday


I took the rad guard off (Beowolf with etched Fazer) and realised that it had been rubbing on the rad as the rad paint was worn off in a small area (about a 1/2 to 2/3's of the way down towards the left of the bike) and I'm sure that caused the hole. It kind of naturally bends in the middle. A proper clean-up and araldite metal putty and she's watertight again.


So the solution to prevent this again was to add two stainless spring washers on each side of the bottom two mounts to lift the rad guard clear of the rad, coupled with two new shiny allen stainless bolts. Job done hopefully 


Cheers
Rich

[Falcon 269]

Don't know about the aftermarket rad screens but the standard one has a rubber spacer block in the middle to keep the screen off the rad fins.

Good spot, useful for folks to know about!

[richiomtt]

Interesting and thanks. The bike came with it fitted and no rubber block in sight. Should have gone OE

[slappy]

I have a non standard rad guard,don`t know the make,and it was also rubbing on the rad. I put some small squares of rubber at each corner and that did the trick.

[ogri48]

thanks for the heads up bud mines got an aftermarket with the fazer etch thang ill check it out..
BTW, Mark at BSD told me once the aftermarket ones take a shitload of cooling away from the rad compared to the oe wire ones

[richiomtt]

Useful... Might buy and OE one then.


Rich

[VNA - BMW Wank]

I don't see the need for an aftermarket guard.  The radiator already comes fitted with stone guard.  And to smarten it up all it needs is a splash of silver paint.

I gace my radiator and guard a wee make over earlier in the year;










Neat and understated, but I think smarter than most of the aftermarket guards that are available.

[richiomtt]

Nice, but unfortunately mine didn't come with the OE, just an after-market item.


Rich