Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial

Bikes, Hints'n'Tips => FZS600 Fazer => Topic started by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 02:53:19 pm

Title: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 02:53:19 pm
Hello, me again. I've gotta change the coolant on my 400 and am looking for tips basically. I've done it on cars in the past but never a bike. What's the procedure and where are the bits I wanna play with?

 Errr and which coolant do I wanna use? I've found the reservoir and frankly, it looks empty.  :eek

Thanks for any help :)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: andybesy on 13 December 2013, 03:59:51 pm
Hi,

It's not Fazer specific but I can highly recommend following Delboy's garage video which should give you a good overview of the process and a few specific hints and tips on technique:

Delboy's Garage, Suzuki Hayabusa, Coolant Change. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVVLIcddNac#ws)

For Fazer specific stuff there were these discussions recently from the FZS 600 section:

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,9291.0.html (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,9291.0.html)
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html)

I think there's a link in there to the right type of Halfords coolant to use. Or there's the Motul stuff shown in the video if you're ordering online.

Hope this helps! And let us know how you get on and any tips you learn.

Andy


Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 04:21:46 pm
Fantastic thanks mate!

I should have looked for a video from Del he's very helpful :D

Thanks for the links too I'll check those out :)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 13 December 2013, 04:22:02 pm
The fact you have an empty expansion tank either means the cooling system has simply been neglected or the coolant has been dumped out because your waterways maybe blocked.
Pop down Halfords and get yourself some Radflush for starters and give the system a good clean before refilling with coolant, otherwise you may find yourself having to do it all again in the near future!
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 04:27:13 pm
Radflush? How does that work? Does it dissolve any crap in the system?
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 13 December 2013, 04:32:26 pm
Radflush? How does that work? Does it dissolve any crap in the system?

 
Read all of this thread, i explain the basics the best i can:  http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,9291.msg100573.html#msg100573 (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,9291.msg100573.html#msg100573)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 13 December 2013, 04:39:31 pm
And all of this one
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 13 December 2013, 04:46:38 pm
And all of this one
[url]http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html[/url] ([url]http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,10671.0.html[/url])

 
Oh yeah, that one  :lol
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 13 December 2013, 04:52:39 pm
 8)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 13 December 2013, 04:56:11 pm
Radflush? How does that work? Does it dissolve any crap in the system?

Radflush is basically a descaler that will remove hard water deposits that build up on the walls of the waterways restricting the proper flow of coolant.
If the coolant can't flow properly it'll overheat and any excess coolant will get pushed back to the expansion tank.
If they're really blocked the expansion tank will pressurise with boiling fluid then just overflow onto the floor.
 
When everything's flowing and working correctly the level in your expansion tank should more or less stay the same level, with maybe the occasional very small top up every 6 months or so.
 
In that respect the expansion tank is a good guide as to whether you have any issues at all, either by a blocked system or by a leak.
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 05:21:41 pm
Thanks a lot for the links I've read them both fully and have a better understanding now. One question though, I will use the radflush stuff so do I just whack that in with the liquid that is in there now? Then run the engine to warm it through? Or should I drain everything in there and fill with water and radflush then run the engine, THEN empty it all out and refill with coolant?
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 13 December 2013, 05:34:05 pm
should I drain everything in there and fill with water and radflush then run the engine, THEN empty it all out and refill with coolant?

YES and as I am me I rinced the old and rinced the flush out too
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ianboydsnr on 13 December 2013, 07:26:55 pm
Use one of those small bottles of dishwasher cleaner, they are the same stuff, as the rad flush, mix it with water and run the bike until its up to temp, then let it cool enough to drain!


Oh and use pink coolant, pink makes your finger stink, no really use the pink :D
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 08:02:11 pm
Thanks gents I've got everything I need. I just need some daylight and it not to piss down.

I'm also changing the clutch and springs, the oil and filters and exhaust. Some other bits n bobs too :D
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 13 December 2013, 08:24:37 pm
Thanks gents I've got everything I need. I just need some daylight and it not to piss down.

I'm also changing the clutch and springs, the oil and filters and exhaust. Some other bits n bobs too :D


Starting to sound like Triggers broom. :lol
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 13 December 2013, 09:18:24 pm
Haha wish me luck! :crazy
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 14 December 2013, 11:38:42 am
Use one of those small bottles of dishwasher cleaner, they are the same stuff, as the rad flush,
Eh??? is it -----and if it is then, Radflush I dare say is cheeper.
On the rad flush front I used it but felt like it did nothing as I was expecting the water to come out murky at least, but it came out clean, so I think it didnt need it but on the other hand didnt do no harm. 
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ebme Geek on 14 December 2013, 12:33:52 pm
Oh and use pink coolant, pink makes your finger stink, no really use the pink :D

I thought it was the brown that made fingers stink    :\  :eek
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 14 December 2013, 02:12:38 pm
Use one of those small bottles of dishwasher cleaner, they are the same stuff, as the rad flush,
Eh??? is it -----and if it is then, Radflush I dare say is cheeper.
On the rad flush front I used it but felt like it did nothing as I was expecting the water to come out murky at least, but it came out clean, so I think it didnt need it but on the other hand didnt do no harm.


Also depends how you use it.
That's why i personally always wait for average weather, not too hot or cold, and leave it in the bike for 2 days to warm up and cool down a few times.
Obviously you don't wanna risk boiling the normal water in hot weather, or chance any risk of freezing it in cold weather, and i wouldn't recommend really long runs or thrashing it either.
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ianboydsnr on 14 December 2013, 03:34:13 pm
Use one of those small bottles of dishwasher cleaner, they are the same stuff, as the rad flush,
Eh??? is it -----and if it is then, Radflush I dare say is cheeper.
On the rad flush front I used it but felt like it did nothing as I was expecting the water to come out murky at least, but it came out clean, so I think it didnt need it but on the other hand didnt do no harm.


It's stronger than rad flush as its more concentrated,  and cheaper at Aldi!
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ianboydsnr on 14 December 2013, 03:35:12 pm
Oh and use pink coolant, pink makes your finger stink, no really use the pink :D

I thought it was the brown that made fingers stink    :\ :eek


Each to there own, I prefer pink to brown  :)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ebme Geek on 14 December 2013, 04:09:25 pm
Each to there own, I prefer pink to brown  :)
I love pink, thoughts of great tasting prawns, but my coolant is green  :lol
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 14 December 2013, 05:45:16 pm
Well, I did it :D

I also did the oil change and filter and clutch change with stronger springs which is fapping amazing!!!

Also new stainless exhaust system :D

I was gonna faff with the handle bars because I wanna fit clip ons but I don't have any yet.

Here she is, bit dirty though...

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/spencer_foxwell/IMAG0352_zpse73a5cfe.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/spencer_foxwell/media/IMAG0352_zpse73a5cfe.jpg.html)

Thanks a lot for the help :)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 14 December 2013, 06:52:27 pm
Sorted  :)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 15 December 2013, 12:20:03 pm
Im not a fan of "fairing off" fzs but yours I like, maybe its the chrome clocks and chrome headlight bracket and headlight trim all against the alloy and black bike, and whats with that infill above the rad and under the tank, ive never seen that done and it look great, I also see you have done what I have and taken of the grab rail ---looks much better.
I want to see more pictures of the front please
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: darrsi on 15 December 2013, 12:58:11 pm
Im not a fan of "fairing off" fzs but yours I like, maybe its the chrome clocks and chrome headlight bracket and headlight trim all against the alloy and black bike, and whats with that infill above the rad and under the tank, ive never seen that done and it look great, I also see you have done what I have and taken of the grab rail ---looks much better.
I want to see more pictures of the front please


Don't forget it's a 400 not a 600.
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 15 December 2013, 01:05:05 pm
 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Where do you get those "face plant" smiles.
I have never seen a 400 it look exactly the same --- is that how they come then - without the fairing.
And that infill - if you were to naked a 600 could you use that 400 one or adapt the 600 fairing infill   
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 15 December 2013, 02:19:14 pm
Thanks for the compliment :)

I don't know that you can swap them between the 400 and 600 but my local Yamaha dealers said they were looking at it while I was getting the forks done and couldn't see any real difference between the 400 and 600. They didn't put a 600 next to it but you know.

When I got the bike it had a horrible Givi rack on the back an no grab rail, I didn't take it off but I would have.

I don't have many pictures actually... Here are a couple.

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/spencer_foxwell/photo_zps0c666777.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/spencer_foxwell/media/photo_zps0c666777.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/spencer_foxwell/20130813_173526_zps229d0996.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/spencer_foxwell/media/20130813_173526_zps229d0996.jpg.html)

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/spencer_foxwell/20130824_104822_zps85a77eaa.jpg) (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/spencer_foxwell/media/20130824_104822_zps85a77eaa.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: fazersharp on 15 December 2013, 03:12:53 pm
I think I can see what it is-- it looks the same but unless you are a giant -everything is smaller except I think the wheels - thats why they look fat in proportion to the rest, and the rad looks big on the smaller, also the forks thick so I think they are shared with the 600. The frame maybe is smaller so it fits snug around the smaller engine.
Or is it the same engine -sleaved down ???
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: His Dudeness on 15 December 2013, 03:16:38 pm
There's a standard 400

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Yamaha%20FZ400%20Fazer%2097%20%201.jpg (http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Yamaha%20FZ400%20Fazer%2097%20%201.jpg)

The 600 is a copy of the 400 so its basically the same
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 15 December 2013, 03:20:07 pm
The tyres are over sized, I think the standard ones are meant to be 160 on the back and 110 on the front if I recall correctly. but I have 180 on the back and 120 on the front I think.

I'm not a giant but possibly too big for this bike I'm 6ft 2"

Dunno about the engine, there are other differences for example my clutch has 5 screws and springs and the 600 has 6 I believe.
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: Ebme Geek on 15 December 2013, 04:34:15 pm
I think the size of the rad and forks just look different because there's no faring and the rad guard is shiny, biggest diffs I see front calliper, and on that silver one, no grab rail but seat strap.

Has yours got holes for a rail in the top of the rear fairings ?  Or maybe the seat has bean recovered.

Then I am confused that your rear pegs are the rubber toped ones
Title: Re: Coolant change help please
Post by: spencer_foxwell on 15 December 2013, 04:53:08 pm
It's another seat I have the original too and that has a strap. I have no holes in the side of the rear fairing but I do have 2 holes just behind the back of the seat.

The front calipers are Brembo I dunno what the 600 has?