[SteelCityVROC]

That might well be a design issue, but there's definitely a dent in that tank near that tear. I'm pretty sure the factory didn't do that.

And you're exactly right. This was the first time the radiator was ever removed since I bought it as a 2008 leftover in 2009. The bike has never been in any sort of accident whatsoever. That was concerning and probably one of the reasons this happened over the years. I'd consider an aftermarket radiator if something like that exists. I just can't afford a $450 brand new one.

 

[VulcanDrifter]

So, I've been through a couple of hose tightening cycles and I thought I had the leak resolved but I was out for about a 1000 Km's of riding over last week's hot (for this local) weekend and the coolant is dropping again. The coolant is defiantly not disappearing as much as it was so I guess the hose tightening is working but I'm not sure how much more tightening the clamps will take before bursting.

This is very frustrating, no obvious leaks or signs of leaks, no coolant smell or any odd exhaust smell, no coolant in oil (just changed it on the weekend). I'm stumped!

 

[bud dakota]

lowe's sells a hose clamp torck wrench i think it tightens to 15 foot pounds works great its about 6 bucks

 

[diesal3287]

I'm having some what same issue. Bought a 05 kawasaki vulcan 800. With 4000 miles. Guy had it way to rich. After some adjustments and 10 mpg more it's smoking white more out of tailpipe at idle. After it has been running for good bit I turn it off to stop and when I start it it smoke something fierce but goes away when I drive. It's only the front engine I took the exhaust off and got a light smell of sweet coolant. But the plug looks good. Has the burn that it needs. Coolant hasn't dropped much if any. I did take off valve cover then and reseal ed around the reeth. I cleaned pipes and exhaust port and so far on 25 miles nothing. But I know it will be back. Hoping not head gasket but want some ideas. Thanks guys.

 

[Mousedaddy]

Guys got a problem.... i went for a 60 ,ile ride yesterday and checked the header and the res and no water.... there is nothing comming out of the tail pipe and the oil look good so what do you think... like to sort it before the engine goes kaput... it only has 29k on the clock and its a 99 1500 Nomad... please help im at a loss to what it is..

 

[Cowboy Bob 11]

Hello Fellow Bikers,
My wife and I came back from a short ride and decided to clean our 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad because it was a dusty road trip...While in the process I discovered dried coolant on the left hand side of the engine and down into the frame... It wasn't there when we left... I immediately removed the side cover to check fluid level and the level was midway between the high and low marks which I concluded was reasonable... It was still early afternnoon so I decided to take it to my local dealer and have Sam the head mechanic check to see where it was coming from, somewhere from atop of the engine...He was unable to determine where the leak came from wiothout removing the tank and being the busiest time of the year asked me to leave it with him and if he had some spare time he would jump right on it...That was Thursday April 28th, 2016... He called several days later and explained that the small rad hoses were both leaking and in need of replacement, however the one hose was back ordered and had no idea when it would arrive...I hoped it would be ready for friday May 13th, becaused that is one of the biggest bike gatherings in southern Ontario and both my wife and I were looking forward to the trip...Well life is full of disappointments... Anyway it was scheduled to be in the shop this coming week for a full rad flush and new anti-freeze because I had purchased the bike used and over the course of the winter I had cleaned the breather, changed the plugs, oil and filter and cleaned the other oil screen so as to have a baseline for a maintenace preventative maintenance schedule... Hoping all the other minor fluid changes go smoothly this season... Just needed an ear or two to rag on... Thanks for listening...
Bob

 

[rbentnail]

Hello Fellow Bikers,
My wife and I came back from a short ride and decided to clean our 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad because it was a dusty road trip...While in the process I discovered dried coolant on the left hand side of the engine and down into the frame... It wasn't there when we left... I immediately removed the side cover to check fluid level and the level was midway between the high and low marks which I concluded was reasonable... It was still early afternnoon so I decided to take it to my local dealer and have Sam the head mechanic check to see where it was coming from, somewhere from atop of the engine...He was unable to determine where the leak came from wiothout removing the tank and being the busiest time of the year asked me to leave it with him and if he had some spare time he would jump right on it...That was Thursday April 28th, 2016... He called several days later and explained that the small rad hoses were both leaking and in need of replacement, however the one hose was back ordered and had no idea when it would arrive...I hoped it would be ready for friday May 13th, becaused that is one of the biggest bike gatherings in southern Ontario and both my wife and I were looking forward to the trip...Well life is full of disappointments... Anyway it was scheduled to be in the shop this coming week for a full rad flush and new anti-freeze because I had purchased the bike used and over the course of the winter I had cleaned the breather, changed the plugs, oil and filter and cleaned the other oil screen so as to have a baseline for a maintenace preventative maintenance schedule... Hoping all the other minor fluid changes go smoothly this season... Just needed an ear or two to rag on... Thanks for listening...
Bob

Yeah Bob, it happens. As careful as I am with maintenance seemsas things get older things fail. My bike too is an '07 and with 87,000 miles she's beginning to show some age: a drip here, a weep there. Nothing major yet but that comes from diligence and quick reaction like yours.

 

[T Gibbs]

I was on my 2012 Voyager last weekend. I got a whiff of coolant smell a couple of times. I guess I need to check the hose clamps.

 

[kawvul]

My 2013 Vulcan 900 Custom that was purchased new from a dealer has < 7000 miles on the odometer.






















I noticed that coolant is seeping out of the coolant drainage outlet beneath the impeller on the right side of the crankcase so coolant must be leaking past the mechanical seal.
I am going to replace the mechanical seal and the impeller seal which can be done without removing the engine from the frame.




While I have the clutch cover off I am also going to replace the oil seal for the clutch release lever shaft.
It is not leaking but I want to replace it while the clutch cover is removed.

 

[kawvul]

My 2013 Vulcan 900 Custom has < 7000 on the odometer.
A little bit of coolant is leaking out of the drainage outlet (not the tapped M6 X 1 coolant drainage hole) beneath the impeller on the right side of the crankcase.
The leak is caused by coolant leaking past the mechanical seal and out through the drainage outlet
So I am going to replace the water pump's mechanical seal and impeller seal.
And although it is not leaking I am also going to replace the oil seal for the clutch release lever shaft while the clutch cover is removed.
Have you experienced or do you know of premature failure of the water pump's mechanical seal or impeller seal?

 

[pjarhead]

I see this thread is pinned but has been dormant. I have a 2015 Vaquero that has been giving off a coolant smell at the end of my commute - nothing visible but that odor is unmistakable. Mentioned it when I had the tires and brake pads replaced. Mechanic said he had to top up the coolant and tightened all the hose clamps. 2 days later, I was getting that smell again. Looking through this thread it appears Kawasaki's leak coolant like Harley's leak oil. Is this systemic? A 'feature' - slowly leaks out so over time the coolant is eventually replaced so you don't have to flush/fill? Anyone else with a later model that is having this same issue?

 

[rbentnail]

First- Systemic? I don't think so. After all, the Honda I had had 2 hose clamp weepers and the Yamaha I have now oozes a little from a clamp when put up hot on a cold evening. I've tried everything except gluing the hose on but when the temp gets down to about 25*F it weeps a little.

As you say, this thread has been dormant for quite some time. Hopefully it's b/c later models don' leak much. Or it could be that folks just didn't post up that they did. And it could be that yours is just "special". So go in & tighten the hose clamps when things are cold. Changing the style of clamp used to a thinner width worm screw type stopped the weeps completely on my 1500 Classic.