Vara Radiator Leak

[markincyberspace]

Boys and girls,

My friends Vara has inexplicably sprung a slow leak, in his lefthand radiator. It appears to be oozing at the bottom of the unit. The bike hasn’t received any traumas in the last year and a half, so it seems a little weird that it’s just started. My questions are:

1. Is this are common / well know fault with the Vara radiators?
2. How affective is ‘radweld’ and would that cure this problem?
3. How effective is the ‘egg’ method and would that cure this problem?

Thanks in advance…
Mark.

[Mr NiceGuy]

Mark, could be worth checking the jubilee clips are done up right as I know this is a problem on FI Vara's. I had this problem, arrived home with wet boots and sump guard, checked the clips and found them all requiring tightning.

As far as I am aware the radiators aren't an issue unless it has been dropped.

[markincyberspace]

Nice one Mr Niceguy....I'll pass that on....

[Chad]

as said by MNG there is no known problems with the rads ... but check of any signs of impact though he would have been very unlucky for that to happen...as for radweld i wouldnt chance it....best off with a second hand or new one.

[anton88]

I have read in buying reviews for SP1 that this is a common problem on the left hand side rads - the hose clips work loose - maybee same problem on some varas ?

[landyandy]

It's remarkable ... I haven't been on here in ages, as the Vara has been behaving itself.

Rode into work as usual this morning, and could smell the pending disaster that was hot coolant, accompanied by wet boot.

Whaddyknow... logon here, and it's 4th in the list.

Now, the next problem is do I ride it home tonight with the leak (52 miles), or get it relayed.

Obviously, I don't have the handbook to hand, so if someone can let me know where the resovoir is, then I'll know if its a weep or a leak.

Thanks.

[landyandy]

Hmm ... doesn't look like it has anything to do with jubilee clips etc ... definately seems to be leaking from the bottom of the radiator (the bit between the 'waffle' and the solid bit!). No sign of Rads on David Silver spares, so I'm off to Ebay for a nose about.

[Recycler]

If you can see the leak, rub a bar of soap over it.
It sets like concrete. I've used this method before on a VFR.

Not a long term fix but keeps you on the road.










And saves washing!

[landyandy]

Hi All,

Haven't been on here for ages - too much going on with work and life these days.

Anyway, dug the Varadero out of the garage last week after it's winter recess, and found today that once again I've sprung a leak in the nearside radiator again. Am guessing that this will require another replacement radiator (roughly £320), although getting hold of one in a hurry seems to be a pipedream.

Oh - the varadero's still going strong - starting to feel a bit 'secondhand', having done 55k miles, and god only knows when it was a) last serviced, b) last cleaned.

Apologies for being one of those types who only appears on forums when there's a problem .... I'll try to reform!

Cheers.

[Shiny]

I know it's an old thread, but my 08 Vara sprung a leak in the LH rad too (non fan side). Invisible to the naked eye, but once up to temp an ultra-fine jet of coolant streamed from one of the cores.

I took it to a mate of mine who is a dab hand with a TIG welder, he chopped a section off each end cap and then welded the leaking core closed at each end, before welding the cut end caps back on, and then pressure testing it. I did ask why he didn't just try welding the crack on the core but he said they're too thin to weld reliably.

I know I've lost one core capacity, but it's still more than up to the job of keeping the bike cool in 30+ deg temps so far.