i have antifreeze on top of the skid plate under the engine.is this a seal problem?or is it something else?problem is on a 04 500 ho.it does not over heat the bike but i have to top it up every hour.

 

My radiator leaked at one time. I tried some of that alumiseal stuff and it didn't really help. It ended up being a leak from my drain **** valve. Replaced it and its hasnt leaked yet

 

check all your hoses! even that clear plastic one from the res.

you might get lucky and just have a clamp loose or a cut hose.

also check the brass fitting for the temp sensor.

X

 

antifreeze is coming out of a small hole under the engine.500 ho only has 2000 miles on it i think it is to soon for water pump to be going bad.anybody else have these problems?

 

just picked up my 500 today from the dealer and it was a bad water pump seal,he said it is a common problem if you go in the mud alot. just wondering if other 500ho owners had the same problem. i am thinking about plugging the weep hole to stop the mud from getting up there. good idea or bad idea ? ps-he said no 800 this year.

 

From what I've heard, plugging the weep hole won't do what you are wanting - they say that it is "contaminated" (meaning dirty water) getting in through the vent hole in the cap of the overflow resevior (little plastic bottle on left side that shows coolant level). Most people around my neck of the woods (including me) snorkle the cap with a small piece of tygon tubing running up to the frame.

 

If your leaking coolant from the hole under your water pump then you seal has gone. The only thing you can do is replace it. The problem comes when muddy water enters the weep hole and contaminates the mechanical seal. Most people take it to the dealer because a special tool is needed to remove the old seal. Not using the special tools will most likely end up bending the water pump shaft and to replace the shaft the engine case has to be split. Need I say more. The other alternative is to do as I did buy the special tool to remove the seal and make a special tool to install the new one.
Once you have replaced the mechanical seal it is a good idea to snorkel the weep hole. This can be done by tapering a piece of 1/4" stainless steel tubing approx 1" long whereas the tapered end will fit into the weep hole. Smear a little epoxy glue on the taper and put it in the weap hole tapping it gently with a hammer until tight. Now take a piece of clear plastic tubing and slide it over the SS tubing and elevate the free end fastening it to the frame, you will need to elevate it approx 6". This mod will extend the life of your seal many times over.

 

thanks alot for the ideas guys.

 

I just dropped my 04 600 this morning for the same fix. Seems like everybody at one time or another has or will have this happen. Next time I'm buying the tool. Truly another crappy design if mud does come in the weep hole. I've already snorkled the coolant bottle, I guess I'll have to do the same to the water pump. Makes you wonder what kind of test schedule they actually put these through. With only 700 miles you shouldn't have to spend $150 bucks to fix the water pump seal.