Strange Coolant Leak

[zenbiker]

My 2007 Carpentered Classic was in storage all winter. Drove it home and all was well. I just started it up for jollies and coolant began to leak out from the rear of the engine. I can't seem to tell the source but is from the middle near the rear of the engine. This is not from the overflow tube, as far as I can tell. I did add coolant before I stored it and added coolant to the overflow tank but there was no drip when I rode it to the storage place nor was there any when I rode it home.
It seems like at least 4-6 ounces of coolant. I restarted it and after I shut it down...the drip happened again. I don't have a lift and so cannot get a good sight picture to see exactly the source.
started again...no leak.
What am I dealing with here?...ideas?
Thanks.

 

[Gothlander]

There is a coolant gallery plug at the back of the head on the right side that is known to leak.

 

[RocketandRollit]

Carpenter Rocket with a coolant leak you say?
Hmmm.... Sounds fatal.
Tell you what, I'll give you a couple of grand and take the problem off your hands.
I can probably part it out or something....:twisted:

 

[Navigator]

I was not aware that the 07 Classics were suitable for the Carpenter upgrade. That is, that only the the Roadsters with upgraded/stronger drive trains were.

 

[warp9.9]

I was not aware that the 07 Classics were suitable for the Carpenter upgrade. That is, that only the the Roadsters with upgraded/stronger drive trains were.

Allen Rothwell has been drag racing his 2005 Silverback for 2 years now down in Bristol TN/VA. Not a lot has changed in the tranny except second gear and maybe some better machining tolerances. Oh and the rear out put has sealed bearings in them now. but those are the changes that were in the update kit. There has been a few clutch component changes over the years but everyone is aware of that mostly lifter piece and pressure plate changes. The latest is a washer to take some of the slop out of the lifterpiece movement in and out of the tranny shaft. you can see it in the 2011 touring diagrams but not in the Roadster. It does take the slop out and also takes half the allowable wear off the fibers as the preesure plate will bottom out on the shaft brfore you hit minimum wears tolerances. its just a washer they added between the lifter piece and the wavey washer. I think they should have just gone with a taller wave washer to keep the lifter piece seated in the pressure plate bearing but what do I know?

 

[Willtill]

I was not aware that the 07 Classics were suitable for the Carpenter upgrade. That is, that only the the Roadsters with upgraded/stronger drive trains were.

Why would you be thinking that? Mine's an '08 Classic.

 

[Willtill]

Zen, this is the plug that Goth remarked about; do you see residual coolant around it (sometimes it looks white):



Mine used to seep slightly; but I applied a little more "torque" to it and it has since stopped; over two years or so ago.

 

[zenbiker]

Zen, this is the plug that Goth remarked about; do you see residual coolant around it (sometimes it looks white):



Mine used to seep slightly; but I applied a little more "torque" to it and it has since stopped; over two years or so ago.

Thanks, Will & Goth but it is bone dry. I started her up today and let it get up to fan temperature and no leak now. I looked under the bike with a flashlight and see no signs of coolant at all in the area from which it came yesterday. I don't get it.

 

[Blastedbones]

Sure it wasn't just overfilled & expanded the excess out when hot? 'course it should only come out thru the overflow tubes...less ya got a leaky overflow pipe/connection?

 

[zenbiker]

Sure it wasn't just overfilled & expanded the excess out when hot? 'course it should only come out thru the overflow tubes...less ya got a leaky overflow pipe/connection?

Bones...that may be the case but the bike was ridden and even up on the dyno for many runs getting the Tuneboy and Carpenter job in sync, after I last topped it of with no overflow. Are the overflow tubes the two big diameter hard rubber hose ends underneath..tucked way up?
I put my finger into these ends and found no sign of coolant.
I assume the overflow tubes connect to the reservoir so if it happens again, I'll check those connections but the coolant seemed to be dripping from only one small spot...not like it was leaking onto the engine. I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks all for the help!