Mystery oil leak

[willy dog]

Originally Posted by Jay In Milpitas

By the way Bob, I appreciate and respect the work you've shared on your site blog thingy.

X2 everyone should take a look at Bobs blog thingy i found it very helpful

[detours]

Originally Posted by bobrx3

I tightened up the hose clamp on the outlet of the thermostat housing which is where I think the leak was coming from. It wasn't real looks, but I got a turn or so on the adjustment. Tricky to reach, but a 1/4" socket on a long extension could just be snaked in from the left side.

Glad you found it. I hate leaks!

[SpudRider]

Coolant leaks can travel along strange, circuitous routes. I'm glad you solved the mystery leak, Bob.

[AZRider]

Originally Posted by detours

Glad you found it. I hate leaks!

As the owner of a BSA 250 and a Lambretta TV175 in my youth growing up in England, leaks were a way of life. Since moving to the States and owning multiple Japanese bikes, those days seem so far behind me. My RX-3 may leak, but I know that if I tighten something, the leak will stop. Wish I could have said that 50 years ago.

[bobrx3]

Originally Posted by AZRider

As the owner of a BSA 250 and a Lambretta TV175 in my youth growing up in England, leaks were a way of life. Since moving to the States and owning multiple Japanese bikes, those days seem so far behind me. My RX-3 may leak, but I know that if I tighten something, the leak will stop. Wish I could have said that 50 years ago.

Speaking as a Brit, the engineers of the 50s, 60s and 70s never really seemed to grasp the idea that fluids should stay inside the engine! They had vertically split crankcases and carbs that never seemed happy unless they were seeping fuel. They also seemed to have trouble with electricity and keeping fluids (like water) out of them.

I guess sometime in the 80s or later they caught onto the idea a gaskets that actually sealed and were made out of materials that didn't dissolve in oil or gas.

Apart from this one annoying drip, the RX3 has been very good. When I started it up after its winter hibernation (about 3 months here in Maine) it fired right up at the first touch of the starter.