Guest jampot Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 I have a 2014 NC750s, and am looking to buy and fit a new radiator myself. Anyone know where I can buy one and how much it would cost? I bought the bike second hand with no radiator guard or fender extender fitted. The fins are badly clogged up the centre and there is some damage to other fins, about 10% of the total. If I take it off I'll try to unclog it and maybe see about replacing the damaged fins, if thats even possible. Link to post
steelhorseuk 1,690 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) Give it a good clean and refit it. Then fit a new RAD Guard. It will cover the damage and act to stop anymore damage. Much cheaper solution that replacing the whole Rad mate! -Mark- Edited June 28, 2017 by Smudger Link to post
Guest jampot Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 I've found a seller in Ireland, £350 new. Was looking at what second hand rads are going for. Sellers are asking for £200 or thereabouts for battered ones. MIne isn't that bad. The damage to the vanes seems more to do with careless cleaning. There are no impacts from stones. The bike is otherwise flawless condition. I'm a bit OCD unfortunately, a common malady of motorcyclist enthusiasts. Anyway, I'm going to buy a new one and if anyone wants my old one make me an offer. I'll post pictures when the new one is fitted, and soak it to unclog the centre vanes. Anyone know the particulars about refilling with coolant? Link to post
embee 7,288 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 I find the NC fills very easily, no secrets. Just add the fresh coolant slowly, squeeze the bottom hose a few times to agitate it which will dislodge any trapped air. When nearly full you can start the bike which will circulate the coolant round the bypass circuit (basically the engine/pump/thermostat, all except the radiator itself) and purge any air which will come out of a bleed hole in the thermostat itself. Stop the engine, top up to full, fit cap, top up reservoir bottle and that's it. Check the level in the bottle after a couple of hot/cold cycles to be sure, it may have taken a little back in when it cools down. Just make sure you use a silicate free coolant, plenty of discussions on this. Link to post
Ralph 67 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 You could probably have it re-furbished at a radiator specialist. Most towns have a place that can do this and they come out as good as new. Well for cars, but the construction is the same... 3 Link to post
Guest Mac750 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 As Ralph says above, a motor radiator company can re core bikes, cars or larger rads. I had a 1962 rad re cored the cost was £120 plus vat and was as good as new. Most large towns have a rad company or two and turn around is about 5 working days in average. Link to post
Defender 3,837 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Alternatively you could look in the back of the motorcycle publications as there are some motorcycle specific classic and restoration related titles as there are specialists that do this or will replicate a radiator in alloy if required? Link to post
djsb 491 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Don't forget these are aluminium radiators. If anyone finds a company that can repair these please let us know as I have my original damaged radiator and a used one I bought. Finally bought a new one as didn't want to risk having a radiator burst on me. 1 Link to post
TJW 44 Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 I've noticed that the radiator on my NC700X is starting to corrode quite a bit (after 22.500 miles in 5 years). First I thought it's only at the bottom of the sides (on one of which I had a bit of a dent probably created by some flying debris, etc.) but after closer inspection I found the paint also bubbles up around the filler cap, etc. Somebody I know said to drain and dismantle it, sand it down properly, heat it up with a blowtorch and use yellow oxide primer prior to painting it ... anybody having any thoughts on this? Link to post
Mr Toad 9,022 Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 On 29/06/2017 at 20:40, djsb said: Don't forget these are aluminium radiators. If anyone finds a company that can repair these please let us know as I have my original damaged radiator and a used one I bought. Finally bought a new one as didn't want to risk having a radiator burst on me. http://radiator-repair.co.uk/custom-aluminium/motorcycle-radiators/ 1 Link to post
Guest bonekicker Posted October 28, 2017 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Don't let radiators corrode spray with WD40 regularly to stop it happening--bad maintenance cost money to replace these expensive items. Link to post
Defender 3,837 Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 On 27/10/2017 at 16:18, TJW said: I've noticed that the radiator on my NC700X is starting to corrode quite a bit (after 22.500 miles in 5 years). First I thought it's only at the bottom of the sides (on one of which I had a bit of a dent probably created by some flying debris, etc.) but after closer inspection I found the paint also bubbles up around the filler cap, etc. Somebody I know said to drain and dismantle it, sand it down properly, heat it up with a blowtorch and use yellow oxide primer prior to painting it ... anybody having any thoughts on this? I know my radiator is now missing some paint on both end tanks, I will need to do something about this issue at some point. I would remove it and after rubbing down and a coat of suitable primer use some VHT paint on it. Link to post
Guest DelBoy Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 On 10/28/2017 at 05:42, bonekicker said: Don't let radiators corrode spray with WD40 regularly to stop it happening--bad maintenance cost money to replace these expensive items. ACF 50 better. The paint corroded at the sides of mine, had to rub down & respray. Ok now but do use the ACF 50 after every clean. Link to post
TJW 44 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 On 10/27/2017 at 13:32, Mr Toad said: http://radiator-repair.co.uk/custom-aluminium/motorcycle-radiators/ Had a chat with them about my radiator problem (paint flaking off) and they quoted £90 to £120 (incl. VAT) for fixing it (shotblasting, cleaning, powerflush and painting). They don't use any primer though (apparently it's too bad a heat conductor) and paint it with radiator paint only. Decided against it and will take on project of draining it, dismantling it, sanding flaky parts off, dry it out with blowtorch, prime it with zinc oxide primer and then paint it with radiator pain ... Link to post
commuter 262 Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Aluminium is a good conductor of heat and is light weight and is a relatively cheap material. Aluminium corrodes and throws off paint at seemingly every opportunity. There are your pros and cons. Painting aluminium rads once corroded is dificult since they are so hard to clean up properly. An etch primer is good to use on aluminium since it helps the paint to stay on. The heat which a radiator handles on the other hand, helps to remove whatever paint one tries to apply. Aluminium radiators are, in short, a very necessary evil which at best has to be tolerated. The refurb option seems to be the best since those guys reclaim and refurb the headers and re-core the radiator with new material. Link to post
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