I just got my first test ride in after doing quite a bit of work over the winter (porting, cams, suspension, etc). After pulling into the garage after a short ride around town I noticed a fairly substantial coolant leak from the water pump weep hole. A drip every couple of seconds. And if I rev it it will actaully squirt out a little bit sometimes. 45,000 miles and never once noticed even the smallest leak until now.

Could I have disturbed something when installing the right side case cover? I've reinstalled it succesfully many times in the past. I don't recall there even being anything there to screw up. It's pretty straight forward.

It seems odd to me that it would just all of a sudden leak that bad without any warning. And it sounds like these leaks fix themselves sometimes. Is that possible here?

My next question may be a little crazy... but what if I were to plug it? Just temporarily. With a little bit of JB weld or something. I haven't seriously thought about it yet but just curious if it is a bad idea or not. Would it cause any lubrication problems with the pump? It would be nice to get a few miles out of the gasket and oil before risking them. Plus get some more seat time to see if anything else needs attention before digging back in.

 

The weep hole is there to let it drain rather than pressurize back to the oil system (crankcase). I wouldnt plug it.

 

Your water pump seal is shot. Plugging the vent would not be a good idea.

 

Ok. Sounds like I wont be doing any plugging.

I just switched to straight water (deionized) this time around too. Haven't yet added Watter Wetter. Could water instead of other coolants play any role in the leak?

 

I don't remember exactly, but I think it weeping excessively is a sign of something with the water pump seal.
Here: https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...86/#post296358

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Figures...

Ordered parts the other day. And a few short rides later, the problem is completely gone!

 

Probably just some crud in the cooling system then. Flush the system & keep the seals till you need them.

 

wonder if mine would have gone away, lol. it started to leak out just like yours, bike was fine last year. this year it was leaking. we pulled it all apart already and hammered the crap out of the case. actually i know it was messed up the seals were toast in there and came out in pieces when we started to take them out