Weeping 89

[1982vette]

I just returned from a 2000 mi trip on my trusty 1989 Venture. I was close to Canada so the mornings were chilly! Each morning when I would get to the bike there would be a spot, about the size of a small plate, of antifreeze under the right side of the motorcyle. I would top off the expansion tank and about 5 minutes later the leaking stopped and would not appear until the next morning. Now I am back in the Midwest and it has not leaked a drop since I returned. Any ideas?

[skydoc_17]

Because the water pump seal has been in there for over 20 years, on those chilly mornings, you can very well see a spot like that. The size of a dinner plate is a tad on the big side, it's usually the size of a silver dollar. This is a clue that your water pump seal is tired. There is a bit of a trick to rebuilding these water pumps, but if you are not "heavy handed" and have average mechanical skills, it USUALLY goes pretty well. A lot of the VMAX guys just install a new water pump because they can't afford to have their high performance engines fail due to a leaky water pump. I have had mixed success rebuilding them myself. Personally, it's a "pocket book" thing, if you can afford the new pump, you will get another 20+ years out of your bike, but if you are financially challenged then the rebuild will save you quite a bit of money, that is as long as the rebuild works! There is nothing worse than rebuilding the pump, having it leak, and then springing for the new pump anyway.

Just some things to decide on,

Earl