Leaking coolant need help finding

kinger

kinger

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Clear Lake, IA
Hey guys,

I think my Viper is leaking a little coolant. It appears to have new coolant around the cover that is at the bottom and front of the engine under the mag cyl, that is where the fresh green coolant is anyway. (see pict)I havn't pulled it apart yet but is there a gasket or something in there that needs to be replaced? I'm going to be adding the rear exchanger this summer and I might as well get any gaskets and stuff I need at the same time so I only have to bleed the sucker once. Any common problems at this location I should look for. Its a real slow leak, about a 1/2" from the level line every 500-600 miles. Thanks
 

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Sounds like the seal behind the water pump impeller is leaking. Had the same problem last year and replaced it in summer and doesn't leak anymore. When it did leak it was only a few drop here and there.


Wolfman
 
I'd, bet money on it. It's the mechanical seal for the impellar. Best thing to do, is a search on this wesite. Use the word coolant, or waterpump. You will find the info your seeking. Soc
 
That may be a warranty item if it is the shaft seal. There was a tech bulletin on it in '02.
 
OK thanks guys, my warranty just expired so I'll order it up and replace this summer. While I'm at it any benefit in getting a new O-ring? Thanks again
 
You my want to. Sometimes when you pull it off the cover the gasket sticks and streches and then it makes it really hard to put it back together.


Wolfman
 
My friends AC ZL600 leaked out a bunch of anti-freeze after a frozen lake crossing. Must have gotten scared. We installed a small litter box underneath and about every hundred or so miles we empty the box. There is talks of upgrading next year to one of those fancy automatic empty litter boxes with the little comb.
 
I would replace the gasket too. I just went through this a couple months ago on my 700MM. The waterpumps look very similar. Some people talk about having to remove the motor, my dealer even said they remove the mounts,carbs etc. and tilt the motor to get at the seal. This means you have to realign everything on reassembly. All I had to do was remove the hood, exhaust, and the motor mount right in front of the impeller. Drain the fluid and remove the pump cover and impeller. then take a pair of needle nose and remove the center rubber/spring part of the mech. seal. Now take an old flat screwdriver that will fit in the slots around the outside of the metal part of the seal. use a vise and bend just the flat part of the screwdriver alittle more than 90deg. or until you can place it in the lower slot and get leverage. use this for the lower slot and a flat screwdriver for the upper slot and work it out. This works great, mine popped right out. Just be careful not to damage the race the seal fits in. Also, when installing the new seal find a piece of PVC pipe or something similar that is the same cirumferance of the seal, cut a piece about an inch or so long and use this to carefully tap the new seal in. Reassemble and bleed. Hope this helps! Soc
 
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If their was a TSB issued for the problem. As long as this service has never been done, Yamaha is still responsible to due the service weather its under warrenty or not. At no cost to you.
 
their is no service bulletin for these, it is just a somewhat common problem, moreso on the 2001 non ypvs 700s, but its the same waterpump on the srx and viper as well, and some of those have problems too. It CAN be done with the engine still in the chassis, but for the little bit more work it takes to pull it out and get it up on a bench where everything is easy to get at, i think it is well worth it to pull it out. I have done a few of thse now, and its not too bad, just make sure that when pulling the old mechanical seal housing out, that you don't damage the race on the waterpump housing, because then you would have to get a new lower case, not fun. They have a special heat activated polymer on them that makes them stick in there pretty good, so you pretty much have to bend the old one all to hell when pulling it out, but that is fine as long as you don't damage anything else. I find it easiest to just crush the gasket in from each of the slots so that it pulls away from the housing, and then pull it out with a pliers. To get the new one in, use a socket or piece of pvc pipe that is about the same size as the seal. MAKE SURE YOU PUSH IT IN STRAIGHT. It is a tight fit and a little hard to get straight. Make sure you use a good dab of loc tite on the impeller bolt when you reinstall it, or it will back out and then impeller will push off, rubbing against the water pump cover.
 
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