radiator cap leak

[Dakota11]

I took a picture of it, but It won't upload right now.

After having put all the parts back together, from changing spark plugs, oil and all that, I noticed when I turned the bike on it starts dripping green fluid from the radiator cap. No idea why. Only time Ive messed with the cap was about a week ago when I was curious how to get the cap off, never did, but i don't know what I did to the cap, but its now leaking. When I push down on it, the dripping stops. Any ideas what I can do. Really don't want to buy a new radiator for something that is probably fixable.

[Dakota11]

any help here?

[redisdeadrideblue]

Are you sure its on correctly and properly seated with both tabs holding it? If it is, and it still leaks, replace it.

[r3x1mu5]

http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/...delyearid=2445

edit: sorry the links not working. if you go to motosport.com, they have radiator caps for 20 bucks.

[Dakota11]

Originally Posted by redisdeadrideblue

Are you sure its on correctly and properly seated with both tabs holding it? If it is, and it still leaks, replace it.

Yeah should be, I took it off and put it back on. Its kinda wierd I can press on it, and there's minimal space between the cap and filler neck, yet it seems to stop the dripping when I do press down on it. Nothing on the filler neck looks bent enough to cause a leak. I did use a screw driver (didn't know what I was doing) to get the cap off last week, but even after that it doesn't look like it bent anything, just kinda scratched.

Thanks R3, i checked it out.

[redisdeadrideblue]

Originally Posted by Dakota11

Yeah should be, I took it off and put it back on. Its kinda wierd I can press on it, and there's minimal space between the cap and filler neck, yet it seems to stop the dripping when I do press down on it. Nothing on the filler neck looks bent enough to cause a leak. I did use a screw driver (didn't know what I was doing) to get the cap off last week, but even after that it doesn't look like it bent anything, just kinda scratched.

Thanks R3, i checked it out.

NEver use a screwdriver on any part of an aluminum radiator besides the hose clamp.... never. Its a pressurized system that needs pressure to work correctly.

[Dakota11]

Oh its got pressure. Coming out of the cap. Though it could be a pinched overfill hose, but doesn't look like it. My question is now, why isn't it going into the overfill hose? which would then stop it from coming out of the top. Its more like a rapid drip when the bike is on, and it did seem like the longer I left the bike on, the less it dripped. Like the initial pressure was too much, so it had to come out the top. Im confused on this

[DRossi]

I have you tried pushing it down and trying to turn it clockwise a little more? You may not have it all the way locked in place. If it is in place then you probably warped the cap or the radiator (with the screw driver) just enough to cause it to leak under pressure.

[Dakota11]

Ive tried that, but Im gonna give it one more shot today. Im hoping I didn't do what you said. I wouldn't think the little I did with the screw driver would have warped it. I looked it over, and the cap looks fine to me

[redisdeadrideblue]

Hey, sometimes those caps wear out too, which is why the sell replacements. Make sure you got it on tight and completely to the stops, especially if it doesn't come off very often.