[Derek680rider]

I recently picked up a 2012 Rincon 680 and after riding it for a little bit I notice the smell of antifreeze. I'm having a hard time narrowing down the location where it's coming from. Oil is clean, antifreeze is clean. Compression check is at 70[7k miles on it]. I was using the guage with the tapered rubber end and you shove it down in the hole, so may have been a slight blowby, but numerous tests put it at 69-70. I'm not seeing the antifreeze level in the overflow jug get lower, but I don't ride it very much. Hose ends look good and dry. The weep hole hose is gone, but the end of the pipe that sticks out of the waterpump looks barely damp. Any ideas where else to check?

 

[retro]

I have never even seen a 680 yet, but if it were my machine I would be tearing down the water pump with a complete rebuilt kit in hand, if I even felt there might be trouble in the future. Once the mechanical seal starts seeping, the shaft bearing goes... then the shaft wobbles and coolant gets into the motor oil generally, and takes out the entire motor.

I consider water pump rebuilds as being a part of routine maintenance. Never, ever run them until they start leaking... you can't afford to. I recommend replacing the shaft bearings along with the mechanical seal every time you rebuild one. Don't ever put china made parts in them either... you can't afford to.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[sabre54]

It's possible the person who sold you the machine spilled some coolant around the engine at some point. Another place to check for a leak is on the cylinder head where the temperature sensor plugs in and at the thermostat.

 

[Derek680rider]

It's possible the person who sold you the machine spilled some coolant around the engine at some point. Another place to check for a leak is on the cylinder head where the temperature sensor plugs in and at the thermostat.

Thanks, I'll look at the head and see if I can find where these are.

 

[SamUK]

A good solution to this is to purchase some UV dye and a UV torch, run it through the system and then shine your torch around, you'll find that leak without a doubt.

Also, 70 (I'm guessing psi) seems very low, did you have the throttle wide open? It HAS to be wide open to get a correct reading. I understand that it is difficult also to get a good reading with the rubber 'push-in' type.

 

[Derek680rider]

I was not wide open throttle. I read 74psi was normal, so I didnt think 70psi sounded bad with 7k miles.

 

[SamUK]

I was not wide open throttle. I read 74psi was normal, so I didnt think 70psi sounded bad with 7k miles.

The compression ratio is 9.2:1 from new. The manual says to warm up the engine, disconnect the coil (spark plug cap/lead), open the throttle valve fully and crank for 4 to 7 seconds. A good reading would be 74 psi and would also assume your decompression device on the cam IS working as it should be.