Radiator, any tips on removing, draining etc please...

[Ropehead]

Hello,
The kettle is on. I purchased my first bike , 1993 cb400 super four, at the weekend. Mechanically very sound
though a good clean and touch up to paint work wont go a miss. Im going to take the radiator off this weekend to
clean it up and repaint it. Anyone have any useful hints or tips to do with removing, draining, filling and remounting the radiator as like most of us I dont have a manual for it.
Thanks in advance.

[frogdon]

There's a few general guides on the Internet, but there's a bit of SuperFour spcific stuff here:
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=15925&p=111086&hilit=flush#p111086

I've just done mine, but didn't flush it (I think you should, but I didn't realise that when I was doing it ). Once you've flushed it, turn it off, top up the coolant bottle on the side to max, then top the coolant up (at the tap by the rad) until it's brimming. Fondle your pipes to get air out. You'll need to repeat this bit a few times until it's pretty full.

then run it until it's warm, and blip the throttle to 5k RPM three times. Turn off, let it cool down, and top up the coolant at the Rad again.

There are better guides on the Internet (and on this forum) from people who know, but that's the gist.

HTH.

[Superjack44]

The coolant is a mixture of 50/50 silicate free antifreeze and distilled water.
If the bolts holding the fan on are seized remove the radiator with the fan attached dont try and free the bolts with the radiator in situ otherwise the fan mounts are easily broken if corroded and seized

[Ropehead]

Thanks for the info on that.After a good clean that will be the first job to be done.
Going to give the radiator a new coat of paint as well while at it as its a bit flakey
at the moment.