Zero Knievel Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 If you struggle to get it off and on, that's a good sign. I don't know if mine "failed" performance-wise, but for a couple of years it seemed like a fight to remove and put it back on. It was always a tight fit, so I thought it was just me getting older. Well, this year, I left it off the bike for a few months after I flushed and drained the system for maintenance. I couldn't get the SOB to go back on for the longest time, and I looked and realized the "gasket" has swollen well past the metal surface it's supposed to seal. Ordered a new OEM one from Ron Ayers. Put it on this afternoon. Easy as pie. Had I realized this, I could have saved myself a lot of work years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 The more common failure is the pressure seal and often goes un-noticed until overheating and boiling happens. The cap seal you were fighting with only keeps fluid or air from leaking on the non-pressure side of the cap. Somewhat odd that it swelled, that usually only happens when they get exposed to oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Well, a 1998 bike, how many times it might have been wiped with a cloth or rag that had oil on it.... Might have just happened over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon haney Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Difficult on my 99's as well. You have to get the right push-and-turn action to get it off, and even then it's hard. You're just getting old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 My radiator has only been opened once in 16 years and 77K miles. I put Evans NevR boil in and forgot about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVLXX Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 You mean you're supposed to take that thing off and look inside??? Why?? Does the shit disappear when nobodies around? jk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon haney Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 You mean you're supposed to take that thing off and look inside??? Why?? Does the shit disappear when nobodies around? jk. No, but like engine oil, it will slowly loose it's lubrication and anti-corrosion properties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXBirdSlapper Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Mine was a major bitch to remove when I bought the bike. I used some brake cleaner and a dental pick to clean and remove the seal since it had swolen. Cap snaps right on now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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