Filling cooling system - where and how?

[cringer]

Is it ok to fill coolant via radiator cap or should it only be done through filler bottle under tank?

How do I raise the tank? I haven't got my Haynes to hand

Thanks

[Paul the 6th]

have you completely emptied the system or just topping up?

If topping up, then I'd just top up the reservoir bottle thingy. If you've completely drained then I'd seal the system back up, fill the radiator full to the brim with new coolant, run the engine while it gets upto temperature and then top up the coolant bottle reservoir if it needs anymore..

Be extremely careful if the engine is hot as the coolant or steam will burn you when undoing radiator cap/reservoir lid.

If I remember rightly, to lift the tank you'll need to remove the seat which involves removing those black plastic panels below and to the sides of the seat (allen key or hex head), then undo the two allen/hex headed nuts which hold the seat in place - should lift off easily.. Once this is done, undo the two bolts at the front of the tank near the headstock. You should then be able to prop the tank up using the tank prop (usually under your seat) or if previour owner has removed it, a large spanner should do the trick.

I'm not 100% but I'd have thought the coolant reservoir would be to one side of the bike (possibly nearside) to make life easy when topping up?

[cringer]

Cheers. I'm just topping up. Although I only need to put a tiny amount in to bring it above th L Mark. So can I not do this thru the rad cap? Thanks for help. P.s. I'm only checking b4 I go to the trouble of raising tank.

[Paul the 6th]

guess it depends on how 'tiny' the gap is under the 'low level marker'.. If it's litteraly a couple of millimeters then taking the radiator cap off to have a quick look wouldn't hurt, but the neck of the radiator will be really narrow in comparison to the cross sectional surface area of the coolant bottle/tank (I almost sound like I know what I'm on about there lol)... A few ml's in the radiator neck compared to a few cl's in the coolant bottle to bring it up to the marker are a little bit different.

Hope some of my waffling helps a bit :)

[cringer]

Cheers

[Sid Squid]

If you're not sure about the coolant levels look in the rad, if that's not brimming fill it up, and then lift the tank and top up the expansion tank.

To lift the tank:

Remove both side panels, each has a 4mm socket head bolt and a clip/rivet popper at the rear.
Remove the seat, two 6mm socket bolts.
Remove the two 4mm socket bolts at the front of the tank.
Under the rear seat there should be a metal rod which is for propping up the tank, one end goes into either bolt hole at the front of the tank, and the other goes to the top yoke centre nut.