[yojimbo_mt09]

I just bought my '22 MT-09 this past week and today I installed a radiator guard. Should have been a super simple install, but I think I royally effed up!

First, those plastic rivets are absolute trash. after finally discovering the light touch required to remove one, I still had to destroy one. Should have been smooth sailing from there.

After mounting my radiator guard, I put back in the bolts BEFORE mounting the brackets and both sides. FFFFFFFFFFFF---. I definitely over-threaded the top two bolts and I'm afraid of how much damage I did to my radiator. After realizing my mistake, I removed the bolts and mounted the brackets before putting the bolts back in (correctly this time).

Is my radiator destroyed beyond repair? How should I assess the damage? Is it safe to ride? Should I check for leaks after running the engine for few minutes? Should I monitor the temperature while idling and/or riding?

I feel like such an idiot!

Thanks!

Here's a diagram of the radiator and bracket. I basically put in the bolts (26) directly to the radiator (1) without mounting the bracket(s) (22) first. I'd say I over-threaded the bolts by 1/4 or 1/3 of an inch (the same thickness of the bracket where the bolts are applied.

 

[MT09 2014 Sweden]

I think I royally effed up!

Hi, and welcome!
I would run the bike without the radiator guards installed and check for leaks: First let the bike idle until the fan kicks in then, if no leaks, take it for a ride and see if its ok.

Good luck

 

[1216bandit]

If its not showing any leakage when you removed the bolt you may be ok. The hole in the rad may have been threaded deep enough that no damage was done. Did it require a lot of force to seat the bolt?

 

[FastKiegen]

The bolts shouldn't be long enough to cause a leak, If you wrecked the threads you can try chasing them with a tap. if the are too far gone try moving to a M8 thread or a heli coil.

 

[yojimbo_mt09]

I was about to just replace the rad altogether. It's $200 bucks on Partzilla. Glad I decided to ask y'all.

Hi, and welcome!
I would run the bike without the radiator guards installed and check for leaks: First let the bike idle until the fan kicks in then, if no leaks, take it for a ride and see if its ok.

Good luck

I checked for leaks today and took a ride. Big relief, no leaks!

If its not showing any leakage when you removed the bolt you may be ok. The hole in the rad may have been threaded deep enough that no damage was done. Did it require a lot of force to seat the bolt?

It was definitely harder at the end, I assumed it was cross-threaded or something. I'm a dumbass!

The bolts shouldn't be long enough to cause a leak, If you wrecked the threads you can try chasing them with a tap. if the are too far gone try moving to a M8 thread or a heli coil.

I believe you're right. The bolts weren't long enough to cause a leak. Threads seemed fine, I was able to tighten everything up after putting the brackets back on. I guess I just made thread a bit deeper and likely just warped the rad around the thread internally.

Lesson learned. Don't try and force things in too 😅. Thanks all.

 

[ridetofish]

Tragedy averted.

 

[W. Greg]

I just bought my '22 MT-09 this past week and today I installed a radiator guard. Should have been a super simple install, but I think I royally effed up!

First, those plastic rivets are absolute trash. after finally discovering the light touch required to remove one, I still had to destroy one. Should have been smooth sailing from there.

After mounting my radiator guard, I put back in the bolts BEFORE mounting the brackets and both sides. FFFFFFFFFFFF---. I definitely over-threaded the top two bolts and I'm afraid of how much damage I did to my radiator. After realizing my mistake, I removed the bolts and mounted the brackets before putting the bolts back in (correctly this time).

Is my radiator destroyed beyond repair? How should I assess the damage? Is it safe to ride? Should I check for leaks after running the engine for few minutes? Should I monitor the temperature while idling and/or riding?

I feel like such an idiot!

Thanks!

View attachment 173792

Here's a diagram of the radiator and bracket. I basically put in the bolts (26) directly to the radiator (1) without mounting the bracket(s) (22) first. I'd say I over-threaded the bolts by 1/4 or 1/3 of an inch (the same thickness of the bracket where the bolts are applied.

I had to remove the radiator guard that I installed on my 09 because it was restricting airflow and I did not like the high temperatures I was seeing on hot days. Try a mud flap on the front fender if you can find one.

 

[MT09 2014 Sweden]

A front fender extender help keep debris away from the radiator.

 

[W. Greg]

A front fender extender help keep debris away from the radiator.

Nice picture. Someone else agrees with me, how great. Now, where can I buy a nice one instead of the one I got at a bicycle shop?
I could have made half of a dozen fender extenders in the time and money wasted on the radiator guard.

 

[MT09 2014 Sweden]

where can I buy a nice one

Got that one of ebay. I think its this one, bought it many years ago. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2846448946...LYtviWzSuO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
A lot of options out there...

 

[W. Greg]

Got that one of ebay. I think its this one, bought it many years ago. Yamaha MT09 MT-09 MT 09 Tracer Carbon Fibre Fender Extender 15-20 Fenda Extenda | eBay
A lot of options out there...

Thanks, especially since a radiator guard that I purchased restricted air flow and needed to be removed for hot weather.

 

[Loosenut]

This is why when a member sold a NIB radiator that they ended up not needing for a deal, I jumped on it. It's like carrying a tube while off-road riding. If you have it, you never seem to need it.