Coolant Reservoir Replacement

[kique]

Hi, I just wanted to ask if anyone knows who makes or sells this type of coolant reservoir tank; I stumbled upon it and wanted to know if anyone knew about it. Thanks!

[sooprvylyn]

It's a computer coolant reservoir.  You have to build them yourself.  Luckily, I just did it and can give you all the details:

1. You need the reservoir.  You can use any you like, but if you want one with metal caps on them, they can be hard to find, and you need one that is about 6" tall(might be 6.5" total room available with the hoses installed) or less in order to fit in the location you are looking at in your photo.  I used this one by  bykski(this seller has a few colors)...it was 200mm x 50mm in size....which it too tall, but it has the nice metal caps that are hard to find
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293215153268

Then I had to order a shorter one from the same manufacturer at 150mm x 50mm like this one, and swap the acrylic tube to make one small enough to fit the location:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801135139112.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller.1.1f5dkHP6kHP6oH&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.354490.0&scm_id=1007.40050.354490.0&scm-url=1007.40050.354490.0&pvid=f2552485-4403-4485-b445-8888d369876c&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.354490.0,pvid:f2552485-4403-4485-b445-8888d369876c,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238112%231997&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%2116.15%2114.21%21%21%2116.15%2114.21%21%40210318ec17374903196041473ecb1a%2112000029289928690%21rec%21US%21%21ABX&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A


2. After this, you need is fittings.  The fitting size is g1/4.  I used the plugs I got with the 2nd 150mm tube I ordered on aliexpress for most of the holes.  For the very top hole, I drilled a very small hole in one of the threaded g1/4 plugs.  YOu can buy g1/4 pressure valves, but I dont trust them as they are 1-way valves and will allow for a vacuum  to build in your system when the bike is cool.  Its better to have a small hole similar to how the OEM reservoir was so the system can breathe properly.  You will also need a g1/4 to 1/4"(or 6mm)  hose barb to connect it to the hose barb that comes off the OEM fill spout(next to the coolant cap). I recommend a straight barb fitting instead of the 90 degree one I used.  Use any water hose you want to connect them.  I have a clear braided pressure hose on mine in the pic below.

3. You will  need to fashion a bracket to hold this.  If you buy the 50mm reservoir, you can use this round bracket I found on ebay...it requires a little minor modification: https://www.ebay.com/itm/222530274748

-in addition, you will need to fabricate a small flat bracket to connect the round bracket to the frame.  I have a file you can send to sendcutsend.com if you want to do something pretty, or you can just make it in your garage out of 1/8" thick alloy sheet metal.

Here is what mine looks like


You can build it however you like, there are a lot of of these computer coolant reservoirs out there.  Most of them are 100% plastic, which is fine and they'll work, but finding a nice metal cap one like this is hard. Most of the metal cap ones look cheesy like some gamer nerd made it "tacticool". 

BTW, no, the acrylic will NOT overheat and crack or have any damage at all.  The overflow tank will ONLY be hot very briefly when the coolant initially enters the reservoir.  It will cool off VERY rapidly if there is already some coolant in that reservoir, and the metal caps will act as heat sinks to further cool it down.  After the coolant is in there, no more coolant will go in there, and it doesnt circulate with the coolant as the bike runs.  It will be 100% cool to the touch within minutes of filling up. Many people have used these computer cooling reservoirs as radiator pukes on custom builds.



The entire cost to build the one I build was probably about  $60 including the brackets and fittings.


Edit: BTW, I note that the pic you used has green coolant.  You'll see I used blue.  Dont mix them, use whatever your bike already has in it.  If you want to change the coolant color, you need to completely flush your system with distilled water a few times...nd make sure you remove the thermostat so you can flush the entire radiator(put it back once flushed).  I completely rebuilt my cooling system (including redoing pump seals and impeller), so my system was brand new when I chose the blue coolant(engine ice).

[sooprvylyn]

here is the black cap one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/372759361665


He also has a 100mm one that you MIGHT be able to use as is without buying the 150mm one if you are careful with your coolant levels as you fill the system...but 150mm is better. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296642763307

[kique]

Thank You!

[Kaos]

I do believe there was a shop in the usa selling these for honda's. Just google for clear motorcycle coolant reservoir.
IT DOES LOOK AWESOME THO.  but do keep in mind acids from the coolant -the stuff that prevents build up, corrosion and rust formation etc will affect the pvc or plexiglass.
so it might be advicable to create a mixture of demineralized water to keep it clear.
Also its an overflow so it has to stay in shape when warm.

[sooprvylyn]

I do believe there was a shop in the usa selling these for honda's. Just google for clear motorcycle coolant reservoir.
IT DOES LOOK AWESOME THO.  but do keep in mind acids from the coolant -the stuff that prevents build up, corrosion and rust formation etc will affect the pvc or plexiglass.
so it might be advicable to create a mixture of demineralized water to keep it clear.
Also its an overflow so it has to stay in shape when warm.

Definitely acids can effect the acrylic, but they need to be fairly strong to have much effect.  Most coolant is slightly akaline, but can change from contamination so def something to keep en eye out for.  If you are doing this mod, you are probably already changing fluids pretty regularly since it's cake for wrenchers.

There is no way this thick acrylic will heat up enough to warp or anything from the normal operation.  Its like 5mm thick.  The coolant entering the reservoir is certainly hot, but it doesnt circulate in the cooling system once its in the overflow. If there is already some coolant in there, as there should be, it will cool any hot fluid coming from the system instantly. But even if there isnt, it still wont stay hot long enough to cause an issue.  Using the metal cap version will also act as a heat sink, so I def recommend them over plastic end caps(may help the acrylic last longer).  Heat isnt a real concern for this unless you mount it in a place where it will catch excessive heat(more than the radiator radiates).

I do expect the acrylic will yellow and cloud over time if enough UV light gets to it.  NBD, easy and cheap to replace.