coolant issues/ engine rebuild.

• 

  The_Great_T1D

  7/1/26, 5:09 PM

  I have a 2004 honda shadow 600 vlx. I have installed a Jack Daniels bottle as the coolant overflow resivor. I was wondering if anyone has any pointers to what kind of coolant I should use. Coolant leaked between the cylinder and the head on the rear cylinder when I was refilling the bike, so I'm sure it's could be warped. I also pulled the thermostat out and test it to see if it worked but It didn't even open at 170-200 F. So I'm planning on getting a new thermosat. I'm also wondering if because I'm using the Jack Daniels bottle that the coolant system has been depressurized: lowering the boiling point of the coolant. therefore that's why I dont know what kind of coolant to get. I was thinking about using a waterless coolant but I'm not 100% sure.

   

  On top of all the coolant issues. I'm also doing rebuild on the engine. The rear cylinder is possibly warped, and the front piston has scrap marks from "piston slap". I cant attach photos because the photos arent in this device. But the piston wear isn't bad, looks like an early catch before it got worse. My train of thought is to measure the piston, measure the inner diameter of the cylinder, hone the cylinder and get a slightly larger set of piston rings. If this were to do this should I also do it to the other cylinder or leave it as is. Another question I had was if I have the rear cylinder machine down to fix the warpping issue should I also have the front cylinder machine down. 

  Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. :) 

  1 likes 0 likes Liked Like

  ---

  2
  Posts

  26
  Views

  Reply

  ---

• 

  Moderator

  Moderator

  Member who has the rights to delete posts, and ban members form forum if they violate the rules.

  TJ Admin Staff member

  7/6/26, 4:35 PM

  @The_Great_T1D I highly doubt your heads are warped. but - places top check for leaks that are normal on an older molested bike. theres two chrome tubes that go into the cylinders that have o rings that may need replacing. the "water pipe" that connects the two jugs at the confluence of the engines V shape also has o-rings, they can be changed without pulling the motor using long tweezers and needlenose pliers. 
  
  dont use glass for an overflow. one tiny rock hits it and youve got problems. if you fully house it in metal thats fine but dont leave it exposed towards the front of the bike. 😎
  You want to use Coolanol coolant. you can get it on amazon. 
  
  

  if youre gonna pull the engine, might as well check everything. no use pissing your time away doing one, putting it back and then discovering you have to do the other one LOL 

  DO FUN SHIT!
  Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

  0 likes 0 likes Liked Like

  ---