Modern Vespa

Anyone else see a drip after a freeze in this spot? Right in between the feet of the center stand, but a few inches forward. It's oily, but it's very clear. I did just spray a bunch of wd40 trying to free up a sticky center stand, so idk if that's contributing. It so far has only been noticed after a freeze and so far only when it's been uncovered. You can see the spot it's dripping from, with one more drip hanging on. Thoughts? Water pump? How concerned should I be?

Alright, definitely looks like a leak. Sigh. Anyone have any insight?

that's coolant for sure. check your upper hose where it attaches to the thermostat housing the clamps there are are a known culprit. if not there then double check the other hoses that attach to the head and barrel and look for any leaks.

if any of that doesn't fix it, then you're probably looking at a head gasket.

but the first step is sussing out where it's actually leaking from

good luck!

Thanks Greasy. I've got the start of a checklist at least. Fingers crossed for clamps and not head.

This is the one yea? Looks pretty clean around to me.

that's probably your culprit right there. investigate further, but my money would be on that as the primary source.

Moist. It looks moist.

you know what, it does look moist.

moist. funny word huh? moist. just sounds funny, ya know.

moist

and when you say it, how is it "moist" or is it "mmmooooiiiiissss-t"?

ya know, some people don't like that word. moist. just can't stand the sound of moist. just totally repelled. funny.

Around the hose clamp and coolant temp sensor wire. My money's on the bleed valve.

good catch! I'd take some side action on that, especially if it's had a coolant flush and bleed in the past. it's showing a little funk at the base of the t-stat housing as well, but nothing egregious.

my money is still on the clamp, all that is moist front to back and that's a ton of drip for is just to be the bleeder and not have any witness trail to speak of.

but such as it is sometimes with coolant leaks, you chase the big stuff only to get fooled by a little bleeder that justttt-t loose enough ruin your day.

Speaking moistly... a moment in canadian history.

Forgive my ignorance–I'm okay mechanically but inexperienced. Is my next step to wipe everything down dry and see where the moisture pops back up? I'll be taking it in soon for its 12k service but don't want to ride it 300 miles until I can rule out a leaking head - Don't exactly want it to blow on me. It had a coolant flush around 6k.

EDIT: Possessive its gets no apostrophe.
Remember:

Just give it a quick wipe down and then start 'er up. I'm guessing you'll be able to see (from above) where the coolant is coming from. If your not sure or have trouble spotting it, just dab a paper towel around until you find it.

Or use the foot/talcum powder trick, applying it to the suspect areas and see where the moistness is coming from.

I'd replace the hose clamp as a matter of course. then clean everything really well and see if you can ascertain where it is leaking if it still is leaking.

Sounds good. I assume some coolant is gonna flop out of there, and I should bleed the bubbles back out after, yea?

I'd just leave the hose connected and R&R the clamp in situ

might have a little dribble, but that's it.

For an honest second there, I forgot you could open clamps all the way. Sigh. There's more evidence of coolant trailing down from there now that it's sat a moment too.

Welp, seems clear to me it's definitely the hose where it connects - just as Greasy predicted. I pulled the old clamp and when I was futzing with it it dribbled in the exact same spot as the slow leak. Looks like the bottom of the hose is a little chewed up from the previous clamp. I seated it a little deeper and moved the clamp a little further down to try and get as much clean hose under the clamp. Wiped down around it a bit, and now I've got a paper towel stuffed under to see if it comes away soaked overnight.

That's not the sort of hose clamp you want to be using there.

Forgive my ignorance, but can you clarify what kind I should be using? It's the same sort that was on it before (not that it means that was correct).

FWIW, pulled the paper towel away dry this morning.

You want the ones that are smooth inside and not the ones with slots cut right through them .

Makes sense. I'll swap it out.