??????????

[Jamtndll]

I came in from a ride today and when I stop i had a lot of smoke coming from bottom of motor.  My kickstand and muffler had water all over it.  It was not leaking water anywhere I could see.  I think that my water leak has gotten worse "duh" but I still do not see where it is coming from.  Also I have a knocking sound coming fromt the top part of motor when reved.  Any suggestions, I dont want to miss MOOTMag, but I am afraid to take off now.
Jim

[TLRam1]

Did you pull the plugs as Allen suggested? What did they look like? Is your water level reduced?

Before I rode much more I would diagnosis. Too much water in your cylinder can bend your connecting rod.   

[Greg Cothern]

I would check the water crossover tubes that lay in the V of the engine, just to make sure its not something simple and easy to overlook.  Start simple/cheap work to harder/expensive.
When running down the road and fluids leak its hard to tell where they are coming from with the wind blowing it back etc.
IF you could find a pressure pump same as they use on cars to pressurize the coolant system, that might help find the source.
Also to help diagnose a head gasket, put a drain plug under the oil pan and loosen the drain plug but dont take it out.  Coolant will drip out before oil will, that is a easy way to tell also.

[trapper]

Check the coolant resevoir, too.  Overfilling or a little higher operating temperature, such as on a warmer than usual day, may cause it to overflow.  Check that the resevoir cap is securely on.  Check that the overflow tube or the resevoir itself have not developed a leak. 

I hope yours is a simple fix

[lragan]

Jim, I have attached a copy of a page from the manual for my 3rd gen.  It shows two hoses on top of the engine, as Greg says, which return water to the thermostat, thence to the radiator.

If any of this stuff is loose -- hoses, clamps, thermostat housing, it could cause both symptoms -- the leaking and the knocking.

Good luck, man.  Let me know if you need other pages.

[attachment deleted by forum maintenance]

[Jamtndll]

Update,  pulled the plugs they all looked pretty much the same.  Not a lot of carbon and they were dry.  I then pulled the seat and looked at the reserve tank for the radiator.  The lid was off and the one I found next to it I can not get it to fit back on.  I have tried everything I can think of from oiling it to heating it.  It will not go back on.  As far as the level of coolant it was down under the lower mark.  I looked at all the hoses I could see with out pulling the gas tank and could not find any hoses that looked bad. 
Now what?

[Jamtndll]

Jim, I have attached a copy of a page from the manual for my 3rd gen.  It shows two hoses on top of the engine, as Greg says, which return water to the thermostat, thence to the radiator.

If any of this stuff is loose -- hoses, clamps, thermostat housing, it could cause both symptoms -- the leaking and the knocking.

Good luck, man.  Let me know if you need other pages.

Thanks for the pic.  I looked at those they look fine from what I can see.
Jim

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

The radiator reservoir cap slips on and off fairly easily on the 3rd gen Magna. I wonder if your cap got too hot (touching the pipes) and is warped beyond usage? Try covering it with a strong piece of plastic or take the dimensions to an auto parts store and find a similiar piece to try.