Possible Thermo Switch Issue

[alans1100]

When returning from Port Pirie on Friday Heather wanted me to stop so she could get some rabbit food and rather than stop the motor I let it idle for the 10 minute wait.

I noticed the temp gauge in the red where normally the fan would keep it at just over half of the normal range. Once underway the temp slowly went down to normal which proved that at least the water pump was still working and there was still some coolant left.

We went to Adelaide in May and with the stop/start traffic I had no issues with temp and until yesterday haven't idled the motor when it's hot for more than a minute or two so not long enough to notice any issues.

Three possible fixes; fuse, thermo switch or fan. Haven't looked at the bike yet and I have a ride to Port Augusta on Monday morning and then I'm off to Perth on Thursday so I'll have to check it out when I get back.

[alans1100]

For peace of mind I checked the coolant this afternoon; couldn't see anything in the reserve tank so went further and removed the plastic for access to the radiator cap. All good there so just topped the reserve tank to the high level. Any excess will come out on tomorrows ride.

Checked the fan fuse which was ok so that leaves the fan and thermo switch with the latter the likely culprit. Can't complain after all she is 17 years old and fairing better than I am or so it seems.

While the plastic was off I swapped out the air cleaner which I've had laying around since I repaired the fuel sensor back in March. The last one went in way back in early 2011 (or was it 2012?) or whenever I had 120,000 km on the clock.

Wondering if one of these would do the trick though while in Port Augusta tomorrow I'm getting a price off the dealer

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Replacement- ... Sw~uhUq8jS

[mbrST1100]

The OEM one is a 100°C... running the engine too cool might result in decreased mileage...

[Pan Rider Jack]

No idea about that ebay switch but know you can short the switch to check to see if fan runs, just remove the connector from it, switch on ignition (do not start engine) and short connector onto frame/engine. If fan runs then fan (obviously) fuse and wiring is ok and points at the switch, if no running fan then its not the switch at fault

[Andi Archer]

The therostats the usual culprit as suggested shorting it out will give you an indication or starting the engine and looking for the fan to boot up at mid tempratures.

[alans1100]

The OEM one is a 100°C... running the engine too cool might result in decreased mileage...

Better go OEM switch then.

[alans1100]

Total parts cost will be about $AUD110 with the fan switch @ $82 the dearest; other parts are O rings etc. for the final drive and an the next tyre change.

[mbrST1100]

...with the fan switch @ $82 the dearest...

Yeah, but you're on the safe side then... no use in wrecking a perfectly good engine (and ride/vacation for that matter) due a dubious generic part...
Any fan-stat from a 90ies Civic, Accord, etc... (IIRC even water-cooled power equipment) will fit, as long as its a 100-ON.

[alans1100]

The saga continues -

Though I haven't yet sorted the thermo switch and being aware of it we have avoided going to the city where I no doubt need the fan working.

On our last trip to Port Pirie we were held up by road works. No drama with overheating in the morning as the temp indicator didn't seem to go any higher than the "P" in temp or about where the fan usually cuts in before we started moving again.

The same hold up again in the afternoon but we sat idling for a little longer and then it sounded like the fan cut in and the temp gauge had the same indication as the morning. I've had the bike so long I can just about tell when the fan cuts in but I still wasn't 100% certain knowing the recent history.

Today after a ride down the shop I let the bike idle until either the fan came on or gauge went soaring to the end of the gauge. Maybe about 5 mins later the fan sounded as if it came on. I could feel air flow from the front side of the motor and I could here the sound of the fan and then it stopped.

Anyway switch is still on the to do list.