Having an overheating problem on my 1999 Interstate

[dalai-lama]

Fan is coming on correctly but still getting very hot.   Probably the thermostat and I will change that out but just to ensure I am not loosing my mind can someone confirm the direction of the airflow from the fan.  Should it be pushing air through the radiator to the front of the bike or pulling the air through the radiator?

Coolant was recently changed and the air burped as per the service manual.   

I've had the bike since 2 miles and it now has 142K on it and have done all maintenance myself but I am getting older and can't remember the air flow direction of the fan.

Thanks.

[NewValker]

Toward the back, I can feel it blowing on me when it kicks on at a stop.
Craig

[Gryphon Rider]

Hot enough for the temp light to come on, or what? I'd replace the thermostat first.

[dalai-lama]

Thanks guys.   I ordered a thermostat and have it out.  New one will come later in the week.   I was pretty sure that it pulled air through but this morning when I let it idle until the fan kicked in, it felt like it was pushing air through.  While the radiator was out I tested the fan and it in fact working correctly.  I must have been feeling reflected air from the shroud and rubber seal behind the radiator.   That and I had a few too many last night and am running a little slow today 

I am going to test the existing thermostat now to verify that it is having a problem.   What I am seeing is that the fan kicks on and does not seem to be going off like it used to and then the temperature indicator flickers on.  I can get this to happen with just idle and it did not used to be that way over the years.

I even removed my radiator grill cover that I got a few years back at the InZane in Tennessee just to make sure that was not causing an issue and with no radiator grill the same problem.

 

[dalai-lama]

I tested the thermostat and it opens but appears to be opening at about 185 degrees.   It will be replaced regardless.  The radiator appears fine with all of the fins okay and I flushed it with no debris or any thing coming out.   Looks pretty much new inside as I have kept up on changing the antifreeze over the years and using the Honda Type 2 antifreeze.   The water pump is not leaking through the weep hole so I doubt that is an issue.

Maybe the fan is kicking on too late? 

After the thermostat is back in later in the week I will test it again and see if it is still having an issue.  It is not an indicator problem as the bike begins to run a bit crappy when this starts happening, primarily when at a long light even if not hot enough for the indicator light to come on but probably close.   The idle bounces around a bit even.  Once moving and the temperature drops back down no issues.

I verified that there are no intake leaks that might be heat sensitive that might be contributing to that as well.

[dalai-lama]

Hot enough for the temp light to come on, or what? I'd replace the thermostat first.

Last night after riding home from work, I let it idle for a while before putting it away.  The fan kicked on and ran continuously and then just before I was going to shut it off and put it away, the temp light flickered on.   It was really hot at that point.

Normally when doing something like sync'ing the carbs, the fan might kick on and then off again (I normally run an external fan when doing this to not have this happen but an example).   Now it seems like when it kicks on it stays on.

Even after a ride to work the last few weeks in the morning it is not that hot out but near work at a light the fan comes on and it appears quite hot when I park it once there with the fan running continously until I shut it off. 

So something is off.   I did not ride but once or twice last year as I was dealing with what turned out to be heart issues so I don't know if it was having an issue then.

[sandy]

If you didn't ride much last year, it's possible your jets are partially clogged. This would make it run lean which is a common problem. Try running a whole can of Seafoam in a tank and then 1/2 a can per tank for a few tanks.
I bought a Valk with clogged jets that ran too warm. After cleaning the jets, it run better and no more hot temps.

[longrider]

When you drain to replace the t stat. Remove the rad and lay it front down on a nice soft cloth.  Fire up your High pressure washer and wash through the fins.  I adjust the water pressure down and shoot straight down so not to bend the fins.   Then go ahead and finish the job

[Steel cowboy]

You may want to look at the fan itself, making sure it's not seizing up or turning slow. Take a look at the radiator fan sensor too. It bolts up to the left back end of the radiator. Depending were you are located some people install a fan switch to manually bypass it or not, when stuck in traffic or hot days.

[Savago]

@dalailama: since you got the whole thing apart, why not go ahead and install a water temperature gauge in the bike?
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90490.0.html

[dalai-lama]

I want to go meet some friends from Maine this week at Laconia so I checked out Jeff K's generic Valkyrie page and bought the Duralast thermostat and the Volvo seal from Autozone today.  Got the thermostat back in and was able to get it up to operating temperature and verified three cycles of the fan coming on and then off.  I was able to get everything buttoned up with no leaks.

Need to take for a shake down ride which I should do tomorrow or Tuesday.  So far letting it idle I have not seen the temperature indicator come on like I did on Friday.  The difference is that Friday I just finished coming home from work and today it was just idling in the driveway.

I really like the pointers for the gauge and the links provided.  I think I will do this shortly just for a piece of mind.  Time right now is the most important thing for me so I can't take the time.

Once I get my "boy" to start to put back the other I/S that I bought for him to rehab and I get the 97 tourer back from him that I bought and gave him back, I will that spare bike again to be able to just tear into something.  Of course I have a 1999 Kawasaki Concours that I had, sold, and have back again from a friend that need his Valk rehabed that I did.  But that is for another day to get back on the road.

After the shake down ride I will post back with the results.

Thanks for all of the input!

[cookiedough]

When you drain to replace the t stat. Remove the rad and lay it front down on a nice soft cloth.  Fire up your High pressure washer and wash through the fins.  I adjust the water pressure down and shoot straight down so not to bend the fins.   Then go ahead and finish the job

I would use a garden hose on NOT full pressure, no way would I use a high pressure power washer doing that.  the fins bend way too easily.

[dalai-lama]

I had already cleaned out the fins using my air compressor.  None are bent and no debris within.  I had also flushed the radiator last year as well I have done all maintenance myself on the bike I have not ever had an issue with corrosion in the radiator either.   The thermostat that I took out did not look bad but I think it was slow to open and also maybe not opening fully.

As I said I did not ride much last year but I did keep the fuel stabilized as I did not what an issue.   No issues this year when I fired it up after hibernation with fueling.  Ihave rebuilt the 6 carbs before and know what a pain that can be so I was not going down that road again.   Just getting the air box back in is a pain in the a$$ some times, the last time to install my audiovox cruise control.

[Paladin528]

I replaced my thermostat last year for the same symptoms.  Used one of the generics.  My thermostat was not fully opening so water flow was restricted.  Never had the issue since.  15000 miles later