Plate Air Guide

[Calboy]

I bought a 2003 Valkyrie  CD about three months ago from the original owner.
Have had some problems since the bike was a garage queen.
I just finished rebuilding the petcock and was ready to put the gas tank back on when I noticed some coolant leak from the upper radiator hose at the thermostat housing.  I ordered both radiator hoses, upper and lower, but looking at the Radiator and parts associated with it I noticed  what is known as Plate Air Guide (Honda 19020-MZ0-000) and realised that is not there. I do not have that part under the gas tank and behind the radiator fan. I know what it looks like, what it does and where it should be but it's missing!
The question is; is this part an absolute necessity?
I assume I'm not the only one without one
What do you guys think?
P.S. Been asking a lot of questions lately!

[Bone]

Have you found these pictures in Shoptalk. Click on Shoptalk then Valkyrie Microfiche this is GL55 click the drawing they expand.
Here's one of some of the cooling system do you see the part you describe ?

[Hook#3287]

Before going through all the work of replacing both hoses, try tightening the hose clamp on the thermostat.


Several riders, including myself , have gone w/o that part and had no noticeable difference.

The debate still goes, on its purpose, but thoughts are it's for rider comfort from heat and/or keeping the area behind it cleaner.

When re-building my bobber, after I was done, I looked around and found that piece.    It's still on the shelf and I've never gave it another thought.  But being a bobber, she's not used for long or wet rides.

You can get a used one off e-bay cheap and installing it is not too difficult, if you pull the radiator forward.

[98valk]

install it. it keeps heat off the carbs esp the front two.

[Bagger John - #3785]

install it. it keeps heat off the carbs esp the front two.

+1

[Calboy]

Have you found these pictures in Shoptalk. Click on Shoptalk then Valkyrie Microfiche this is GL55 click the drawing they expand.
Here's one of some of the cooling system do you see the part you describe ?

#5    19020-MZ0-000

[Calboy]

install it. it keeps heat off the carbs esp the front two.

I could be wrong but I don't think that its intended purpose is to keep the heat off the carbs.
Everything associated with the engine lives in Sahara like heat anyways.

[98valk]

install it. it keeps heat off the carbs esp the front two.

I could be wrong but I don't think that its intended purpose is to keep the heat off the carbs.
Everything associated with the engine lives in Sahara like heat anyways.

the engine lives in normal if not on the cool side, since its all aluminum, engine heat. having hot air from the rad blowing onto the carbs is not good esp., when the gasoline boils off and you are running those front cylinders too lean.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I could be wrong but I don't think that its intended purpose is to keep the heat off the carbs.
Everything associated with the engine lives in Sahara like heat anyways.

Its purpose is to keep the radiator airflow directed to the sides of the bike, and not back across the motor...which will also result in increased engine temps, as you're partially defeating the cooling system.

Honda's engineers didn't put the part in place just because they wanted to sell more parts, or to add more weight to the bike.  

ETA: At any given time you can find at least one of them on eBay. Failing that I have a spare which I took off my Tourer when I swapped its radiator for one off an Interstate.

[pancho]

I left it off one time when I was doing the carburetors and didn't think about it until I had put too many pieces back on. I left it off for about six months over the summer until the next time I was in there,, never noticed any difference in any respect.

[Calboy]

I left it off one time when I was doing the carburetors and didn't think about it until I had put too many pieces back on. I left it off for about six months over the summer until the next time I was in there,, never noticed any difference in any respect.

 I assume the gasoline in the front two carbs didn't reach the boiling point and your bike didn't run lean!!!
LOL

[turtle254]

Looks like air flow thru their would cold the engine better?

[Bagger John - #3785]

Looks like air flow thru their would cold the engine better?

If it was cool air, yes.

Warm air...not so much.

Engineers don't hang parts on an assembly to solve some non-existent problem, or to drive the cost/complexity of a product up. Another case in point is the deflectors which bolt to the bike's fender and protect the fork tubes. Or the engine guards.

[98valk]

could be a cause of hydrolock.
Question:
After driving my vehicle for a period of time, and after shutting off the engine I sometimes encounter a hard to start situation (engine cranks over several times before starting) and it usually occurs within a window of 15 minutes to one hour. What can I do to resolve this situation?

Answer:
Chances are you are experiencing heat soak, compounded by today’s blended fuels. Following are some things to keep in mind in an attempt to alleviate this situation.

    Ensure that your fuel line is routed away from your exhaust and or block. This will help alleviate excessive fuel temperature in the supply line that can directly relate to pressure building in the line resulting in the needle and seat being overridden by the pressure causing a flooding condition.
    Remember, heat rises and when the vehicle’s engine is turned off, the rising heat can easily penetrate the carburetor and cause the fuel in the float bowls to expand and eventually boil or percolate.
https://www.edelblog.com/tech-tips/resolving-heat-soak

[Calboy]

Before going through all the work of replacing both hoses, try tightening the hose clamp on the thermostat.


Several riders, including myself , have gone w/o that part and had no noticeable difference.

The debate still goes, on its purpose, but thoughts are it's for rider comfort from heat and/or keeping the area behind it cleaner.

When re-building my bobber, after I was done, I looked around and found that piece.    It's still on the shelf and I've never gave it another thought.  But being a bobber, she's not used for long or wet rides.

You can get a used one off e-bay cheap and installing it is not too difficult, if you pull the radiator forward.

I've found a used one today.
Do you think I can install it if I pull only the radiator out completely? I will be replacing both radiator hoses anyway. The gas tank is off the bike too since I just rebuilt the petcock but it's not really a lot of help since the air box and the carbs are still there.
Is it hard to put it back in place or not?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Might not be that big of a deal to reinstall one from a Standard/Tourer with the radiator out of the way.

An I/S's deflector plate is a whole 'nother animal, owing to the shape (it's wider, with protrusions each side). You have to pull the airbox and carbs to get one of these into place.

Perhaps someone who's done it can comment.

[Calboy]

Might not be that big of a deal to reinstall one from a Standard/Tourer with the radiator out of the way.

An I/S's deflector plate is a whole 'nother animal, owing to the shape (it's wider, with protrusions each side). You have to pull the airbox and carbs to get one of these into place.

Perhaps someone who's done it can comment.

My Valkyrie is the CD Deluxe Standard model, not Interstate or Tourer. I'll give it a try later in the day and see how it goes.

[98valk]

Might not be that big of a deal to reinstall one from a Standard/Tourer with the radiator out of the way.

An I/S's deflector plate is a whole 'nother animal, owing to the shape (it's wider, with protrusions each side). You have to pull the airbox and carbs to get one of these into place.

Perhaps someone who's done it can comment.

My Valkyrie is the CD Deluxe Standard model, not Interstate or Tourer. I'll give it a try later in the day and see how it goes.

warm it up with a hair dryer or in the hot sun, to make it more pliable.