rad. fan question

[shooter64]

I have had my Valk for only 3 months. As far as I know the radiator fan has not come on yet. Can you hear it come on with a helmet on? Or feel the hot air blowing? I'm sure that I have had no over heating problems. Maybe it is just because we are just now getting into hot weather.

[Bone]

I can hear mine it seldom runs.

[Jess from VA]

With a properly maintained bike, the fan should never come on until you are stopped/stuck in traffic.  I hear it then very occasionally, otherwise never comes on.  When I am stuck in traffic, I shut her off (won't sit idling very long).  Unlike with my old Hog, I never worry it will start again when traffic starts moving again.

[Bugslayer]

I have had my Valk for only 3 months. As far as I know the radiator fan has not come on yet. Can you hear it come on with a helmet on? Or feel the hot air blowing? I'm sure that I have had no over heating problems. Maybe it is just because we are just now getting into hot weather.

You can test it and see what it sounds like by unplugging it and grounding the wire on the motor while you turn the key  "on". The plug is just behind the left side of the radiator .

[Buda]

  It was the 4th of July last year the first time I heard mine come on, in stop and go traffic.  Haven't heard it come on sense then.

[fudgie]

I can hear mine if I really listen for it. I usually feel it first.

[PhredValk]

I've been stuck in traffic on hot days a few times, and trust me, you'll feel it come on. Even with the Interstate's extra venting, you'll go from hot to sauna in just a second or two. With stock pipes you should hear it as well, unless you wear a full face helmet.
Fred.

[cookiedough]

Mine radiator fan comes on in stop and go traffic if hot enough out (above 90) even before I come to a complete stop say slowing down to 10 mph or less in stop and go traffic.  It also comes on if I drive in town a few miles and come to a stop for more than 5-10 seconds sitting at idle in hot weather also.  It really roars when the fan kicks in can hear it even in a full face helmet.  I do think though mine comes on more than others since the previous owner guessing took a power washer to it and a lot of the fin coils are smushed flat and not open fins like it should be thus allowing less airflow in. 

[valkyriemc]

My fan comes on less frequently here in north FL. and my I/S heats up more slowly since I changed to this thermostat suggested by Jeff K. I have a Motosens temp guage so I can track it.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,21490.msg192676.html#msg192676

As far as your fan coming on, if your bike sits at idle in the driveway long enough, the fan will (if working corectly) come on.

[JaysGone]

I have had my Valk for only 3 months. As far as I know the radiator fan has not come on yet. Can you hear it come on with a helmet on? Or feel the hot air blowing? I'm sure that I have had no over heating problems. Maybe it is just because we are just now getting into hot weather.

Im new to the bike too and had the same questions.
I never heard the fan come on even here in the Florida heat.
Its been upper 80s low 90s already fairly steadily here.
Until recently.
Waiting in line to gain entry to some gated communities.
If my bikes in nutral in a line of cars more or less for say 10+ minutes.
Yes my Temp light comes on then the fan.
If I dont get moving shortly after that and get some air over the radiator.
My bike will stall/and or shut off.

For giggles yesterday.
I used radiator flush and refilled with fresh 50/50.

[fudgie]

I have had my Valk for only 3 months. As far as I know the radiator fan has not come on yet. Can you hear it come on with a helmet on? Or feel the hot air blowing? I'm sure that I have had no over heating problems. Maybe it is just because we are just now getting into hot weather.

Im new to the bike too and had the same questions.
I never heard the fan come on even here in the Florida heat.
Its been upper 80s low 90s already fairly steadily here.
Until recently.
Waiting in line to gain entry to some gated communities.
If my bikes in nutral in a line of cars more or less for say 10+ minutes.
Yes my Temp light comes on then the fan.
If I dont get moving shortly after that and get some air over the radiator.
My bike will stall/and or shut off.

For giggles yesterday.
I used radiator flush and refilled with fresh 50/50.

My light has never came on. Even when the fan comes on every 30 seconds.  ???

[Willow]

Yes my Temp light comes on then the fan.

Wrong sequence.

[JaysGone]

Thought-O.
Drain misfunktion.

[sugerbear]

Mine radiator fan comes on in stop and go traffic if hot enough out (above 90) even before I come to a complete stop say slowing down to 10 mph or less in stop and go traffic.  It also comes on if I drive in town a few miles and come to a stop for more than 5-10 seconds sitting at idle in hot weather also.  It really roars when the fan kicks in can hear it even in a full face helmet.  I do think though mine comes on more than others since the previous owner guessing took a power washer to it and a lot of the fin coils are smushed flat and not open fins like it should be thus allowing less airflow in. 

buy a rad comb (cheap at harborfreight). gently comb the fins to straighten out the fins.  i'm sure they are sold other places also.

[heavyd]

How hot do your engines get? Mine seemed to be running hot yesterday, couldn't even think of holding my hand on the heads but I left it sitting idling, and the fan did come on. It seems hotter than it ever did before but maybe I am paranoid because I just changed the coolant for the first time.

[billyboy]

I also have the Motosens best thing I put on her except my butt. Bike runs around 175 and the fan
kicks on at 210. Do yourself a favor ,if you can afford them, around $450 for four, it's plug and play.

[JaysGone]

How hot do your engines get? Mine seemed to be running hot yesterday, couldn't even think of holding my hand on the heads but I left it sitting idling, and the fan did come on. It seems hotter than it ever did before but maybe I am paranoid because I just changed the coolant for the first time.

I have no clue at what temps this motor is supposed to operate at.
Or does.
But.
Compared to any V-Twin and mine have all been air cooled.
This bike is a zillion degrees more then any of them have every been.
Im new to the bike and when riding it back and forth to work daily.
I always feel its heat coming off it.
Right in my face.
You can cook on this engine.
This is a hot running bike.

[valkyriemc]

Thermostat is usually @ 180 degrees, you may want to invest in one of these, then there's no doubt what temps you actually have;

http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-laser-thermometer-96451.html

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I went to a 160 degree thermastat on my bike as south Texas summers are bad enough without the extra heat of the engine cooking you. Bike runs about 180 to 190 now while cruising in 90 plus weather. I also wired a switch to kick fan on and off early to avoid having to get up to 230 before the fan kicks on . It really helps in traffic to keep the temp down before stopping at long redlights.

[Earl in Pensacola]

If your rad. is in good condition and the water pump is functioning and all the elec. connections are good, your engine should run between 180 & 190 at hywy speeds at almost ANY ambient temp.  The fan should start at approx. 212 Degrees and 99% of the time it alone is enough to bring the engine temp back down to below the 210 degree mark causing the fan to cycle on & off.  One time in very heavy traffic, on a very very hot mid-summer day, my engine temp. got up to 235 degrees, but the engine didn't stop or falter.  Having an auxilary switch is a good idea and I may yet put one on.  I can watch my exact temp. variations via a Motorsen temp. gauge on the handle bar, with the sensor installed in my upper radiator hose.

The Valk. is not considered to be a "hot-running" bike.  That being said, I will agree that it is a big engine and after she gets up to the 212 degree plus mark, there is noticable heat.

Want to talk about heat?  My old FLH, in spite of it's much smaller sized engine, would actually start to "glow" at the exhaust manifold after a few minutes in "parade mode".

Not trying to start anything-just saying.

[cookiedough]

Mine radiator fan comes on in stop and go traffic if hot enough out (above 90) even before I come to a complete stop say slowing down to 10 mph or less in stop and go traffic.  It also comes on if I drive in town a few miles and come to a stop for more than 5-10 seconds sitting at idle in hot weather also.  It really roars when the fan kicks in can hear it even in a full face helmet.  I do think though mine comes on more than others since the previous owner guessing took a power washer to it and a lot of the fin coils are smushed flat and not open fins like it should be thus allowing less airflow in. 

buy a rad comb (cheap at harborfreight). gently comb the fins to straighten out the fins.  i'm sure they are sold other places also.

thanks for the suggestion, never heard of a radiator comb.  Hope it doesn't break off too many fins on the radiator though since quite a few of them are smushed flat and not open at all.

[heavyd]

Just stumbled across this http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=74&pcid=10 on the supercharger instructions page. Anyone have any experience with it?

[Chattanooga Mark]

The fan on my Interstate comes on regularly, just as it should. When the temps are over 90 and traffic is slow, it comes on. If it's 90+, I'm flying down the highway at 70mph to 75mph and stop at the end of an off ramp to wait for a green light, it cycles on as it should.

I wear a full face helmet but I can often still hear the fan cycle on. It's not loud but I can still hear it. My Tru-Temp oil temperature guage typically reads between 200 and 225 degress depending upon my speed and the outside temperatures. Last week it was nearly 100 degrees and traffic was moving between 75 and 80mph, my oil temp guage read 225. I typically run Mobil1 10W-40.

If your fan never comes on, it simply may not be working correctly. That or you never go out when the tempertures much above 80 degrees.

All the best,

Mark

[Ricky-D]

Ambient temperature has only a minimal affect on the running temperature of the motor.

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