Riding in the heat, how much should the fan run?

[nogrey]

Hello Valk family! I'll try to keep this short, but am a detail person so here goes:
I bought a '97 Valk with 2K miles on it in June '13. I went through this thing from stem to stern. I mean everything. I actually rode it back from Florida where I bought it. 3500 miles. All new fluids, new brakes, new carb seals, complete carb rebuild, shocks, etc. I literally had the bike apart for a year. I got her back together and man, what a sweet machine! OK, to the question: I was riding around yesterday in 100 degree heat. No problems, runs beautifully. I was stopped at a rather lengthy stop light and the fan kicks on. OK, that's normal. That's what it's there for.  I rode about another half mile home (35mph) and when I pulled into my driveway it was still running. I'm not alarmed, just curious if others with more experience riding in hot weather can tell me what kind of activity they get from the fan.
Thanks

[Gryphon Rider]

Sorry, off topic, but the depth of field in your photo makes it look like the bike is a highly-detailed scale model!

[R J]

Sounds normal to me.

You need to get up to about 35 or 40 to make the radiator cool off enough to cut the fan off.

I came across Death Valley several years ago.    Fan kicked on about 5 miles into the desert and staid on the whole time I was crossing.     My handlebar temp gauge said 125*, but that was with the sun almost directly on it.

I have no doubt in my mind it was 100* or better.

I sweat enough that my shirt staid damp and gave me some relieve from the heat.     Would I do that again, I doubt it.

This time it was an emergency run, had a death in the family and I was trying to get home as soon as possible.

[dr.danh]

Added Water Wetter in Radiator. Helps cool things down.

[Jess from VA]

Mine's about the same, thou I think my fan would have cut off during the half mile home, only to switch on as I pulled in the drive.  Even thou my fan rarely comes on while out and about, it almost always comes on as I pull in my driveway from a hot riding day.  (I spend as little time in traffic as I can manage)

There are several lights in my area that take nearly five minutes to change; I shift to neutral and turn the bike off and coast up to my place in line.  Hit the starter when time to go.  Fan never comes on this way.

[nogrey]

Sorry, off topic, but the depth of field in your photo makes it look like the bike is a highly-detailed scale model!

Not sure if that is good or bad, but she is highly detailed, definitely to scale, and a beautiful model!
 

[nogrey]

Added Water Wetter in Radiator. Helps cool things down.

Water wetter? Sounds good, but without knowing a lot about it, does it have any negative effect on the cooling system? I know that Honda is pretty specific about their 50/50 coolant mix and the negative impacts of silicates. Do you have any more information on "water wetter"?

[Jess from VA]

Dragsters run it 100% or with water only, but ordinary street vehicles may benefit from just a healthy dose to the existing  50/50 mix.  Running it pure would allow the coolant to freeze solid in cold temps with predictable results.  I added some at my last coolant change.  It may help reduce normal operating temps a few degrees, just as an additive.  It is also supposed to reduce any hot spots.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2008/01/redline-waterwetter%C2%AE-review/

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3performance/myths/more_myths1/Water_Wetter/water_wetter.htm

[sandy]

I've run Water Wetter in both bikes for years with no problems.

[dr.danh]

One note to.  Alot of us now are putting the stainless emblem covers on frt. of radiator. which I have and can restrict air flow. Again I have added a little water wetter to mine with honda antifreeze running 100k and seems to help. One other note Had a Goldwing and didnt put the silicate free antifreeze in. Ended up replacing the water pump. Which now it all may be silicate free.

[nogrey]

One note to.  Alot of us now are putting the stainless emblem covers on frt. of radiator. which I have and can restrict air flow. Again I have added a little water wetter to mine with honda antifreeze running 100k and seems to help. One other note Had a Goldwing and didnt put the silicate free antifreeze in. Ended up replacing the water pump. Which now it all may be silicate free.

Good information, especially regarding the emblem and restricted flow. I have one. Might be the culprit. Regarding silicates, most antifreezes out there for retail use contain them. Not sure why. They cause problems.

[Jess from VA]

Dude, that is a cool picture.   

I sure don't remember a blue-white color scheme, like in the middle.

[nogrey]

Dude, that is a cool picture.  

I sure don't remember a blue-white color scheme, like in the middle.

Thanks for the compliment!
The paint code on the blue-white one is NH-1, which means it was black when it rolled off the assembly line. We bought it used. The Blue-white scheme was very nicely done. It's a really pretty bike. For some reason they left the center cover black, but no one ever notices.  

[salty1]

Norge you never did say how hot it was outside. I would agree it's normal for the fan to cycle as you experienced. I've ridden in 100 degree AZ temps and the fan will run quite abit especially in town traffic.
Great line up of bikes!

[Firefighter]

In south Texas (down at Mexico) 100 degree plus is common. I have a temp gauge and also lights to tell me when my fan is on. The fan will come on in slow traffic and stop lights. The distance you said seems ok to me because the distance does not matter, the engine rpm does. The coolant needs to circulate, and it does not circulate enough volume at slow speeds / low rpms. Ride slowly on hot day and the fan may run until you speed up. Usually if you sit still long enough the fan will slowly cool enough to shut itself off, depends on situation. Been paying attention to this for years.   Firefighter

[Jess from VA]

Dude, that is a cool picture.  

I sure don't remember a blue-white color scheme, like in the middle.

Thanks for the compliment!
The paint code on the blue-white one is NH-1, which means it was black when it rolled off the assembly line. We bought it used. The Blue-white scheme was very nicely done. It's a really pretty bike. For some reason they left the center cover black, but no one ever notices.  

They left the center cover in because it's a a bitch to get out.  LOL
 
Here's my older collection (not nearly as colorful) (these Delphi photo transplants often disappear)

[nogrey]

Norge you never did say how hot it was outside. I would agree it's normal for the fan to cycle as you experienced. I've ridden in 100 degree AZ temps and the fan will run quite abit especially in town traffic.
Great line up of bikes!

i did say....100 degrees. Glad to hear from a fellow Arizonan (I grew up there, love the bubbling asphalt!).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dude, that is a cool picture.   

I sure don't remember a blue-white color scheme, like in the middle.

Looks like someone is becoming a Valkyrie hoarder . They are all beautiful  . When are you going to post another world class video ride?

[rhinor61]

I think it working properly.

WaterWetter... Ran it for years on the race track... WHY? because you CANT running Glycol based coolant... If a car happened to dump their standard glycol  coolant on the track, its makes for a  very slipper surface... Water Wetter works when you CANT use coolant.
 During the winter I would drain out the water wetter and replace with coolant.. I seen 2 rotary engines rust because the water wetter didnt stop it... although it claim it can.

I wouldnt waste my money on it when running a 50% coolant/distilled water mix. Check the pH regularly too.

If you have over heating problems fix it, whether a  leak, partially plugged radiator, bad t-stat, or your thermo switch, faulty fan...

Honda designed a good system its our job to keep it that way.

just my experience...

[nogrey]

Dude, that is a cool picture.  

I sure don't remember a blue-white color scheme, like in the middle.

Looks like someone is becoming a Valkyrie hoarder . They are all beautiful  . When are you going to post another world class video ride?

What do you mean "Hoarder"? I don't have all of the colors yet!  
I've got to get to work on my videos. I've been riding so much this year that I haven't had time to get to them yet. But I will! Love the bike, love this board, love to ride!
On the bikes, the IS and the red/white '97 are mine. Whooray and I just bought the '97 "Flame bike" together to have a spare, the maroon/white is Whoorays, and the customer '97 Blue/white is one my friend domino1 and I fixed up together and is now his.

[R J]

I still love that color scheme on the Blue/white.

[nogrey]

I still love that color scheme on the Blue/white.

It really is a very nice color scheme, and well done too.
Hey, your signature line says you have a cobra trike. What is that? Can you post a pic?

[R J]

I still love that color scheme on the Blue/white.

It really is a very nice color scheme, and well done too.
Hey, your signature line says you have a cobra trike. What is that? Can you post a pic?

How about a link to them instead?

Back in 1982 a company in southern Indiana started building these rigs.

He named them Cobra, Ford discovered this in about 1988 or so.    Ford sued him, and won a lot of $$$$$ for using the name Cobra.

He sold out and from there the name has changed a couple of times, same bike, just refined a little more.  I'm waiting for the new model, 1937 Coupe, or so I heard this will be produced late this year.

I bought a Cobra rolling chassis, no running gear, no wiring and etc.    Over the winter of 1987 my son and I put it together.

We started out with a Chevy 305,   Not enough poop, so we put in a full house 454, way too much power, then we tried a V6, messed with it for a couple of years and found a nice 350 with a spun crank bearing.      Had it gone through at the machine shop and came up with a 383 stroker, around 400 hp.    As of today that engine has over 100K on it, still uses NO oil..      It has been in all the lower 48 states at least once.    Never made it to Alaska on this Trike.

I ran it in all the Hot Rod Power Tours from 1997 to 2002.   Only failed to finish the full route 1 time.    It wore a rocker arm stud through.    I rented a stall at a shop in St Louis and did a temporary fix and headed for home.     Heads were off of a 1957 Chevy double humpers, shaved .030.   They still reside on this engine but have totally been redone for hard running, threaded rocker studs and etc..

The old Power Tours, we started in San Bernardino and would run all the way to the East coast in 6 days.     Now they stay pretty much in a close knit area.   Like 5 or 6 states.   We used to run in the neighborhood of 350 to 375 miles a day, now it is like 200 max, usually average 140 to 150.

At a venue in Mississippi, the guy running the parking told me to get my ASS out of there, it was for Power Tour vehicles only.    I ignored him as I was a registered party.

We walked to the other end of the forum and on the way back the Cobra was on a flat bed being towed out.     I got ahold of the announcer and inquired as to why it was towed.      Parked in an area where it was not allowed, had to be a participant.      Finally found Frieberg, think that is the way it is spelled, and asked what the 'F' was going on.   He repeated the same thing, pulled my entry slip from my pocket and said you best get that ride of mine back here before I go off on someone and it will not be sweet.

He had the unit brought back, paid the tow driver $360, tow fees.   Unloaded the Trike, I fired it up, went to the Motel gathered up my belongings, called the next 3 Motels and cancelled the rooms.   Loaded up and drove from Kentucky to home non stop.     Never attended another of their runs.



http://www.renegadetrikes.com/

Read the about for a good history of the company.

[old2soon]

I M H O if your coolant levels are correct in the expansion tank when cold and the fan comes on when hot outside sounds like it's working correctly. I replaced my stock grille with the P O W/M I A grille from Big Mike. My fan SEEMS to run a bit more when hot and running slow-think P G R escort-or when spending extended time at stop lights. I have taken to letting the fan run if it's on when I stop for fuel or home-engine kill switch with ignition left on. NOT losing coolant or oil so I guess I'm golden!!  The 3000+ miles I did including I-14 and my trips after I-14 were FLAWLESS!!! And-B T W-the P O W/M I A grille was put on last year-bout 140000+ miles ago. RIDE SAFE.

[nogrey]

Wow! Quite a story! Not too pretty (the Mississippi event that is).

[nogrey]

I M H O if your coolant levels are correct in the expansion tank when cold and the fan comes on when hot outside sounds like it's working correctly. I replaced my stock grille with the P O W/M I A grille from Big Mike. My fan SEEMS to run a bit more when hot and running slow-think P G R escort-or when spending extended time at stop lights. I have taken to letting the fan run if it's on when I stop for fuel or home-engine kill switch with ignition left on. NOT losing coolant or oil so I guess I'm golden!!  The 3000+ miles I did including I-14 and my trips after I-14 were FLAWLESS!!! And-B T W-the P O W/M I A grille was put on last year-bout 140000+ miles ago. RIDE SAFE.

I think everything is OK regarding the fan and how much it runs. Just wanted to check with everyone here. Even though I own and ride several of these things, this was the first ride (in town) this summer and I did spend a lot of time on the way home at some very lengthy stop lights. At one, I swear it takes 5 minutes, I turned the engine off before the fan came on.