Question to everyone that has installed I/S pods....how is the engine heat?

[John Schmidt]

Although I didn't change anything else when I added the pods and the different baffle behind the fan, my engine is running hotter. I'm just wondering if anyone else that added pods and the baffle to their Std. or Tourer has noticed the same thing. One thing I've been considering is changing the thermostat since it's the original, and installing new hoses while I'm in there. Up until I added the pods/baffle, the hottest it would get even in summer was around 185-190 at interstate speed. If I backed off a bit, around 60-65 on the country roads, it would run in the 175-180 range. Hardly ever would it get hot enough to turn the fan on, once in a while in heavy traffic, and would go off almost immediately after I started moving. And, watching the temp needle (I have a gauge obviously), it would take forever to raise enough, you just couldn't see the needle move. Now, if I'm at a stop light you can see it move like a speedo on slow acceleration. And at highway speeds it's running right at 195, and if I slow for a toll booth it immediately starts to move up.

So, before I start looking into this I'm asking what others have done and what their experience is. The radiator was flushed a year ago, and almost every year since I've had it. Has anyone installed a slightly lower temp thermostat, and if so, what did you use and what was the results. There is no indication of a bad water pump but guess it could be without showing any leakage. Kinda has me stumped, doesn't make any sense just because I installed the pods and baffle. It's not running lean, I checked that after installing #38 jets nearly two years ago, and the pilots are out farther than most seem to run theirs...mainly because at 1.5-1.75 turns out it did appear to be running lean. So, after setting them at 2 turns out I'm back to a good plug read.

I'm open for suggestions.

[Master Blaster]

Ran my Standard stock, with Blower and pods with no air dam, and now carbs, standard dam and pods, didnt put in the I/S winged dam.  No apparent problem with any extra heat, usually runs 175-180 deg.  Your thermostat may not be fully opening.

[Kingbee]

You are going to see an increase in temps, especially at slow speeds, as the air flow is now restritced a bit.  My Interstate always ran warmer than my Tourer, and when I put pods on my Tourer, the temp behavior was the same as my Interstate, which would go up to 215- 220 at times.
I wouldn't worry about it, unless you get a temp warning light, as it seems typical, at least from my experience.........

[John Schmidt]

Being the fussy one re. the Valk, I might go ahead and change out the thermostat, considering installing a slightly cooler one. Walt, I was wondering how the converted Tourer temps compared to the stock I/S, you answered that question. The temp on my Tourer now is right in the same bracket you mentioned.

[Kingbee]

If it were me, I wouldn't bother with the thermostat replacement. Honda knows where these engines should run - between the opening point of the thermostat and the point where the fan kicks on.
A cooler thermostat will basically be most effective while cruising anyway.

If you really feel you need to lower the temps, there was a guy on fleabay that was selling lower temperature fan switches.  Don't know anything obout him, though.

[DFragn]

I just completed painting my I/S pods and install to a Tourer along with the I/S shroud.

I noticed I run hotter too, but only while not moving. Otherwise my cruising temp is still 175-180.
I agree with others and would not change out the therm sensor.

BTW I do like how the pods push the hot rad air out and around from the rider.