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Misfit
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« on: April 01, 2013, 07:16:42 PM » |
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I have been working on a bike for a friend of mine. It came out of AZ and he bought it sight unseen. Going over the bike I found that the coolant level in the radiator was very low. The over flow tank was dry. I drained the rest of the radiator and the block. What I got was kind of a light pink colored mess out of it. The bike came on a trailer and ran fine. After re filling the system the bike runs hot. I have replaced the thermostat, the thermal switch for the fan,the temp sender to the light,and the radiator cap. I also flushed and tested the radiator for proper flow and checked the water pump. The hoses seem fine and are not collapsing when hot. I have grounded the fan and it is fine. If the water is flowing through the radiator and the water pump is pumping and the thermostat is open and the hose is not collapsed Why won't this thing cool? The fan has kicked on only once by its self. After idling for awhile the hot light comes on and then you get a little steam out from under the cap and the fan still has not come on. I replaced the fan switch with an old spare that I had. It kept over heating so I replaced it again with a new one. What am I missing?
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough.  |
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Bigun
Member
Posts: 254
VRCC# 32964
Monroe, Iowa
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« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2013, 08:02:08 PM » |
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plugged Radiator, Remove it and look for bugs bent cooling fins etc or a malfunctioning thermostat are all I can think of right off the bat.
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1999 Valkyrie Interstate
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andycz1
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« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2013, 08:07:29 PM » |
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Try replacing the thermostat, I had similar problems las year and the thermostat did the trick.
good luck.
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Misfit
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« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2013, 08:08:24 PM » |
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Radiator is clean inside and out. Thermostat is new.
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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andycz1
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« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2013, 08:08:55 PM » |
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sorry didn't see you already did that. must be the radiator then
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Misfit
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« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2013, 08:11:39 PM » |
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The problem is the fan won't kick on. The fan works when grounded. The fan switch was replaced with an old spare that I had and then with a brand new one.
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Bigun
Member
Posts: 254
VRCC# 32964
Monroe, Iowa
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« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2013, 08:20:47 PM » |
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So you fixed it then?
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1999 Valkyrie Interstate
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BonS
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« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2013, 08:35:06 PM » |
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The problem is the fan won't kick on. The fan works when grounded. The fan switch was replaced with an old spare that I had and then with a brand new one.
A few neurons are stirring and it seems I remember someone else had used Teflon tape on the thermostat switch so it wasn't grounding properly to turn on the radiator fan. Any chance? |
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MP
Member
Posts: 5532
1997 Std Valkyrie and 2001 red/blk I/S w/sidecar
North Dakota
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« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2013, 09:02:10 PM » |
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Wasn't there a recall or a fix on the early models for something like this? Am trying to remember, seems like I remember something.
MP
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 "Ridin' with Cycho" |
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2013, 10:49:53 PM » |
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Oh Misfit, has ya burped the system after refilling it?
Give that a try.
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008
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« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2013, 11:46:13 PM » |
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you can run the fan with a switch just run a wire down to the sensor and thru the switch put the other side of the switch to ground and when you want the fan just turn the switch on. You can then see if the fan running keeps it cool. If it does you still have a senor problem. Good luck.
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Big Ed
Member
Posts: 333
2001 Standard - 1998 Project Bike
Dallas - Fort Worth, TX
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« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2013, 02:24:33 AM » |
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Maybe a blown fuse?
Just guessing...
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mellowyellow#7933
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« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2013, 05:41:39 AM » |
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Is the tube from rad to overflow tank clear/kinked? Doesn't take much to plug it up. Put a short piece of same size hose over the hole in rad neck & blow, should bubble in overflow tank with little resistance.
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Misfit
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« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2013, 06:27:05 AM » |
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The problem is the fan won't kick on. The fan works when grounded. The fan switch was replaced with an old spare that I had and then with a brand new one.
A few neurons are stirring and it seems I remember someone else had used Teflon tape on the thermostat switch so it wasn't grounding properly to turn on the radiator fan. Any chance? No tape Bon |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2013, 06:28:43 AM » |
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Wasn't there a recall or a fix on the early models for something like this? Am trying to remember, seems like I remember something.
MP
I don't remember a recall Melvin but it is a 97. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #15 on: April 02, 2013, 06:29:40 AM » |
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Oh Misfit, has ya burped the system after refilling it?
Give that a try.
No air in the system RJ. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #16 on: April 02, 2013, 06:30:33 AM » |
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Maybe a blown fuse?
Just guessing...
Fuse is good. Fan works fine when grounded. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #17 on: April 02, 2013, 06:32:44 AM » |
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Is the tube from rad to overflow tank clear/kinked? Doesn't take much to plug it up. Put a short piece of same size hose over the hole in rad neck & blow, should bubble in overflow tank with little resistance.
I can check it but I doubt that the over flow hose would keep the fan from kicking in. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Black Dog
Member
Posts: 2606
VRCC # 7111
Merton Wisconsin 53029
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« Reply #18 on: April 02, 2013, 06:35:15 AM » |
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Damon,
I know on my '97, there is/was a faulty sending unit, that was omitted from the newer models. I would get a flickering 'hot' light, but the fan wouldn't kick in. What I finally did, was have my bike right next to Daryl's bike, and used one of those infared thermometers, to check temps at various spots on the radiator & engine... The outcome was that my bike was about the same temp as his, but had the false hot... Once I replaced that sensor, I've been good.
I'll see if I can find the part #.
Black Dog
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Just when the highway straightened out for a mile And I was thinkin' I'd just cruise for a while A fork in the road brought a new episode Don't you know... Conform, go crazy, or ride a motorcycle...  |
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5227
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2013, 06:35:40 AM » |
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It sounds like you've done everything reasonable. The next thing I would do is test the thermostat and fan switch with a thermometer (I use a digital cooking thermometer) in a pot of water on the stove.
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Black Dog
Member
Posts: 2606
VRCC # 7111
Merton Wisconsin 53029
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« Reply #20 on: April 02, 2013, 06:43:59 AM » |
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Found the part # in the Tech Archives...
RP62, is the member that had this information... I did my repair back in 2008.
Its listed as 38710-MZ0-003
INDICATOR UNIT, TEMPERATURE (Honda Code 5051974)
This worked for me...
Black Dog
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Just when the highway straightened out for a mile And I was thinkin' I'd just cruise for a while A fork in the road brought a new episode Don't you know... Conform, go crazy, or ride a motorcycle... |
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #21 on: April 02, 2013, 07:50:43 AM » |
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Found the part # in the Tech Archives...
RP62, is the member that had this information... I did my repair back in 2008.
Its listed as 38710-MZ0-003
INDICATOR UNIT, TEMPERATURE (Honda Code 5051974)
This worked for me...
Black Dog
Geez Black Dog, I did that replacement so long ago I had done fur getted it. That was also when I learned ya had to burp this one of mine. That reminds me, I need to replace the anti-freeze in MGM, it has been awhile since I did that. |
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44 Harley ServiCar |
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Denny47
Member
Posts: 307
#34898
Grove, Ok.
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« Reply #22 on: April 02, 2013, 08:25:54 AM » |
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You said that you checked the water pump, did you visually check the impeller? Does it run hot at higher RPM's? If only at idle speed, impeller could possibly be rusted off and not pumping enough water.
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1997 Green/Cream Tourer w/ Cobra 6/6 exhaust, 2012 Pearl White Goldwing
USAF 66-70, F-105 AWCS
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Misfit
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« Reply #23 on: April 02, 2013, 04:35:08 PM » |
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Damon,
I know on my '97, there is/was a faulty sending unit, that was omitted from the newer models. I would get a flickering 'hot' light, but the fan wouldn't kick in. What I finally did, was have my bike right next to Daryl's bike, and used one of those infared thermometers, to check temps at various spots on the radiator & engine... The outcome was that my bike was about the same temp as his, but had the false hot... Once I replaced that sensor, I've been good.
I'll see if I can find the part #.
Black Dog
This bike is getting hot. Not just a false light. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #24 on: April 02, 2013, 04:36:08 PM » |
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It sounds like you've done everything reasonable. The next thing I would do is test the thermostat and fan switch with a thermometer (I use a digital cooking thermometer) in a pot of water on the stove.
I did test the thermostat on the stove. Works well. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Misfit
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« Reply #25 on: April 02, 2013, 04:37:49 PM » |
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You said that you checked the water pump, did you visually check the impeller? Does it run hot at higher RPM's? If only at idle speed, impeller could possibly be rusted off and not pumping enough water.
Did a visual on the impeller. All is well and the pump is circulating the coolant. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Bigun
Member
Posts: 254
VRCC# 32964
Monroe, Iowa
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« Reply #26 on: April 02, 2013, 04:42:40 PM » |
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Found the part # in the Tech Archives...
RP62, is the member that had this information... I did my repair back in 2008.
Its listed as 38710-MZ0-003
INDICATOR UNIT, TEMPERATURE (Honda Code 5051974)
This worked for me...
Black Dog
Geez Black Dog, I did that replacement so long ago I had done fur getted it. That was also when I learned ya had to burp this one of mine. That reminds me, I need to replace the anti-freeze in MGM, it has been awhile since I did that. Got to be a bummer throwing a trike up onto your shoulder. |
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1999 Valkyrie Interstate
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Misfit
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« Reply #27 on: April 02, 2013, 04:44:02 PM » |
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I believe I have solved the problem. It seems that the radiator itself has lost it's ground to the bike. After using a jumper wire from the frame to the radiator the fan came on as it is supposed to. Not sure how the radiator lost ground. It is installed correctly. Thanks for all the replies.
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Denny47
Member
Posts: 307
#34898
Grove, Ok.
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« Reply #28 on: April 02, 2013, 05:58:07 PM » |
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Great! Glad for you and something we all will remember, hopefully. Ain't it a wonderful relief to solve a problem like that....
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1997 Green/Cream Tourer w/ Cobra 6/6 exhaust, 2012 Pearl White Goldwing
USAF 66-70, F-105 AWCS
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Bugslayer
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« Reply #29 on: April 02, 2013, 06:12:48 PM » |
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Interesting thread. Glad you got it figured out.
It makes me wonder about my '97 Tourer. I can't remember the last time my fan kicked on. She has never over heated, so it's really not a problem. (and I know the fan works..... I tested it.)
Just wondering...
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