Thermostat swap = power increase?

[twdurdentwd]

Can someone explain the technicals of how this works... And perhaps someone can reply with how well and if it works?

[Chrisj CMA]

Can someone explain the technicals of how this works... And perhaps someone can reply with how well and if it works?

You have to replace it with a really expensive thermostat from a Lamborghini.......   

[twdurdentwd]

Somebody said it worked so I was hoping for an explanation... Lol

[hubcapsc]

Sometimes you can get thermostats on eBay (or whatever) that open at a different
temperature than OEM ones. The sellers say it keeps your motor from overheating,
or gets to a particular operating temperature that performs better than OEM, or
other stuff... maybe that is the kind of thing you heard about?

Might make sense for a Yugo or something, probably not for an exquisitely engineered Honda 

-Mike

[98valk]

stay with the OEM.

swaps only work for power with fuel injected engines and its not that much and causes accelerated engine wear over time.

engine operating temp is always dictated by the radiator, thermostat is only a switch

[twdurdentwd]

IMO, Honda could have done things differently for the better with this bike.

1) Stronger Material for rear case and starter gears.
2) More fool proof design for petcock.
3) More effective overflow tubes in carbs.
4) Removable seats in carbs.
5) Direct (ish) air feed for airbox... Perhaps opening forward, while still utilizing Honda pulse scavenging
6) Forks rightside-up (since the Valkyrie is the only with upside-down forks).
7) Seats that don't kill your tailbone..
I/S Higher fairing + shorter windshield.
9) Starter button design which makes it more difficult to melt.
10) Gas tank that gives a mean hummer...

Etc...

[sandy]

VTX 1800 has inverted forks. Almost exactly the same design.

[quexpress]

IMO, Honda could have done things differently for the better with this bike.
...
6) Forks rightside-up (since the Valkyrie is the only with upside-down forks).

USD forks are a definite upgrade (stronger, etc.).
Why do you prefer RSU forks?

[Pete]

The theory.

Cooler running engines make more horsepower.
By reducing the thermostat opening temp you reduce the engine temp.

Reality.

Cooler may or may not increase horsepower as other variables may affect also.
To cool and liquid gas may wash oil off of the rings and cylinder walls increasing wear and friction and contaminate the oil.
To cool may not allow moisture in the engine to boil off, contaminating the oil and in real severe case rust in the engine.
Cooler may mean richer or not depends on other variables also.
Cooler may introduce hesitation and stumbling and may not, other dependencies also.
Most gas engines need to run at 180 or above for optimum economy and clean running.
Much above 220 and special oils may be needed to reduce oil overheating (less that 240).

Horsepower increases via this route are relatively small and require more that just a thermostat change to do it right and obtain the gain.
Doing it improperly may reduce the life of the engine, increase emissions and cost you horsepower.

Did that do it?
 

[twdurdentwd]

IMO, Honda could have done things differently for the better with this bike.
...
6) Forks rightside-up (since the Valkyrie is the only with upside-down forks).

Leaks
USD forks are a definite upgrade (stronger, etc.).
Why do you prefer RSU forks?

[moodyvalk]

Can someone explain the technicals of how this works... And perhaps someone can reply with how well and if it works?

short answer would be, no....
as stated already, on a fuel injected engine the ecu would adjust the fueling but that does not necessarily ïncrease horsepower"...

[Pepmyster]

The ecu is always trying to stay in it's program. Colder or hotter ,it adjusts the within the specs of the program. The only way to get more power is to re-program the ecu .

[Cracker Jack]

The ecu is always trying to stay in it's program. Colder or hotter ,it adjusts the within the specs of the program. The only way to get more power is to re-program the ecu .

Or to get the MOST power, paint it RED/BLACK.

[Ricky-D]

I don't understand how anyone could think a cooler engine can produce more horsepower

than a hotter engine. That makes no sense at all. That is, unless you are using some

kind of dumb indirect reasoning to make a stupid statement like that.

A hot engine is more capable to produce more power if you can keep the intake

temperatures down. A hot engine with cold intake air/fuel mixture will produce the

most power. Talking 4 stroke reciprocating engines here.

Power is derived from the volume of air/fuel mixture taken in on each intake stroke

and the quality of the combustion within the cylinder on the power stroke.

To say that there will be more complete combustion in a cold cylinder when compared

to a hot cylinder with all things being equal is nonsense and cannot be substantiated

through any normally accepted practical testing method.

***

[quexpress]

IMO, Honda could have done things differently for the better with this bike.
...
6) Forks rightside-up (since the Valkyrie is the only with upside-down forks).

Leaks
USD forks are a definite upgrade (stronger, etc.).
Why do you prefer RSU forks?

Leaks??? Please elaborate. I ask because although I have had bikes with RSU and USD forks, I have never noticed or heard that USD have more leaking problems than RSU forks.

[twdurdentwd]

USD forks rely on the seals more-so since gravity is in the favor of leaking... Seems to make sense to me is all.

Maybe I'm talking out of my a$$

[quexpress]

USD forks rely on the seals more-so since gravity is in the favor of leaking... Seems to make sense to me is all.

Maybe I'm talking out of my a$$

No problem! 

[Pepmyster]

The ecu is always trying to stay in it's program. Colder or hotter ,it adjusts the within the specs of the program. The only way to get more power is to re-program the ecu .

Or to get the MOST power, paint it RED/BLACK.

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!