Rode today on a 243 mile lunch run (round trip). On the way home, I experienced some overheating. During my winter lay-up I changed the thermostat, a few hoses, and anti freeze (among other things). Have put just under 700 miles on the bike since this work with not even a hint of leakage or overheating, with a rock steady 3 bars showing on the dash. Then came today's ride.
It was around 65 deg F on the trip out, and hit a high of 75 on the trip back. About 15 miles into the return trip we encountered stop and go traffic on the Interstate. This lasted a total of about 3 miles, and we would ride maybe 50 to 200', stop and wait a bit, then repeat it. A few times we puttered along at maybe 20 - 25 mph. After maybe a mile of this, I noticed 4 bars, then 5, then 6, at which point I pulled onto the shoulder, turned the bike off, and watched my friends drift ahead in the single lane of cars. After about 100 yards, I powered up, and rode at a moderate pace on the shoulder to catch up, stopped and shut down the bike. I thought this might give the bike a chance to cool, but more importantly, if the fans were not working, a brisk speed and ram air would cool the radiator. The temp dropped in these runs, but not as I expected. Had the fans been off, I would think from 6 bars I would see, 5, then 4, then 3, much as I had when the temp increased. Instead, when I turned on the ignition it showed 4 bars, and stayed there, climbing again after some slow riding. (I was stopped for only a few minutes in these 'rests' - less than 5).
After a few cycles of stop and rest, catch up, the temp gage showed 3 bars and I joined my friends. After a short stop and go, the temp climbed again. Repeat the stop and rest, and after a bit I again saw 3 bars. Finished up with the construction zone and rode following my friends at around 70 for maybe 10 or 15 miles. Temp was steady at 3 bars. In all, after that construction zone, I rode a total of a hair under 100 miles, at speeds as low as 60 and as high as 85 with long stretches at 78 showing exactly 3 bars.
Rode the 3 miles from the freeway to my home in slow suburban traffic w/ 3 bars. All this on a gorgeous sunny day of 75 deg. Once home I checked the overflow tank. It looks like I have not lost one drop since finishing the layup maintenance. No AF on the garage floor, either. New t-stat is a Honda part, installed w/ the tickler hole at 12 o'clock per the manual.
I hesitate to pull the fairing to check the rad. temp switch because I'm going on a trip tommorrow of about 100 miles out, and return on Saturday.
Have not even looked at the manual. Tommorow before I leave I'll check the fuse for the radiator fans.
Questions: 1. Where is the sensor that turns on the radiator fans? Is this one of those two connectors I pulled apart when I removed the radiator?
2. Where is the sensor that tells the dash the temp of the engine coolant? Is that on the back of the thermostat housing?
Any other ideas?
It was around 65 deg F on the trip out, and hit a high of 75 on the trip back. About 15 miles into the return trip we encountered stop and go traffic on the Interstate. This lasted a total of about 3 miles, and we would ride maybe 50 to 200', stop and wait a bit, then repeat it. A few times we puttered along at maybe 20 - 25 mph. After maybe a mile of this, I noticed 4 bars, then 5, then 6, at which point I pulled onto the shoulder, turned the bike off, and watched my friends drift ahead in the single lane of cars. After about 100 yards, I powered up, and rode at a moderate pace on the shoulder to catch up, stopped and shut down the bike. I thought this might give the bike a chance to cool, but more importantly, if the fans were not working, a brisk speed and ram air would cool the radiator. The temp dropped in these runs, but not as I expected. Had the fans been off, I would think from 6 bars I would see, 5, then 4, then 3, much as I had when the temp increased. Instead, when I turned on the ignition it showed 4 bars, and stayed there, climbing again after some slow riding. (I was stopped for only a few minutes in these 'rests' - less than 5).
After a few cycles of stop and rest, catch up, the temp gage showed 3 bars and I joined my friends. After a short stop and go, the temp climbed again. Repeat the stop and rest, and after a bit I again saw 3 bars. Finished up with the construction zone and rode following my friends at around 70 for maybe 10 or 15 miles. Temp was steady at 3 bars. In all, after that construction zone, I rode a total of a hair under 100 miles, at speeds as low as 60 and as high as 85 with long stretches at 78 showing exactly 3 bars.
Rode the 3 miles from the freeway to my home in slow suburban traffic w/ 3 bars. All this on a gorgeous sunny day of 75 deg. Once home I checked the overflow tank. It looks like I have not lost one drop since finishing the layup maintenance. No AF on the garage floor, either. New t-stat is a Honda part, installed w/ the tickler hole at 12 o'clock per the manual.
I hesitate to pull the fairing to check the rad. temp switch because I'm going on a trip tommorrow of about 100 miles out, and return on Saturday.
Have not even looked at the manual. Tommorow before I leave I'll check the fuse for the radiator fans.
Questions: 1. Where is the sensor that turns on the radiator fans? Is this one of those two connectors I pulled apart when I removed the radiator?
2. Where is the sensor that tells the dash the temp of the engine coolant? Is that on the back of the thermostat housing?
Any other ideas?
