Engine temp and rad fan.

[sgilbert14]

I just took a long trip and am finding that the rad fan does not come on but once in a while. The temp gauge never hits the "hot" range but even when it is in the 2/3 mark the fan does not come on. I think that I have only heard it run twice in the last 1000 niles on the bike. Could this be caused be the fan switch, therostat, rad etc.... looking for ideas.

Also, for what I read in the manual it looks like changing the termostat is not a simple job. Any hints, tips?

[George R. Young]

When you're riding on the open road, the gauge will read almost at the bottom, and the temperature will be regulated by the thermostat opening and closing.

In stop and go city traffic, the gauge will climb up to the 2/3 mark, regulated there by the fan switch going on and off.

If it never gets past there, all is ok.

If you're nervous about the fan switch, let it sit and idle and it should get hot enough to start the fan. If not, you've got a fan switch or fan problem.

[sgilbert14]

Thanks and I will check that out today.

[SteveJ.]

It seems that one method of failure for the fan switch is a gradual increase in the temperature that it activates at. Mine useta trip at just above the halfway point, then it moved up to the 2/3rds point. I replaced it with a NAPA/Echlin brand #FS-130. $20-25 vs $58 for Kawi part. This is a direct replacement, including a new O-ring. It also kicks in and out a bit lower than the stock, about 195 in, about 185 kicking off. Keeps things a bit cooler for in town work.

This switch can be replaced without draining the coolant, assuming a cold engine, and a sealed cooling system, and you don't dawdle. There will be a slight vacuum, hold a thumb over the hole, then screw in the new one. Do not over tighten, things are fragile and expensive.

If the cooling system has not been attended to for a while(2 years) it's time for a little TLC. Hoses more than five years old?, Thermostat ?? years old? (after market available, I use a 195 instead of a 180, I like it.) If the above is unknown, do it all, especially if you plan on more long trips. Being broken down on the  side of the road for pretty much all day/or $$$ getting towed to a dealer, all over a $3 radiator hose, would be most aggravating to me on a trip. Fix this stuff at home, before it breaks.

[sgilbert14]

Thanks a ton and I do plan on giving it "the works" asap. All in all it seems to have been well taken care of.

[mdr]

Common parts list is over here:
http://www.randols.net/Connie/#_Toc276312914

Last I looked, COG has one on their web page, but it's older.  I plan to (iow, when I get to it in a year or so??) update the layout a bit.  There's enough stuff in it that it's out grown the original formatting.