Triumphrat

How often, or at what temperature should the cooling fan cut in?

I came home the other afternoon from an hours run, and the cooling fan stayed on for about a minute after i switched off, it was quite a warm day, about 70f.

The problem is, you cant see the temperature warning light in bright daylight, and, tend to assume that, if the fan starts to operate its because the engine is overheating.

I'd be pleased to hear what you guys think.

Ride Safe,
Buzz. :-g

Slinky

The fan kicks in to prevent overheating, not because the engine is already overheating. It is perfectly normal for it to stay running for a short while when the engine is switched off.

The fan switch reacts to coolant temp, I forget what it is rated at but from memory it is about 95C

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98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master

MickMaguire

What you are experiencing sounds normal. It is quite common for the fan to come on after a ride as when you switch the bike off the water pump stops so cooling then happens by convection. The water in the block heats up due to reduced flow and sometimes its enough for the system to need to switch on the fan to help the cooling.

Also if you dont know this already: often the temp light will blip on before the fan when riding too, this is also quite normal.

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

jimmyj900

The temperature idiot light and the fan are two separate circuits and not electrically connected to each other.

The idiot light uses a thermistor (temperature variable resistance) in conjunction with a small circuit board buried in the wiring to turn on the idiot light. The manual specifies the thermistor as having a resistance of 255 to 310 ohms at 60°C but doesn't specify the temperature at which the light should come on.

The fan uses a thermal switch and should actuate at 99°C to turn on the fan. Turn-off temperature is not specified but should be slightly below the turn-on temperature.

Jim

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http://s279.photobucket.com/albums/k...0Head%20Stuff/

Bear with me guys, this is my first watercooled bike!

( I could always tell when my old Harley got hot, it rattled even louder! )

I assume the cooling system is much like a modern car then? i.e. pressurised with expansion bottle, thermostat and pump?
Is it normal then to need a top up occasionally, or have i just been spoiled by modern no-loss systems.

The idiot light is aptly named i think, a red warning light flashing on&off ( on the odd occassions you can see it! )
would indicate trouble to most people i think, a good old fashioned temperature gauge would be great... i could work it out for myself then!

Ride Safe,
Buzz.


:-g

bobshields55

Hey Buzz

It is just like the 4 wheeled varieties.

I know you been doing this already, but I was truly shocked when I had a proper look at the state and level of coolant on my service the other day.

You can peek through the right side under the fuel tank or just remove it for a proper look.

Let us know how things are mate.

Ride safe

Bob :-D :-D

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Bob
My Photo Album

Slinky

I have found that the Min/Max marks on the expansion tank are not much use. It will always settle to about an inch below the Min mark so I take that as normal.

Putting any more in just results in it blowing out the overflow.

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98 Thunderbird, 03 Speed Master