#1 Thread starter
Spent the last hour replacing the thermostat on my 95, cause lately, it seems like it's been running too cold for it's own good, with the temp needle hardly budging from the "C" even on long rides on the temp indicator.
Let me tell you guys, it's a b@y@tch to get at, specially on my California bike which has it's air pump and it's octopus like array of hoses right in the way of getting at the thermostat housing. I guess I am lucky for not having sausage fingers, cause after a long bout of hand and finger acrobatics to unscrew the top off the thermostat housing, I was able to get the bolts off and pull the thermostat valve. The Honda Shop Manual hinted at removing the tank, which means they meant the thermostat to be removed from the top. That also means removing the whole airbox from the carbs (Yikes!). They must be crazy! I won't go that way!!!
I was expecting that the old thermostat valve would be stuck wide open when I pulled it out, but dang it!, it was closed tight! I pulled the whole mess back together putting in the new thermostat valve and gasket anyway. I was swearing to myself, thinking I just wasted a lot of sweat, and close to 50 bucks, replacing a part that was still good. Never mind all the coolant that the bike pissed on the garage floor while doing it pissed.gif .
I decided to test the old valve by heating it in a Coke can that I cut open on the stove with a candy thermometer indicating the water temps. It opened up OK, starting at around 150 degrees and fully opening at around 198. I shut the stove and watched it slowly close as the temps fell back down. At around 150 degrees it stopped it's closing action leaving an open gap all around the valve about 1/16 of an inch.
SO THAT'S WHAT A STUCK THERMOSTAT VALVE LOOKS LIKE!! idea3.gif
The valve is now in my hands, at room temperature with still the same open gap.
I'm sure that this was letting enough coolant through to overcool the bike. It must eventually close up after the bike sits cold for a long time.
So, FYI for anyone of you who never replaced their thermostat! Just because it looks OK when you first examine it, it can be broken. It is a good idea to test the valve before deciding to pop it back in if it appears to be normal when you pull it out. blink.gif
Beck
95 VFR
Let me tell you guys, it's a b@y@tch to get at, specially on my California bike which has it's air pump and it's octopus like array of hoses right in the way of getting at the thermostat housing. I guess I am lucky for not having sausage fingers, cause after a long bout of hand and finger acrobatics to unscrew the top off the thermostat housing, I was able to get the bolts off and pull the thermostat valve. The Honda Shop Manual hinted at removing the tank, which means they meant the thermostat to be removed from the top. That also means removing the whole airbox from the carbs (Yikes!). They must be crazy! I won't go that way!!!
I was expecting that the old thermostat valve would be stuck wide open when I pulled it out, but dang it!, it was closed tight! I pulled the whole mess back together putting in the new thermostat valve and gasket anyway. I was swearing to myself, thinking I just wasted a lot of sweat, and close to 50 bucks, replacing a part that was still good. Never mind all the coolant that the bike pissed on the garage floor while doing it pissed.gif .
I decided to test the old valve by heating it in a Coke can that I cut open on the stove with a candy thermometer indicating the water temps. It opened up OK, starting at around 150 degrees and fully opening at around 198. I shut the stove and watched it slowly close as the temps fell back down. At around 150 degrees it stopped it's closing action leaving an open gap all around the valve about 1/16 of an inch.
SO THAT'S WHAT A STUCK THERMOSTAT VALVE LOOKS LIKE!! idea3.gif
The valve is now in my hands, at room temperature with still the same open gap.
I'm sure that this was letting enough coolant through to overcool the bike. It must eventually close up after the bike sits cold for a long time.
So, FYI for anyone of you who never replaced their thermostat! Just because it looks OK when you first examine it, it can be broken. It is a good idea to test the valve before deciding to pop it back in if it appears to be normal when you pull it out. blink.gif
Beck
95 VFR