Wilsons Sandbox

Dave, I just got back from a late night ride on my 09' KLR and read your post. I'd been interested in the doohickey and Thermo-Bob upgrades,too. Heck, I even ordered them before I bought my bike! {Days before. But, you get the idea.} As others pointed out, the doohickey isn't the weak part any more. It's the coil spring that tensions it. It's not short enough to hold tension for more than a few adjustments. I opted for an Eagle Mike kit with a torsion spring and his precision machined doohickey. I installed them and the Thermo-Bob at the 600 mile service and haven't regretted it. The doohickey parts are now a non-issue in my mind and the temperature gauge on my bike goes to normal operating temp and stays there. Note: The Thermo-Bob thermostat is a "hotter" one than OEM. The needle on the gauge normally reads just a tad below the 3 o'clock position. There's a phillips head screw beside the needle. It *just* makes it to the bottom edge of the screw head. I've ridden it in 100F+ weather through city traffic the 8 miles to work and never had the needle move around much at all. In fact, I can't even remember the fan coming on. It doesn't need to. But, just to be safe, I have to ask : Does your fan come on when the gauge reads high? eddie

> [Original Message] > From: fw189uhu > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 6/14/2011 1:54:07 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] High Coolant Temperature in Warm Weather? > > Not riding nearly enough (see my previous post), but have definitely

noticed my coolant temp skyrockets in stop-and-go traffic with the outside air temp 90 plus. Have had to shut off the engine several times to avoid going into the red. Cold coolant level is normal per Kawasaki maintenance manual, so I don't think that's the problem.

> > Been reading the many internet postings about the Thermo-Bob. Sounds

interesting, but most of the posts I've found seem to laud its cold-weather capabilities. Yes, I've read it helps in hot weather too.

> > Anybody know whether this is a good mod for hot weather riding? Is there

something better?

> > Thanks. > > Dave > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map:

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On Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:53:46 -0000 "fw189uhu" writes:

> Not riding nearly enough (see my previous post), but have definitely > noticed my coolant temp skyrockets in stop-and-go traffic with the > outside air temp 90 plus. Have had to shut off the engine several > times to avoid going into the red. Cold coolant level is normal per > Kawasaki maintenance manual, so I don't think that's the problem. > > Been reading the many internet postings about the Thermo-Bob. > Sounds interesting, but most of the posts I've found seem to laud > its cold-weather capabilities. Yes, I've read it helps in hot > weather too. > > Anybody know whether this is a good mod for hot weather riding? Is > there something better? > > Thanks. > > Dave

<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> Dave, You can read about the T-Bob and cooling system mods with plenty of data to evaluate on Bill Watson's website. http://watt-man.xanga.com/ Both the stock stat and the T-Bob are limited by radiator size and air speed and air temperature over the radiator once the stats are fully opened. I've got a T-Bob like head mounted stat holder and by-pass on my 03 KLR650 along with a second radiator. Bill Watson used to be very active on this list and gave me lots of advice when I was doing both projects. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT . . ____________________________________________________________ Mom Is 55, Looks 30... Her clever $5 wrinkle therapy angers Botox Doctors. Find Out How! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4df75876244c52442abst05vuc

You basically have an air cooled engine. You need air movement to remove heat from your coolant that will remove heat from your engine. If you don t have air movement across your radiator, it will run hot. Is your fan working? It should come on well before your coolant gets in the red zone. Fred www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: fw189uhu Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 11:53 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] High Coolant Temperature in Warm Weather? Not riding nearly enough (see my previous post), but have definitely noticed my coolant temp skyrockets in stop-and-go traffic with the outside air temp 90 plus. Have had to shut off the engine several times to avoid going into the red. Cold coolant level is normal per Kawasaki maintenance manual, so I don't think that's the problem. Been reading the many internet postings about the Thermo-Bob. Sounds interesting, but most of the posts I've found seem to laud its cold-weather capabilities. Yes, I've read it helps in hot weather too. Anybody know whether this is a good mod for hot weather riding? Is there something better? Thanks. Dave [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Pope wrote:

> > I ride mine in 110+ weather in Phoenix without issues so 90's aren't your problem. I had a wiring rub issue shorting things out doing whacky things to gauges and others have reported shorts in temp sensor wire > > Sent from my iPad >

I agree, and if your bike just runs hotter in warm weather, it is normal, not overheating. If it goes into the red, then you are overheating and need to find out why. Your temp gauge will read higher in warm weather, it does not mean your bike is overheating. This is a very common issue, and every year one of these threads pops up with the first warm weather.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "SM" wrote:

> This is a very common issue, and every year one of these threads pops up with the first warm weather. >

Here you go, from May 2001, a decade ago! http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/message/27908 Enjoy!