nklr wenatchee wa

DSN_KLR650
Post Reply
fw189uhu
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:44 am

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by fw189uhu » Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:54 am

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

Eddie
Posts: 472
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2000 9:42 am

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by Eddie » Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:40 am

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:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map
> Group Apps:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links
> > >

Jeff Saline
Posts: 2246
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2003 6:02 pm

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by Jeff Saline » Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:57 am

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

Fred Hink
Posts: 2434
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2000 10:08 am

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by Fred Hink » Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:13 am

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]

Jim Pope
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:50 am

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by Jim Pope » Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:47 pm

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

SM
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:43 pm

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by SM » Tue Jun 14, 2011 3:59 pm

--- 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.

SM
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:43 pm

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by SM » Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:03 pm

--- 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!

fw189uhu
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:44 am

high coolant temperature in warm weather?

Post by fw189uhu » Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:18 pm

EXTREMELY helpful feedback from everybody. I just ordered a Thermo-Bob from Watt-Man (Bill) and he was also hyper helpful. He concurs that my problem is almost certainly a wiring/switching issue. Of course, we're in the middle of a cool snap right now and the temps are in the very low '70s, so I can't check whether the fan is coming on just yet. But hey, it's summer and by next week we'll be baking again within a couple of weeks. I'll check for worn/melted wires this weekend when I have more time. Again, thanks to everybody. Dave

chris kelty
Posts: 77
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:58 pm

nklr wenatchee wa

Post by chris kelty » Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:50 pm

I think there is an ADV rider event there same weekend [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests