Wedders
Active Member
Can anyone tell me approximately what engine temperature the fan starts. I think I remember reading somewhere it is about 84 deg. C
Information Water temperature?
- Thread starter Wedders
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HarveyM
Active Member
Somebody on the UK forums measured the outside coolant hose temp at 80 deg. C when the fan kicked in:
www.nc700.co.uk
Water temp gauge?
Is it just me, or does the NC really need a water temp gauge? Anyone found something useful??
www.nc700.co.uk
Last edited:
showkey
Super Mods
The thermostat begins to open at 80-84* C ( 183*F)
Fully open at 95*C. (203* F)
Those thermostat specs have been consistent for over 30 years.
Fan on is not an easy spec to find............first guess on about 100*C. (212* F)
The cooling fan is turned on by the PCM/ECU there does not seem to have a printed spec.
edit:
In the “olden days” when the fan sensor was in the radiator fan on temperature was 98-102*C ( 208*-216* F.
Fully open at 95*C. (203* F)
Those thermostat specs have been consistent for over 30 years.
Fan on is not an easy spec to find............first guess on about 100*C. (212* F)
The cooling fan is turned on by the PCM/ECU there does not seem to have a printed spec.
edit:
In the “olden days” when the fan sensor was in the radiator fan on temperature was 98-102*C ( 208*-216* F.
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dduelin
Site Supporter
I have one of those wireless OBDII thingies that when plugged into the car's OBD port sends lots of data to a phone app called Dash Command. Too bad bikes don't have the same OBDII port. Anyway, in the cars I use in it appears the fans come on between 205 and 210 degrees F.
Rabbit
Well-Known Member
Took my bike for a 15-20 minute test ride. Ambient temperature was about 55f. No hard riding. Top speed 55. When I got back I looked and the fan wasn’t running. I’m a little nervous because I disassembled the radiator to do my valve clearance checks, but honestly I have never looked at the fan before. No dashboard lights on. Is there anything that I should be keeping an eye on for this? Don’t want to get stranded away from home because of a bad fan.
Wedders
Active Member
The fan is just 12v hook it up to your battery with some leads and it will run. I work in deg.C and my temp gauge reaches 96 C with no fan running, but does start after that if I’m stopped say in traffic.
Rabbit
Well-Known Member
That’s just what I need. Sounds like I’m fine. Just have the post maintenance jitters. Thanks.
It is extremely rare that the fan ever runs on my NC. No way would it ever run at 55*F normal riding unless I just parked it and let it idle in dead air for 10 minutes. In fact, if you wanted to test the fan, park it and let it idle 10-15 minutes and see if the fan comes on. I don’t have my service manual handy, but it may even suggest something like that as a test.
Rabbit
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I did let it idle for about 8 min but it still didn’t come on. I appreciate your input. Makes me feel a whole lot better.
halfmt1
Active Member
I found a product that is pretty handy for bikes without a coolant temperature gauge.
It is from a company called Race Temp, rather than try to explain, here is a link.
It is inexpensive and works well for things like knowing at what temperature the fan comes on.
It is from a company called Race Temp, rather than try to explain, here is a link.
Home
www.racetemp.com
Rabbit
Well-Known Member
That’s interesting. Thank you. I did ride to work yesterday, 45 minutes each way and no hazard lights so I’m assuming it’s ok at this point.
MZ5
Well-Known Member
Those temperature indicating strips are available from various suppliers, albeit without the particular brand name listed on the web page above. McMaster-Carr has over a dozen variations here:
www.mcmaster.com
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I would say it is ok. I have approx 65,000 miles on my 2013 and I can count on one hand the times I have heard the fan come on....and those were sitting in traffic at 90+ degree heat.
salishmoto
Active Member
Interesting discussion. Riding in the very cool PNW of WA State means most of the year it is 40-60F. My other bikes all have or had temp gauges and the fans only come on in summer. I haven't noticed my NC fan coming on, but last summer seems a very long way away! A trick I picked up from the Concours 14 forums, because they run hot and people ride them hard, is to use Water Wetter. There is a tried and true formula for it online if you search Steve's water wetter Concours 14. I use it year round in all my bikes, and bet for those riding in Oz or the SW States it would be really helpful. I do summer trips in hot weather places.
dduelin
Site Supporter
The cooling fan just doesn’t come on very often with these bikes. It’s so rare I can’t remember an instance that didn’t require idling 15 minutes or more. All three of my NCs were the same in this regard. For what ever reason the cooling system is very efficient.
Rabbit
Well-Known Member
That’s good to know. I was thinking they were more like cars and the fan came on all the time
lootzyan
Well-Known Member
In principle, there is no difference between a motorcycle and a car cooling system. Just like in a car there is a primary (internal) cooling circuit of the engine, forced by the water pump, and an extended (external) cooling circuit to the radiator. Both circuits are connected by a thermostatic valve (thermostat). The main difference is what the engine block is made of. Most modern motorcycles have an aluminum alloy engine, a very good heat conductor, so it cools faster. Most car engines are still made of cast iron (lower price), a much poorer heat conductor. And several times the mass of the engine block - a lot of material to cool down.
I can’t hear the elctric fan on my four cylinder car but I assumed it rarely or never came on when the car is moving and the AC is off. I’ll have to pay more attention. On my motorhome, the belt driven fan sort of idles most of the time but I hear it roar once in a great while when the fan clutch engages. Running a radiator fan all the time unnecessarily would waste energy.
lootzyan
Well-Known Member
If you are in doubt as to whether the cooling system is working properly, in addition to visually checking the condition of the radiator, the service manual provides a detailed ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature sensor) test and thermostat test.
A cheap digital infrared thermometer is also very helpful in initial problem diagnosis.
A cheap digital infrared thermometer is also very helpful in initial problem diagnosis.
salishmoto
Active Member
I'll second this suggestion on the thermometer. I finally picked one up last year and it's a wonderful little device I can point to highlight temps where I want to see them. Wish I'd had one before. As much for curiosity as for practical considerations. See my post above for ways to lower the overall temperature of your bike, if you live or ride in hot temperatures.
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