Denver_FJR
Well-known member
Drops to what voltage when fan is on?I don't know how many watts the fan draws, but I do know that the voltage drops when it is on, and continues to drop as long as it is running.
Drops to what voltage when fan is on?I don't know how many watts the fan draws, but I do know that the voltage drops when it is on, and continues to drop as long as it is running.
Drops to what voltage when fan is on?I don't know how many watts the fan draws, but I do know that the voltage drops when it is on, and continues to drop as long as it is running.
Start here ^^^^ first. My previous '06 began to run hotter than normal and a good radiator cleaning and gentle fin back flush fixed it right up. I've kept up on cleaning my current '09 and no issues...Douche the hell out of the radiator fins with a squirt bottle full of hydrogen peroxide. When you think it's saturated, douche it some more. Rinse them off with a water hose with gentle pressure. You'd be surprised at what thousands of dead bugs will do to your airflow.
Then go ride!
Your bike is not charging at an optimal rate, and it could be the battery, rectifier, or resistance in the harness. Before starting my bike shows 12.8-13.1 VDC. During operation without significant electrical loads, the bike will show 14.0 - 14.2 VDC. With the fan on, the voltage drops to 13.8, and I modulate the use of accessories to stay above 13.4 VDC at all times during operation. Like you, I use the X50 radar detector for a voltage meter, so I can only assume, you have other issues...Drops to what voltage when fan is on?I don't know how many watts the fan draws, but I do know that the voltage drops when it is on, and continues to drop as long as it is running.
I use the voltage meter on my radar detector, so the number is not entirely accurate, but it drops a couple of tenths of a volt when the fan comes on, and continues to drop a tenth at a time if the fan runs for more than a few minutes while sitting in traffic. I normally open the throttle a bit to raise the RPMs if it drops below an indicated 12 volts to keep the voltage above 12. Normal operating voltage indicated is around 13.2 or 13.4.
I do not live in a high traffic area and I only have this problem when stuck in traffic for more than a few minutes at a time. It probably happens once or twice a year.
Your bike is not charging at an optimal rate, and it could be the battery, rectifier, or resistance in the harness. Before starting my bike shows 12.8-13.1 VDC. During operation without significant electrical loads, the bike will show 14.0 - 14.2 VDC. With the fan on, the voltage drops to 13.8, and I modulate the use of accessories to stay above 13.4 VDC at all times during operation. Like you, I use the X50 radar detector for a voltage meter, so I can only assume, you have other issues...Drops to what voltage when fan is on?I don't know how many watts the fan draws, but I do know that the voltage drops when it is on, and continues to drop as long as it is running.
I use the voltage meter on my radar detector, so the number is not entirely accurate, but it drops a couple of tenths of a volt when the fan comes on, and continues to drop a tenth at a time if the fan runs for more than a few minutes while sitting in traffic. I normally open the throttle a bit to raise the RPMs if it drops below an indicated 12 volts to keep the voltage above 12. Normal operating voltage indicated is around 13.2 or 13.4.
I do not live in a high traffic area and I only have this problem when stuck in traffic for more than a few minutes at a time. It probably happens once or twice a year.
We all ride FJR's and post on a forum, I guess we all have other issues. I assume we have at least established the O.P. does not have a problem outside of worrying too much?
Apply a liberal amount of hydrogen peroxide. Wait for 10 minutes or so. Apply another dose of hydrogen peroxide. Wait another 10 minutes. Rinse with a gentle stream of water.Several of you have suggested cleaning the bugs out of the radiator fins with a hose. I have done that and hopefully not damaged it by using a rather strong spray. Your comments seem to caution, use gentle flow?
Are you using full strength "drugstore" peroxide solution (i.e. 3%)? My Gen II is running a little hotter than normal this year and I suspect that airflow isn't what it used to be. Probably a combination of bugs and road tar. The peroxide should help with the bugs but I don't know what will help with the tar - maybe some engine degreaser. Anyone find anything that works for this? I know that something like Varsol will dissolve tar but I don't think I want to start soaking with solvents.Apply a liberal amount of hydrogen peroxide. Wait for 10 minutes or so. Apply another dose of hydrogen peroxide. Wait another 10 minutes. Rinse with a gentle stream of water.Several of you have suggested cleaning the bugs out of the radiator fins with a hose. I have done that and hopefully not damaged it by using a rather strong spray. Your comments seem to caution, use gentle flow?
Hydrogen peroxide is also the shazitz for dissolving dried bug remains from the rest of the bike
3% h202 doesn't seem to be necessary. I dilute to 50-50 with plain old water, in a spray bottle. It doesn't dissolve tar, unfortunately, but I use a good non-petro-based degreaser on painted surfaces, and found lighter fluid works well to dislodge tarry bits from difficult areas, such as the recesses atop the engine where the coolant pipes connect, (had to clean up that area when I did the valve check a while back)Are you using full strength "drugstore" peroxide solution (i.e. 3%)? My Gen II is running a little hotter than normal this year and I suspect that airflow isn't what it used to be. Probably a combination of bugs and road tar. The peroxide should help with the bugs but I don't know what will help with the tar - maybe some engine degreaser. Anyone find anything that works for this? I know that something like Varsol will dissolve tar but I don't think I want to start soaking with solvents.Apply a liberal amount of hydrogen peroxide. Wait for 10 minutes or so. Apply another dose of hydrogen peroxide. Wait another 10 minutes. Rinse with a gentle stream of water.Several of you have suggested cleaning the bugs out of the radiator fins with a hose. I have done that and hopefully not damaged it by using a rather strong spray. Your comments seem to caution, use gentle flow?
Hydrogen peroxide is also the shazitz for dissolving dried bug remains from the rest of the bike
Be careful with hydrogen peroxide as it is a very strong oxidizer and will cause corrosion if it is not completely rinsed off. I would be very careful as to what is exposed and don't overdo it.Douche the hell out of the radiator fins with a squirt bottle full of hydrogen peroxide. When you think it's saturated, douche it some more. Rinse them off with a water hose with gentle pressure. You'd be surprised at what thousands of dead bugs will do to your airflow. Then go ride!
From Service Manual -- thermostat is closed below 71 degC. It's fully open at 85 degC.
Two bars on display -- 60 to 80 degC.
Three bars -- 80 to 100 degC.
Four bars -- 100 to 110 degC.
Fan comes on at 105 degC and stays on until temp drops below 100 degC (three bars).
On mine it's quite normal to see the display oscillating occasionally between two and three bars which means the operating temperature is +/- 80 degC.
You would have to be seeing a continuous three bars for the thermostat to be fully open.
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