Normal Gen II water temp gauge swing?

[sickchilly]

Howdy all. I checked the "Bin-O-Facts" and searched the forums, but can't find a definitive answer on this.

What is the normal swing of the Gen II water temperature gauge? I ask because the gauge on my relatively new-to-me 2007 seems to swing pretty wide. Normal range swings between 4 bars and 7 bars. At 7 bars, the fans always come on and smack it right down to 5 bars. But on the freeway I can drop another bar or two.

According to the "Bin-O'Facts" that's about 161 to 205 degrees. Seems like a very wide swing to me.

So I'm wondering if that sounds normal, or if my thermostat is on the way out? I've already done a proper fresh coolant flush/fill and run RedLine WaterWetter as well.

 

[Ignacio]

Is it boiling over? Is the coolant turning to ice? If not it's doing exactly as designed and in the ranges of normal. Worry less and ride more.

 

[sickchilly]

Well, there's the sarcasm I expected. Thanks for that.

Now does anyone know how the gauge works for real? I prefer to fix things before they completely fail, but don't like fixing things that ain't broke, ya know?

BTW, if this has been deemed a "Never-Ending Pointless Recurring Thread", why does the search engine not turn up a definitive answer? Odd that.

 

[Ignacio]

why does the search engine not turn up a definitive answer? Odd that.

Just to be clear. It's YOU and not the search engine. I find it answered and/or discussed a half dozen or more times when I search. What exactly are you searching on and I'll try and help out.

 

[sickchilly]

Of course, it's always an ID-10-T error! This forum doesn't seem to be any better or worse at searching that other forums I've used.

I've tried "temperature", "temperature gauge", "water temperature", "gauge range", "temperature range", and many other permutations thereof. Google seems to produce better results, but I'm still not finding what's a normal range for the actual bars to swing on the gauge.

 

[Ignacio]

Of course, it's always an ID-10-T error! This forum doesn't seem to be any better or worse at searching that other forums I've used.

I've tried "temperature", "temperature gauge", "water temperature", "gauge range", "temperature range", and many other permutations thereof. Google seems to produce better results, but I'm still not finding what's a normal range for the actual bars to swing on the gauge.

Try plus symbols before each of those if you're using the forum. (e.g. +temp +gauge)

And the point is....you'll find threads that there is not likely consensus to a "normal" range....hence ride more worry less.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

1) Are you using the search function on the forum? If so, STOP! Use Google search. This is covered over and over.

2) To answer your question, the temp gauge on Dad's '07 does exactly what yours does. In fact, after 5 years of riding it, he got worried about it a couple months ago. I gave him the same advice Ignacio gave you. Ride it, stop worrying. Ours does the exact same thing if that makes you feel any better.

 

[sickchilly]

Thanks for that. I ride 65+ miles a day 5-6 days a week. I guess I'll replace it while I'm in there doing the "PAIR-ectomy" just for shiggles and so I know when it was last replaced..

 

[carlson_mn]

I also got a lot of odd topics using the google site:fjrforum.com searching. Your bike sounds normal. Temp rarely moves when cruising but once you are stopped or cruising at slow speeds it can certainly get up to the point that the fan comes on if you're stopped for a while.. a long light. You're right that it does not stay on long, the radiator and fans combo is very effective. I don't think my fans have ever come on when riding outside of 2nd gear or above 20mph.

 

[wfooshee]

Thanks for that. I ride 65+ miles a day 5-6 days a week. I guess I'll replace it while I'm in there doing the "PAIR-ectomy" just for shiggles and so I know when it was last replaced..

Replace what? The gauge? The sender? The bike?

The gauge is not replaceable by itself, it's part of a very expensive instrument cluster. The sender is replaceable by itself, and will change nothing. A waste of money, time, and effort is always a bad thing. The bike is easily replaceable, but again, a waste of money is a bad thing.

The first answer you got is exactly correct. If it makes steam then the cooling system is not working. If the bars never go up from zero then it's not working. If it goes up to a maximum and comes down to a minimum, and those points don't change, then it's doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Nothing wrong with it.

That said, I wouldn't expect the fans to come on unless the bike is sitting still, i.e. repeated traffic lights. If that's the case, then again, it's doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

If you really want to check cooling system performance, then check and be sure that the system's full, and not circulating a big air bubble around.

BTW, 205 degrees is not a scary high number for a pressurized cooling system.

 

[sickchilly]

Heh. Whoa there. I'm anal, not mental. I'll just replace the thermostat next time I strip it for PAIR, plugs and some new wiring. Cheap insurance, just wanted to be sure this wasn't an immediate issue.

 

[painman]

Coming off a different type of bike when I purchased my 06 FJR I remember similar concerns as you but after getting use to the bike soon realized there was no problem. And unless the bike had a ton of miles I would in no way change any thing unless it's broke. Hope this helped. Ride safe and have some fun. PM.

 

[Ignacio]

I'll just replace the thermostat next time I strip it for PAIR, plugs and some new wiring. Cheap insurance, just wanted to be sure this wasn't an immediate issue.

Unless you replace what sounds like a perfectly good thermostat with a new untested one that.....horror-of-horrors.....turns out to be defective.

I've never understood why people want to replace things that aren't broken or have a designated service schedule...... :huh:

 

[carlson_mn]

No need to replace the thermostat. If it was faulty it'd be obvious.

 

[sickchilly]

Lots of sarcasm around here but no sense of adventure? I also pulled the shaft just to make sure it had lube. I like turning wrenches at night after pushing a mouse all day.

Thanks for the serious answers all. I'm still going to replace it just to see what happens since I'll be in there anyway. Will report back if it was worth it. At least I don't have anything to worry about until then. FWIW, my ST1300's gauge didn't fluctuate this much, neither did my 30+ year old Italian cars (once fixed). Still getting acquainted with the FJR.

 

[SkooterG]

Heh. Whoa there. I'm anal, not mental. I'll just replace the thermostat next time I strip it for PAIR, plugs and some new wiring. Cheap insurance, just wanted to be sure this wasn't an immediate issue.

That would not be anal, nor mental. That would just be stupid. Why replace a part that is working fine? Search to your heart's content, you'll not find instances of thermostats going bad on this forum.

You're welcome and that will be $1 for my expert opinion in this matter.

 

[Ignacio]

FWIW, my ST1300's gauge didn't fluctuate this much, neither did my 30+ year old Italian cars (once fixed).

Your ST1300 and Italian cars had FJR temperature gauges on them? Well, there's your problem!

Actually, I didn't want to say anything, but if this one concerns you....you REALLY should check to make sure you didn't get a gray market French detuned engine. There weren't many of them in the U.S., but the seller did confirm it wasn't one of them? Seriously. Check to make sure you don't have a "Y" in the VIN.

 

[sickchilly]

You know, I've worked on some French cars too and they should really stick to cooking. So I just had to go check my... Hey, wait a minute!

 

[Redfish Hunter]

FWIW, my ST1300's gauge didn't fluctuate this much

1)The ST1300 temp "gauge" does not have as much room to fluctuate. The ST1300 only has 6 blocks, the Gen 2 FJR has (I think) 10 little bars.

2)I HATE to say it, but...The thermostat on the early ST1300s, up through I think '05 was a known issue. They all failed. They failed open though, the motor would not come up to operating temperature. If you had one of those, you had that issue. To make it worse, if you replaced it early enough, you got another bad one. Most ST owners went to aftermarket thermostats. Honda has fixed this, but it is a known issue. My new thermostat and O-ring are sitting next to the bike right now.

3)I have not ever heard of an FJR with a bad thermostat.

It's your bike, do what you like. Good luck!