QuestionWhile riding my motorcycle on a very hot day, my bike began to overheat, causing a lost of most of the cooling fluid. I noticed the cooling fan did not run to cool the engine. I am wondering if this is an electrical issue and where to look first. I spoke with a service repair man at a nearby Honda dealer and he mentioned a thermostat switch at the bottom of the radiator, and also the fan motor itself.
My motorcycle is a 1983 Honda 750 Shadow.
Also, my tachometer is inoperable. Is this a comon problem for this bike and how do I check for the prper operation of this?
Thank you
AnswerHi Todd,
The overheating problem may be due to one or more of the following:
a defective thermo-sensor,
defective thermostat,
defective fan switch or motor,
defective electrical conductor wiring or connector,
air in the cooling system,
improper coolant mixture ratio,
low coolant, or other.
Anytime the cooling system is opened to air, air enters the system. The system is designed to be air free. Air lowers the boiling point of coolant to a temperature close to the boiling point of water.
An air purging tool is needed when servicing the cooling system. I use and recommend MityVac's Air-Evac tool. Se this tool on line by Google searching the name of the tool.
Get a copy of the service manual. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Spend the extra few dollars and buy a Honda Service Manual.
Follow the service manual's procedures and learn how to test the cooling system components. Avoid replacing parts without verifying the parts are defective.
Again, you'll need to purge the cooling system of air. There are no exceptions. This is the difference between a pro and backyard repair.
The service manual covers tachometer repairs as well. The problem may be a defective tach drive cable.
Visit Bike Bandit to view microfiche parts and comprae parts prices.
www.bikebandit.com
Respectfully,
Mark Shively
