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Auto Thermostat for VFR800


Piperdown

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I'm essentially pulling a long dead topic out of the grave!  My 2005 has widened its temp range over the last couple years.  Most 20C/70F days on a highway ride it sits at 78C but in traffic the temp escalates quickly and hits fan cycle much more quickly than it used to.  It used to sit at 82C and the fan hardly ever came on unless it was bloody hot out or super heat soaked. So, this spring I changed out the coolant for OEM and its still doing it, and now I've been thinking about starting to replace parts.  It's tough to get unique parts like this particular thermostat around me however and the OEM stock is pricey to buy, plus shipping.  As well, prices aren't coming down with parts for these bikes anytime soon, or ever.

 

I've done some digging through this old topic Automotive thermostat replacement for VFR800??? and saw someone said a thermostat out of a "mid-90's Cavalier" worked in his.  Well, I just happened to choose 1990 on rockauto.com and came across one for $4 US that has the right look from pictures (haven't opened mine up yet and probably won't until end of the season if I can avoid it). I also looked at the 1995 and its totally different with different P/N.   The  1990 selection is HERE but there's only a couple that have a 80C/180F rated opening as a possibility. The one that is "Fail Safe" would be a bad idea because if it triggers then it has to be replaced yet again.  Anyway, the MOTORAD 243180 might fit the bill or provide a cross-reference to still another manufacturer.

 

The one issue seems to be that there is no jiggle pin/ weeping hole in that one.  My understanding is the pin/hole is to let any air build up escape through the system but I'm not sure on that. However, a small drilled hole could serve the purpose while avoiding much coolant circulation or alternatively it wouldn't likely be too hard to fab up a small bolt to act as the jiggle pin equivalent.

 

I'm just throwing this out there to see if anyone has any thoughts on 1) the cooling/heating issue I'm seeing 2) interest in discussing feasibility of this alternative and 3) if someone has the inclination to investigate this possibility because they're also in the same pickle.  

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Personally, my experience was a thermostat that failed open - symptomatically, a bike that never warmed up on all but the hottest days.

 

As far as the automotive replacement, I wouldn't be afraid of drilling a bleed hole. The reference I saw mentioned a mid 90s 2.2l Cavalier.

Some folks seem to think that Honda has a top secret motorcycle facility that produces parts specifically and only for motorcycles...

 

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21 hours ago, Marvelicious said:

Personally, my experience was a thermostat that failed open - symptomatically, a bike that never warmed up on all but the hottest days.

 

As far as the automotive replacement, I wouldn't be afraid of drilling a bleed hole. The reference I saw mentioned a mid 90s 2.2l Cavalier.

Some folks seem to think that Honda has a top secret motorcycle facility that produces parts specifically and only for motorcycles...

 

Very good points. 

 

They just have the secret of cross-ref parts locked away.  The Bastards!

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I know I am going to get blasted for this, but why don't you buy a Honda Thermostat and you know it will work?

Are the Honda thermostats no longer available?

I just bought one a month ago from the Honda dealer for my 1990

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5 hours ago, Hingley said:

I know I am going to get blasted for this, but why don't you buy a Honda Thermostat and you know it will work?

Are the Honda thermostats no longer available?

I just bought one a month ago from the Honda dealer for my 1990

From the original post...

On 6/24/2019 at 6:31 PM, Piperdown said:

...

So, this spring I changed out the coolant for OEM and its still doing it, and now I've been thinking about starting to replace parts.  It's tough to get unique parts like this particular thermostat around me however and the OEM stock is pricey to buy, plus shipping.  As well, prices aren't coming down with parts for these bikes anytime soon, or ever.

 

I've done some digging through this old topic Automotive thermostat replacement

...

 

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