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07-13-2010, 3:42 PM Marshall Joined on 07-10-2010 Sacramento, CA Posts 4 Thermostat missing!!!! I was having an extreme overheating problem (would get into the red within 10 mins) so I did the usual things such as change the coolant and oil, check the air filter and radiator to see if they're clogged up, but the problem persisted. I took off the radiator and was going to check out the thermostat to see if it wasn't opening up when it got to temp, but when I got to it, there was no thermostat! Wouldn't this mean it's always open and the coolant should always be flowing? What could be my issue? It's not the 7 volt regulator. any bike is faster than an s10 81 CX500    Report

07-13-2010, 3:56 PM Harold Joined on 12-28-2006 Beside Washademoak Lake, N.B. Canada Posts 851 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! See this thread,, http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/196519/ShowPost.aspx "People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than biker gangs." 1978 CX500 1980 CX500 Custom 1981 CX500 Custom 1982 GL500 Silverwing 1975 XL-100 http://www.myspace.com/downwiththebutterfly    Report

07-13-2010, 4:43 PM Shep Joined on 01-30-2007 UK.2x1980CX500A Posts 7,647 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! The only way to truly determine the engine temperature is with an Infra-red Temp gun or a Temp probe.How do you know the engine is running hot?It could be the Temp gauge itself is faulty or the actual temp sensor in the thermostat if the 7v Regulator is ok.   A rough check would be to remove the Rad cap and with a correct thermostat in watch the coolant as the bike warms up and begins to flow as the thermostat opens.This will also be indicted by the coolant transfer pipe on the side of the engine changing from cold to warm from a cold/cool start.This wouls at least indicate that the water pump is operating.If it doesn't flow then the fault is most likely the water pump. My Music http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas/ Join Just In Case :) http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/ Id quot circumiret, circumveniat    Report

07-13-2010, 5:25 PM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 9,863 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I didn't have and infrared gun but what I did to test the fun was took a digital cooking thermometer to see how hot the radiator was getting. 1979 CX500 Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference    Report

07-13-2010, 10:07 PM Panther Joined on 05-09-2006 Las Vegas, NV Posts 1,264 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! No thermostat means the coolant can travel so fast through the system if doesn't have time to get the heat transferred to the radiator. The thermostat is a metered orifice when fully open to slow the coolant and let it have enough time to transfer the heat into the radiator and the air. Peace & Light >^..^< .......... '83 GL650swi "My Little Grey Lady" '82 GL500swi parts bike '78 DT175 '86 LS650 Milady's bike    Report

07-14-2010, 1:20 AM Marshall Joined on 07-10-2010 Sacramento, CA Posts 4 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I'm going to get a thermostat before work tomorrow (for $30!!) and hopefully it comes with a gasket, because the one on it toasttttt any bike is faster than an s10 81 CX500    Report

07-14-2010, 1:48 AM Shep Joined on 01-30-2007 UK.2x1980CX500A Posts 7,647 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! Don't pay $30! They are cheap from Autozone type stores. http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/14062/ShowPost.aspx http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&q=thermostat+cheap+site%3Achoppercharles.com%2Fcs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=d988acd244e9d505 My Music http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas/ Join Just In Case :) http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/ Id quot circumiret, circumveniat    Report

07-14-2010, 2:26 PM Marty J. Joined on 01-17-2008 Hammel, Denmark Posts 158 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I'm not convinced by the argument that removing the thermostat can cause overheating. Sure, if the coolant spends less time in the radiator, it will lose less heat to the air, but it does not spend less time in the radiator. The time a given quantity of coolant spends in the radiator will be the same no matter how fast it circulates. The less time the coolant spends in the radiator per cycle, the less time it spends in the cylinder jackets absorbing heat, and the sooner it is returned to the radiator. I would have thought the only temperature difference when running without a thermostat was that coolant flow is quicker and that there is therefore slightly less difference between average coolant temperature in the radiator and in the cylinder jackets. In other words, the faster coolant flow makes cooling  more effective. Removing the thermostat can reduce overheating if the cooling system is clogged up with rust, sediment, etc. or if the radiator has lost efficiency. However, removing the thermostat causes the engine to take longer to warm up, which is not good, and I also believe that the increased coolant flow without a thermostat installed causes the engine to run cooler (not hotter) in conditions where the thermostat would normally be fully open, which is not good either. In my view, removing the thermostat encourages wear, not overheating... The question of trapped bubbles is another factor. If the faster flow without a thermostat traps more air bubbles in the coolant, you've lost cooling effectiveness because air is an effective insulator, and  I am wrong about the overheating! Cavitation is another problem, if it occurs. Does anyone have any hard evidence of bubbles in the coolant and/or cavitation damage caused by removing the thermostat? In case you haven't noticed, I love a good argument about what goes on inside an engine, by the way  - Marty '81 CX500A, '85 CX650E    Report

07-15-2010, 9:41 AM RichNCT Joined on 03-02-2006 Connecticut, USA Posts 3,463 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I agree with Marty that faster coolant flow cannot cause a hotter engine. Also, that no t'stat is a bad thing, for other reasons. I'd try putting my hand on a cylinder side, If it is too hot to hold your hand on it AT ALL it's too hot. If you can pause it there for 1/2 second or more, without screaming, it's not too hot. More or less. If the chrome coolant pipe and the radiator both get reasonably hot, coolant is circulating good. If coolant is circulating good, and warm or hot air is being blown by the fan, it is unlikely the engine is overheating. The amount of heat the engine can generate will not increase significantly due to any malfunction, and if the heat dissipation (hot radiator, hot air from fan) is there, I'd look after the guage, sensor, or 7v regulator again. Refueling on The James Bay Road, 2009 Born to be relatively wild (for a grampa x 3) GL650I, CX650E, CX650T    Report

07-15-2010, 9:46 AM Linny Joined on 04-20-2010 Duluth, Mn Posts 70 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I think putting a new t-stat in will not fix your issue. The p.o. pulled the t-stat for a reason. I'd bet you have blockage/poor circulation somewhere you will have to address. Sorry. '81 CX500c '71 CB350    Report

07-15-2010, 10:10 AM Timothy_D Joined on 04-22-2006 Santa Rosa, CA Posts 1,585 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! Go to Cycle Gear, buy Water Wetter. Doesn't matter what coolant you use with it, it makes the bike run cooler.  Professional racers use this stuff. Reduces or eliminates bubbles or vapor barrier that form on hot metal surfaces to reduce coolant temperatures by up to 20° Superior heat transfer properties compared to glycol-based antifreeze Compatible with new or used antifreeze (including DEX-COOL and long-life versions) to improve the heat transfer of ethylene and propylene glycol systems Improves heat transfer and reduces cylinder head temperature CX500 Turbo, GL650I, Two CX650E's, and one Crown Jewel of the CX line- CX650T. Why do I own five CX/GL bikes? Ask an alcoholic why he drinks. Donating Member. Sold: 1981 CX500D, 2- 1982 CX500T's, 1983 CX650C.    Report

07-15-2010, 1:46 PM BillRod Joined on 11-09-2009 Richton Park, IL 33 miles SW of Chicago Posts 350 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! I don't know why they call antifreeze coolant when plain water cools better than antifreeze. All antifreeze really does is raise the boiling point of the water in your system and prevent freezing. I pull a camper with my Ford truck and use nothing but water (and water pump lube) in the summer. Antifreeze goes in the winter. 71 years old (April 1939) Richton Park, Illinois Just bought 1982 GL500 Naked 13,000 miles Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it is supposed to do.    Report

07-16-2010, 8:28 AM Linny Joined on 04-20-2010 Duluth, Mn Posts 70 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! Antifreeze raises the boiling pt of water. Pulling a load with your truck doesn't cause steamy situations for you? Perhaps whatever you are using for lubrication for the water pump acts in similar fashion to the green stuff. Hearing this makes me like my ford ranger pick up even more! '81 CX500c '71 CB350    Report

07-16-2010, 5:28 PM BillRod Joined on 11-09-2009 Richton Park, IL 33 miles SW of Chicago Posts 350 Re: Thermostat missing!!!! The 14 pound radiator cap also raises the boiling point of water. That is why you never want to take a radiator cap off of a hot engine. You release the pressure and suddenly lower the boiling point of water to 212 degrees which is normal at normal atmospheric pressure. You then get scalded which is not a lot of fun. 71 years old (April 1939) Richton Park, Illinois Just bought 1982 GL500 Naked 13,000 miles Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it is supposed to do.    Report

07-17-2010, 12:52 AM Shep Joined on 01-30-2007 UK.2x1980CX500A Posts 7,647 Re: Thermostat missing!!!!  BillRod wrote: The 14 pound radiator cap also raises the boiling point of water. That is why you never want to take a radiator cap off of a hot engine. You release the pressure and suddenly lower the boiling point of water to 212 degrees which is normal at normal atmospheric pressure. You then get scalded which is not a lot of fun. 13 Lbs(0.9 bar) My Music http://www.reverbnation.com/pauldouglas/ Join Just In Case :) http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/ Id quot circumiret, circumveniat    Report

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