Kawasaki VN800B Project Part 4: Radiator Fan Issue fixed!!!

In this Video i take apart the cooling system and clean it. Troubleshoot why the fan isn’t working and find issues with wiring and blown fuse. Hope you enjoyed watching the video!

[@obed5946]

Amazing video Nik, thank you so much for making and posting this. Very informative.

[@NikGarage]

Thank you for watching!

[@michaelcook2342]

Great video.
Working on my 2007 1600 meanstreak.
I started with the radiator first. Only thing that came out was dust.😮😮
Fan doesn't work. Also the small temp sensor had part of the tip broke off.
Thermostat seems good though. Waiting on parts to put back together.

[@soundspoon]

Thanks for putting the time into making this video. I noticed I haven't heard my fan kick on since my bike started overheating at idle or stop-and-go traffic on hot days. Going to check it out this weekend with the help of this video. Cheers

[@duvalpenny100]

I live in Florida (hot everyday), and the only time it has ever kicked on for me was when I've been sitting in traffic for 20 minutes+.
My fan recently stopped working which brought me here, but that temperature light will come on if the engine gets too hot (how I realized my fan stopped working).

[@soundspoon]

@@duvalpenny100 I'm in Florida too, if ive been riding my bike for a while then sit in idle for a couple minutes, it will overheat until I start moving again. Logically it makes sense that it would be the fan but who knows. I used to remember my fan still being on when I killed the engine but didn't turn the power off (on a hot day). Haven't heard that in a very long time.

[@NikGarage]

I appreciate the positive comments, Thanks!

[@kingjames7929]

@@soundspoon how do you know it's overheating if you don't have a temperature gauge

[@soundspoon]

@@kingjames7929 temperature light...

[@austinrodriguez3701]

I assume the same goes for the 1600 classic model. All the same stuff just in different places. Good walk through

[@rickingraham4451]

They dont come on as quick i thought on mine either but it does work

[@t-g4m1ng]

Hey man, great video! I have noticed that my fan does not kick too recently and I literally live in a hell temperature (where the heat goes up to 45 degrees Celcius).
I would like to ask you two thing. I got this KVN400C 1998 4 yeras ago and it seems the previous owners used water all the time as coolant, I think you understand where this is going, so rust took over everything there. So here are my questions;
1- Is there anyway to flush rust from the system and return to old coolant or should I go with pure water instead without flush?
2- Should I put a bypass switch for temperature switch instead (like turn on and off, since the prices are way beyond my pay grade and I cannot afford them right now since I have a baby inc)
Thanks for your time and answers from now on. Keep up the good work!

[@NikGarage]

You could use water so long as it’s distilled water and I would add a good amount of vinegar and run it for a few days. Then flush it with water and use antifreeze. And yes I would bypass the temp sensor in your case. Adding a switch should be easy.

[@t-g4m1ng]

Hey man, sorry for the late reply. I consulted to my bike mechanic as well, just in case, for making no mistakes. He said I can use "porcini" for removing rust rather than white vinegar since he never heard using white vinegar for rust removal. What would be your take on that since you cleaned your system.
Apart from that, he said I should stick with pure water rather than anti-freeze due to motorcycle's age. We do not want to make any unnecessary damage just in any case (like blowing gasket seals or damaging the piston ports).
Again, thank you for your great video!

[@ryandavis4689]

​@@t-g4m1ngyou're supposed to use antifreeze that's safe with aluminum..

[@bartolo4u]

Hi Nik. Great video. By any chance you have a video of how to install the signal lights??

[@KevinFreist]

i bet it is the fan switch mounted in upper right s8de of radiator . there are two different units installed in radiator. one on left is only temp sender for light. other one actually turns on fan. relay would b next component id check.

[@NikGarage]

That's what it was. So its the Fan switch. had it plugged in backwards.

[@KevinFreist]

@@NikGarage mine completely failed so i put a toggle switch instead. rarely need it and i live in fla. works great .

[@NikGarage]

@@KevinFreist I was thinking about it but was able to fix the issue. With the switch you would need to remember to turn it on every-time you in stand still traffic or street light.

[@mikepdesigns8801]

Not hooking up the gas tank is what caused it to stop running lol not a vacuum line. Nice bike tho and great video 👍🏼

[@notoriouscowboy9773]

This man should have followed the basic rules of working on your bike or car ..First check the the easy and cheap stuff to fix first ..then move slowly up the the more expensive areas

[@NikGarage]

I was planning on going over the whole bike anyways because the bike was sitting for a very long time.

[@notoriouscowboy9773]

@@NikGarage so what what was the reason it over heated

[@shanemichaelneal]

I got a 2000 vulcan 800, its over heating after i ride about 20 miles, the shop thinks the fan isnt putting enough power out so i ordered a used one off ebay, i tried everything else

[@willsrestorations]

THIS WAS A HELL OF A LOT OF USELESS AND UNNEEDED WORK TO CHECK A FAN OPERATION ON THE VULCAN, A SIMPLE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION WITH MULTIMETER WOULD HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. ALSO THERE IS A DRAIN PLUG ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR TO DRAIN THE RADIATOR.

[@NikGarage]

I wanted to flush out the system and clean it up and paint it anyways.

[@willsrestorations]

@@NikGarage WHEN YOU CLEAN THEM UP AND PAINT THEM MAKE SURE YOU USE AN ENGINE TYPE PAINT, FOR TWO REASONS, NUMBER ONE IT'LL PROTECT UP TO 500° AND THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING TO USE ENGINE PAINT BY DUPLICOLOR IS THAT IT HAS A CERAMIC RESIN IN IT WHICH THE CERAMIC RESIN PAINT TO ALLEVIATE THE HEAT QUICKER OFF THE RADIATOR THROUGH THE PAINT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT USE JUST REGULAR ENGINE PAINT. I JUST REPAINTED MY ENTIRE MOTOR AND RADIATOR AND FAN ON MY 99 VULCAN 800 CLASSIC, WHICH IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION. photos.app.goo.gl/HfzKrdAWYa4uu8gZ9

[@itphoneitphone8522]

Dude use freaking coolant in your motor! Not water!!

[@NikGarage]

I only used water to flush it out, if you watched the full Video, you’ll see that used antifreeze after the flush.