New owner question regarding SPAL fan systems

336 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Sam51, 11 d ago

MarkDalessandro

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

Hi!

I just took the 2002 RC51 I purchased last week out for a quick 20 minute spin. It has the SPAL fan system installed that is manually activated. I have several questions now:

How hot are RC51's supposed to run normally?
Am I supposed to turn the SPAL system on right after the coolant temperature hits 180 degrees F and just leave it on? Or should I be looking regularly and when it reaches 200 F or so turn it on, then switch it off at 180 F?
Does the cooling system also have an automatic fan system that keeps the bike cool in traffic, similar to a CBR600RR system (comes on at 221 degrees F, turns off at 180 degrees F, I don't have to do anything...)?
Is there anything else that I need to understand about keeping RC51's in a good operating temperature window?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Mark

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which switch is installed on it? if it's one of mine, then it runs in tandem with the automatic control. if it was hacked in by someone else there's no assurance of that. you can check if the auto fan control is working by revving the bike to 5k while in neutral, the fans will come on automatically in a few seconds.

you only need to turn the fans on manually if you know you're coming into a long stop, like in traffic. this just means you can get the fans running before cooking the bike up to 220.

you don't need to have them running during normal operation. the bike should sit around 200-205 pretty happily. that isn't too hot at all.

there is more detriment to the engine being too cold than too hot, don't freak out about seeing 200 on the dash.

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MarkDalessandro

Discussion Starter · #3 · 14 d ago

Wibbly said:
which switch is installed on it? if it's one of mine, then it runs in tandem with the automatic control. if it was hacked in by someone else there's no assurance of that. you can check if the auto fan control is working by revving the bike to 5k while in neutral, the fans will come on automatically in a few seconds.

you only need to turn the fans on manually if you know you're coming into a long stop, like in traffic. this just means you can get the fans running before cooking the bike up to 220.

you don't need to have them running during normal operation. the bike should sit around 200-205 pretty happily. that isn't too hot at all.

there is more detriment to the engine being too cold than too hot, don't freak out about seeing 200 on the dash.

Thanks Wibbly

switch picture below. Is this one of yours?

Automotive tire Automotive design Motor vehicle Plant Auto part

fans below in case this helps

Automotive tire Gas Automotive exterior Auto part Fixture

Hood Automotive lighting Automotive tire Alloy wheel Steering wheel

Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive lighting Automotive design

at roughly what temperature should the automatic fans kick on? At roughly whet temperature should I turn the manual fans on?

Again, thank you very much.

Mark

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Wibbly

· #4 · 14 d ago

nope that's not one of my switches. see if it's wired into the fan control relay in the tail section. (it's the relay with two green wires and two black wires on it. the switch should bridge the two green wires.

the fans should come on automatically at around 220. but as i said you can test this easily by revving the engine in neutral.

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MarkDalessandro

Discussion Starter · #5 · 14 d ago

Wibbly said:
nope that's not one of my switches. see if it's wired into the fan control relay in the tail section. (it's the relay with two green wires and two black wires on it. the switch should bridge the two green wires.

the fans should come on automatically at around 220. but as i said you can test this easily by revving the engine in neutral.

Thank you. It comes on automatically at 217 and shots off again at 209. The bike seems to run over 200 on the highway in 6th gear just cruising, which makes me nervous as I'm not used to a machine that runs this hot normally. If this is just how that are, so be it, I'll get used to it. It will be my first time riding something that doesn't run at 180 ;-)

Thanks!

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Wibbly

· #6 · 14 d ago

optimal engine temperature for these is 188. being a few degrees over isn't a big deal. especially if ambient temp is hot.

if you're on the highway using your fans is a waste of time anyway. you have tons of air moving through there.

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MarkDalessandro

Discussion Starter · #7 · 13 d ago

Thanks Wibbly. I definitely feel like I have some problem. It runs a 201 on the highway no matter what. It never gets below 200 once it passes through 200 from 0.

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Wibbly

· #8 · 13 d ago

200 isn't all that hot honestly.

if the ambient temps are high that's not unreasonable.

but as always, you can do your due diligence and flush the system, make sure everything is kosher. these are warm bikes though, 200 is nothing to panic about, and certainly nothing that warrants running two high output fans.

the fans are for when you're stopped, in traffic, and it's hot out. they're not for all day use. these things draw almost 5 amps each, so with two installed you're pulling 10 amps continuously off your 12AH battery. it's a lot of work for your charging system to keep up with, so i wouldn't recommend running them all the time.

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MarkDalessandro

Discussion Starter · #9 · 13 d ago

Thanks Wibbly, that all makes sense to me. It was 80F today, and I live very near sea level. I don’t run the fans at all unless I am at a light I know is going to be long, otherwise they run themselves.

I took a GoPro video today of the dash while I was running on the highway, and through a couple of back roads. I’m happy to share it if you think it’s helpful. I’m also happy flushing the system and seeing what happens also. I was going to send it to a shop I trust to run through all the fluids since it has been sitting for quite some time.

Thanks again Wibbly!

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Wibbly

· #10 · 13 d ago

if it's running at a steady 200 there's nothing wrong with it.

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Sam51

· #11 · 11 d ago

Where I love it’s been around 100 F and my bike was running 177 while moving and 185 sitting at tge red lights, I turn my fans on at 160 and leave them on even while moving.

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