Overheating and Battery warning common problems ?

[mecasonic]

Hi there,

I'm new on here.

 

I've just purchased an XVZ12 Venture 1983 US specs in Britanny last week.

 

After a few yards during the test drive , I've noticed that the warning light and the symbol battery on lcd were both on.

Bike started ok and still does . Previous owner told me it has always been like that....of course...

 

Second probleme is tha temp rising up quickly and especially when driving in town or when on standby at a toll or at a traffic light.

The needle reaches the red limit and even if the fan turns on it seems like the temp won't really go down , it will eventualy if I drive it on a motorway but not a lot...

 

I've read a few posts and comments about louvers .... but can't see mine and could it only be those louvers that causes the overheating?

I've done more than 800 miles with the bike , no smoke, no start probs but I am a bit fed up of that sensation of having constantly both legs barbecued.

 

Any help or ideas would be welcome.

 

Thank you guys

[Flyinfool]

First off, welcome to the funny farm.

 

There is a battery sensor that monitors acid level in the battery, Many newer batteries do not have a port to put this sensor in. Your choices are to live with the warning, or install a resistor in the sensor wire to turn off the warning.

 

The temp gauge normally rests just on the edge of the red. It is not overheating until it gets well into the red.

The 83 does not have the louvers in the side panels, just a hole where you can see the engine. If you cover that hole with some thing it will do a lot to keep the heat off of you. Some people have made clear acrylic panels others use polished stainless steel. For testing you could even tape some paperboard over the hole.

[Freebird]

The battery should have a probe that senses electrolyte level. If the battery was changed with one that does not have a hole for the probe, that is probably why you have the light. Look at the battery and see if the probe is inserted. If not, you will probably find it tied up somewhere nearby. Some people have modified batteries to accept the probe, some will change the battery for one with a hole from the factory, MANY will use the tech article in the First Gen Tech Library to install a resistor and bypass the probe.

 

The '83 models always ran a bit high on the temperature gauge. As long as it's just getting to the red and then staying there, you are very likely OK. It is not at all uncommon. I've been told that they run no hotter than the later models but Yamaha recalibrate the temp gauge to read lower due to people worrying about them. Don't know that the story is completely true but I've heard it many times. Either way, what you are seeing is not unusual.

[Freebird]

Looks like Flyinfool and I were typing at the same time. At least we agree on these items.

[Flyinfool]

HA! I beat someone for a change.

[Great White]

Battery light is common. The sensor is either missing or it's U/S.

 

Mine was U/S so I just removed it and installed the resistor to "trick" the computer. You'll need to do it anyways if you elect to install a newer AGM battery.

 

Roasting the legs? It's a characteristic of the breed. As mentioned, cover the holes in the sidecovers or learn to live with it. Highway pegs on the front crash bars allow you to get your legs up out of the heat zone when on the motorways. I get some relief by opening the air ducts on the lower fairings and directing them at the side covers. Doesn't help if you're in low speed around town riding though.

 

You may be able to find a lower temp fan switch for the cooling fan. This would keep the engine a little cooler by bringing the fan on sooner in traffic. I was going to follow the same route until I elected to change the wiring on my 83 to an 86 model (for cruise control and other options). It uses a different thermo switch than the 83 that can be substituted with a Honda car switch that comes on at a lower temp. The other option is a manual switch to turn the cooling fan on sooner and may even help around town.

 

Unfortunately, "roasted thighs" is just part of the design. Sucks in the summer, God send in spring and fall when it's cold and damp......

[Yammer Dan]

Faster you run it the cooler it gets!!

[camos]

Second probleme is tha temp rising up quickly and especially when driving in town or when on standby at a toll or at a traffic light.

The needle reaches the red limit and even if the fan turns on it seems like the temp won't really go down , it will eventualy if I drive it on a motorway but not a lot...

In addition to the information you have already been given, it might help to make sure the radiator is not partially plugged up with debris or bugs. Remove front grill and blow from behind using air or a pressure washer. And of course the obvious...you have checked the coolant level...right?

[skydoc_17]

Hey Oliver,

Welcome to the Forum! Congrats on your "new to you" 83'VR you have acquired. Since you just purchased this motorcycle, here are the items I would address to try to "cool this bike off" a bit. I would do a complete coolant flush by removing the plug at the bottom of the water pump. With the radiator cap off, use low hose pressure and flush the coolant system until the water from the water pump plug hole is clean. Reinstall the plug with teflon tape and fill with a 60% anti-freeze, 40% water mix. (in a separate container, add the anti-freeze to the water so the anti-freeze molecule encapsulates the water molecule) add this mixture to the radiator. Don't forget to drain and refill the overflow bottle under the right side of the fairing.

Next, check to see that the bypass plug down by the oil filter is turned in the right direction. (See pic) This will also cause an issue with the cooling of the motorcycle.

Next, the impeller on the 83'VR was plastic, all of the other model years were metal. I would suggest that you order the metal impeller and install it in the water pump.

The last thing I want to mention is the fact that the TCI (computer brain) of the Yamaha Venture was only used on the 1983 models. ALL of the other Ventures have a TCI unit, but they are different electronically than the 1983 TCI. If someone installed a unit from a 1984 thru 1989 bike, the bike would start and run, but it would run dangerously hot. It will take a bit of investigation to discover if the TCI is an 83' unit or something else, but if you flush the radiator and the bike still runs hot, at some point, I would be verifying that the TCI unit belonged on your newly acquired Venture.

Good luck with these projects, and again, welcome to the forum.

Earl

Edited July 26, 2015 by skydoc_17

[Venturous Randy]

Two things puc, on water for the cooling system, I always use distilled water. On the picture of the bypass valve, that looks backwards to me. The top of the letters should point toward the 5 o'clock position for the run position and not the bypass position, if my old memory is correct.

Another thing on the TCI is if it is a 26 series, the vacuum hose connects the the side of #2 carb and if it is a 41 series, the vacuum hose connects to the nipple on the #2 manifold.

Randy

[mecasonic]

Thank you very much to all of you guys for all the tips !

 

I'd like to trick the "computer" with that resistor. Any wiring diagram and type of resistor I could use?

Earl, where is exactly situated the bypass plug? In which pos. should it be?

I will certailly drain the coolant very soon ad clean the radiator too.

About the "lower temp fan switch" any part number ?

Anyone on here to send me a link where I can download a service manual please?

 

I will also have to replace the speedo cable as it was not with the bike .... Found one on EBay in Germany but not sure the 104cm long cable fits ?...

[Great White]

Service manuals:

 

http://www.yamahaventure.nl/en/servicemanuals.html

 

sensor bypass:

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?489-Battery-Warning-Bypass

As for a lower temp fan switch, I don't have on for an 83-85. 86+ can use a Honda accord switch that brings the fan on approx 15 C cooler than oem.

 

A manual switch is easy on the 83-85. You just need to provide a ground in the circuit to activate the cooling fan relay. Does the same thing as the temp switch.

 

 

[skydoc_17]

Hey Oliver,

One of the members here on the forum, Donvito brought to my attention that the pic may confuse you about the Drain Plug. When using the water pump plug to drain the coolant system, you would turn the drain plug to the position that is shown in the pic I attached. When you go to fill up the coolant system, you would turn the drain plug back to the "OFF" position. I apologize for the confusion. This drain plug is located right above the oil filter canister, which is in between the two front exhaust pipes, right behind the front tire.

Thanks to Donvito for helping me to clear this up.

Earl

[mecasonic]

Thx Earl for these précisions, it is in fact clearer now

 

Great White, thx for the links. I will follow your advice and go for a manual switch.

I'd like to replace the radiator too, as it really looks old and might have been nibbled by the successive coolants during its long life. Any tips to get it for a good price?

 

I've got so many questions about the ineficient braking system : how to upgrade it properly, rear tire sizes options, XVZ13 fairings and luggage conversion etc...I might annoy you guys again in a few other posts. Thx in advance

It is quite diificult to get parts and infos here in France for that bike.

[mecasonic]

Got a question about the coolant drain plug: mine is set upside down I mean the writings are really upside down, so do I have to unscrew the plug, will that come easy, is there a risk of braking? What's the correct position if I'd like to cool down that bike? Thanks