hi i have 96 vulcan that is getting hot. my mechanic and i are still trying to find the problem. plugs are fouling (looks like it is running rich) but the bike acts like it is running lean. any suggestions, we are going to a hotter plug.( ngk dpr6ea9) we are also going to pull the thermostat to see if that helps.

 

Not much help, but I don't think I would pull the therm. It could make the bike run even hotter. The water is going to circulate to fast for the airflow through the radiaitor to cool it down. You might make sure the rad fins are all straight. When is the last time you did a flush? Personally, I would flush, change therm ( cheap enough ), and maybe add some water wetter, or rad cool. JMO, though. Good luck....

 

is it popping back,sputtering,backfireing?

 

I also have a 96 that is getting hot, I pulled the thermostat and that did not help, I believe mine is a head gasket issue. I can hear the water in the jugs boiling. The only other thought is the water pump, any ideas?

 

Is your engine fan coming on?
I had a 96 Classic also and the engine fan would run sometimes.
Talked to the dealer and he said that this is normal.
Sirloin

 

No I have never seen the fan run. Yet when I test it, it does work. I went ahead and ordered a new fan switch. I also pulled the water pump and ordered a new impeller.

 

Hey i'm new to the site and have the same problem as some of you. I have a '96 vulcan 1500 and it to runs hot. i've changed everything except for the pump bearing in which i was told to change that i would have to break the block in half. has anyone tried water wetter or stops overheating and if so does it work.

 

The way I finaly solved my overheating problem was, fill the resoervoir full and as the bike ran I opened the bleed valve on the top of the radiator housing. This bubbled and spit anti freeze all over, but I let it run for about 3 minutes. I then shut this and watched the fluid level in the reservoir for a couple of days after a ride. I would top it off to the full line as needed. It has not overheated since.

 

Don't pull the thermostat! All that does is potentially cover-up a different problem. If your bike is puking coolant out the reservoir (i.e. the temp continues to climb and steam forces the coolant out of the reservoir) you have a head gasket problem. If the fan comes on as it should, and you do not have a head gasket problem, then complete a good flush of the plumbing system. Water Wetter does work, but it won't decrease the temp more than 15, maybe 20 degrees.
Snobrd may be onto something; are you sure you have all of the air out of the plumbing? Make sure the "overflow" tube going to your reservoir is clear, as well asthe one that overflows the reservoir. If the coolant visually circulates after warm-up with the rad cap off, your impeller is probably okay.A new fan thermo switch is not a bad idea, but I doubt it's the problem if the fan actually works when wired direct. If there's no actual coolant touching the thermo switch (inside the rad) and/or the contacts are crapped-up with gunk, the switch won't work.

 

Hey thanks for responding. i'm not sure about the headgasket. no water in the oil and the bike runs very strong. If i have the fan straight wired so it constantly runs can that affect it?