New (old) bike - temp gauge and fan not working

(Originally posted by Peterbylt)

I originally posted this over on the Steve Saunders site. But it is a fix for a classic so it should be here too.

The thermal switch on my 81 gl1100 has been broken for some time.

I dropped a couple of wires down and hardwired a toggle switch across it.

$80 or $90 dollars for the replacement switch seemed a little excessive.

I read on the nakedwings board that a thermal switch out of a 94 Geo Metro 1.0L was the right thread and temp so I went to Advance auto parts and bought one for $16.95.

The switch did not have the protruding extension on the inside and had different connectors but it did have the correct threads and screwed right in.

I made some little connector wire adapters so I would not have to cut the original wiring harness and I wanted to keep the bypass switch.

The switch works like a champ and comes on when it should and shuts off when it should.





Peter

I know there are pros and cons to this subject, but long ago I put in a manual switch and took out the thermostat and never looked back . Temps remain constant without going up and down. In hot stop and go traffic. I just turn the fan on and it runs cooler than ever while my harley friends melt I couldnt be any happier, less parts and no blockage in the system.