EXTRA FAN SWITCH

[Bulldogx11]

Hi has anybody put in a manual fan switch, so you can turn it on when you want to? I was out yesterday and my fan usually kick on two notches above first big line which is normal I was in traffic and it went to 3lines or so and the fan didn't seem to come on but it did come on later when I checked. would like the switch as a back up in case of problem. What wire did you splice into ? I know its got to be after the switch but if you could aim me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks

[scottolds]

Not 100% sure how it works on the Voyager since it is still pretty new to me.

But on my other motorcycles, the fan is actually powered all the time. The coolant temperature switch grounds the circuit completing it which turns the fan on.

It would be best to study the wiring diagram to be sure.

On my recent trip, I was stuck in traffic a few times and my fan pretty much did what yours did. It always came on, but sometimes it seemed like it waited a bit longer.

Hopefully someone else that actually did this can chime in with information.

[Tonyvdb]

Not 100% sure how it works on the Voyager since it is still pretty new to me.

But on my other motorcycles, the fan is actually powered all the time. The coolant temperature switch grounds the circuit completing it which turns the fan on.

Yes that is how it works, keep in mind that the temperature gauge sensor and the fan sensor are in different locations in the cooling system so you will not always have the fan on at the same temperature reading on the gauge.

[trikebldr]

OK, I don't have a 1200, but on my first '83 1300 Voyager I found that running the fan all the time kept it from climbing into the hot zone in the first place. Of course, the 1300's have more alternator power available, but I'm sure the 12's have enough to do that. Also, the 13's have more tendency to run hot than the 12's, but I learned that taking preemptive steps helps.
As for a manual switch, just go straight to the wires feeding the fan and see if one isn't powered all the time, then tap into the other one and run it to a switch that will ground it when you want the fan to run.
The 13's do have one wire to the fan powered all the time, and I do mean ALL the time! If the fan switch gets hot enough to ground, it will run the fan even if the ignition is turned off and the bike parked.
FWIW, the other day, my fan was running after I parked. It finally turned off,.....briefly! Then it turned back on. This happened three times. Latent heat from deeper in the block makes it's way to the switch slowly, raising it's temp just enough to ground it until most of the heat has dissipated.
What Tonyvdb said is very true. The two sensors are in different areas and will react differently most of the time. Some automotive sensors had the fan switch (when they had an electric fan!) built into the same housing as the temp sender unit, so their fans were predictable, but not most motorcycles. You just have to learn your particular bike's habits.
OK, now I'll shut up and go back to the 1300 room!

[Bulldogx11]

Ok so the fan temp sensor grounds the fan, that make sense. I know the temp gauge sensor is near the thermostat what location is the fan sensor ? I still want my fan to come on normally, I only want the extra manual fan switch so I can turn it on in heavy traffic (stop-n-go)not to run all the time. And if your out on the road and your sensor dies u can turn on fan manually. Thanks for the help

[Tonyvdb]

The sensor I believe is located right at the bottom centre of the rad (facing the front it sticks out about a quarter inch and has a black wire coming out of it)

[triton28]

That is exactly where the sensor is located. Also note the short 2 inch BLACK wire coming from the sensor plugs into a YELLOW wire.
Dave

[Bulldogx11]

Thanks for info on location of the sensor, So has any one done this, and if so where should I splice in so the fan would still work normally and I could also turn on manually? So if the sensor grounds the fan I would have to connect to the ground side run new wire to a switch and then to ground right ? thanks

[trikebldr]

Yes, you do have the right idea. Although mine is a 1300 Voyager, I have connected my extra wire right near the fan itself, to the wire that gets grounded. On my bike it's easier to access. From what others say, the 1200 has an even easier access to that sensor!

[triton28]

while maintaining continuity of the YELLOW wire to the fan sensor, connect it to one leg of a spst on/off switch and connect the other leg of the switch to ground with a wire and suitable wire end fittings.
That way when the switch is off, the fan can still work on it's own; and when the switch is on, you are controlling when the fan comes on by introducing ground to the YELLOW wire.
Dave