Thermostat Replacement

You don't want to do that - it will run rich and idle high for way too long. I can't believe what a huge pita Honda made this job!

 

You need restriction for

1. For the engine to warm up as fast as possible. The longer it takes, the longer it runs rich and damage can occur running an engine too cold.

2. Restriction helps keep the coolant in the rads for a period of time so it can be cooled off. If there is just non-restricted flow the coolant will just fly through the rads and barely get cooled off. Thats why your bike will run super hot in the city, but is still able to keep cool on the highway. Also you'll notice it takes longer for the bike to cool down.

 

Thanks for a great job!!! I needed one as well, and was nervous when I got the air box off. Together Sam Adams and myself pulled it through. Thanks again for the pics and description. People like yall make the internet AWESOME and the dealership broke. Thanks again!

 

Glad the write-up helped. I feel the same way, it's better when you can at least see what you are getting in to.

Action

 

Great write-up! Thanks again. I noticed mine is running as low as 145 degrees on the freeway at night, when it's in the 40's. Didn't realize they had it stuffed down in the middle, that sucks. Your write-up makes it look easy, though time consuming. Thanks again, guess I'll have something to do this weekend after all.

 

Thanks for the reference, Action. Just in time.

 

It is done. Thanks for the warning on the throttle body. That part sucked.
Good write up. Saved me from having to do it.

 

Drewl - Glad you got her done. I know its a pain. I bled both brakes and the clutch today, not fun either.

Action

 

That is the cleanest garage I've ever seen.

 

I replaced the thermostat as just preventative maintenance and I have to add one thing to watch out for is putting the throttle bodies back properly. If you don't push them in all the way down the rest of the parts won't fit. Maybe it was just me but just pushing down wouldn't cut it. I ended up getting a 4x4 wood block and lying it on the throttle body and pounding on the wood block with a hammer so it'd go down.

 

I used a 180 degree thermostat out of a mid 90's 2.2l chevy cavalier. it doesn' t key into the housing exactly the same since it is centered not offset but if fits right in no cutting required. rotate it around and it will fit best in one spot and yes the internal spring clears and it opens fully. works beautiful total cost 12 bucks canadian.

 

changing thermostat

how hard did u have to pry i have a 98 and blew a hose coming off the theremostat housing to the cylinders, I cannot get those F@@@ers out for the life of me i used a larger screwdriver and a piece of wood and could not do it. i have 85,000 miles on it, is it just that hard to get off, Is there anything attached under them i cannot see?? thanks

 

how hard did u have to pry i have a 98 and blew a hose coming off the theremostat housing to the cylinders, I cannot get those F@@@ers out for the life of me i used a larger screwdriver and a piece of wood and could not do it. i have 85,000 miles on it, is it just that hard to get off, Is there anything attached under them i cannot see?? thanks

 

It took a friend and I about 20 minutes to get the throttle bodies off. It helps if you pull straight up on all four corners.

Good luck.

 

They are a bitch to get loose. Did you try putting some heat on them? I used a blow dryer.

Action

 

Great write up! This is exactly the kind of info forum members do best.

 

Really insane place to put a item that need s replacement from time to time.

Very poor design.
Honda really needs to get motorcycle people back into the motorcycle design dept.

 

Love that avatar video joey.

I would add one more step to that thermostat replacement if possible.
I would try to get that thermostat housing outside of that hole and out of that space from under the fuel injection bodies. Could it go outside of that hole or is there something in the way?

Here is the Kawasaki 1500 combo unit that includes filler neck,thermostat and bleed valve all in one. Best I have seen.

 

It was put there for a reason. It's not like the thermostat gets replaced like oil, coolant, or tires. It's my opinion that doing a bunch of work to move the thing around is attempting to fix something that isn't broken.

 

Well having it located there is STUPID, and they could have least had the bolts facing UPWARDS so that you do not have to undo all the hoses,clamps and entire unit to get to the 2 bolts to change the thermostat. right?
VF100R engine below: