Coolant temp gauge...what is normal?

Have just completed a few rides on my VF1000F after redoing carbs, tank, fluids etc. I noticed the temperature gauge does not seem to go much above the part of the gauge where the line goes from narrow too wide while in motion. If I stop and let it idle, the needle will go almost all the way to the top and then the fans will come on. Once I take off again, the temp will drop back to almost the bottom. What should the normal position of the needle be while riding at a steady speed, say 60-7-MPH. Thanks.

 

You flushed the old coolant and replaced with new ?? Re-check coolant level under the rad cap after 1 or 2 rides.

I'm not so familiar with your bike, but most VF/VFRs run in the lower half of the gauge except on very hot days, stuck in stop-and-go traffic, or prolonged idling.

In your coolish climate, expect to see just a bit above 1/4 scale cruising at 100 kph. Much lower or taking too long to reach operating temp might suggest a stuck-open thermostat, so inspect it if in doubt. It usually takes at least 15 minutes riding before temp gauge starts to rise.

Riding in sub-fourty degree (F.) temps, i need to tape over my oil cooler and partially block the radiator (one 3X5" card is good) to get above 1/4 scale.

 

The coolant was replaced twice along with flushing the whole system with water. After a few test rides, the coolant level is good. So far the needle doesn't go that far above rest. If you compare the gauge to a clock face, cold is at 9:00 o'clock, hot would be about 11:30, it never gets past 9:30 while riding about 60mph in temps of around 70 degrees. It ain't that cool up here in the summer. Stop and go will almost max out the needle until the fans come on. I suspect the thermostat, there was a lot of crap/crud in the old coolant.

 

Visible, grainy, crud, rusted-looking and thick drained from the cooling system is evidence the bike was maintained poorly, like the owner didn't care about his VFR. :frown:

 

The bike has sat for 21 years, nothing was done to it including leaving half a tank of fuel/varnish in it. Yes there was a lot of crud in the cooling system, including rust, that's why I flushed it twice. The coolant is still clean after my few short rides. I'm doing this bike for a neighbor who picked it up 18 months ago. It's my first go at a Honda, I usually wrench on Suzuki GS's and their old two strokes.

 

Your description matches the temps behaviour on my vfr700. At idle it will go almost to top before fans kick in. On cooler days it stays around 1/4 while riding, hot days the needle will rise towards 1/2.