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Post by stormoffires on Apr 13, 2013 13:26:24 GMT -6
alright so i wanted to get the bike out today, and got it de-winterized, but when i was letting the bike idle, i noticed smoke/steam (not 100% sure) coming from the bottom side of the thermostat, so i pulled the housing off, and found out there is no thermostat in the housing. So my question is anyone know a good replacingment for it? id rather not pay 50 bucks for the one off amazon. or is one even really needed? Im really thinking it was steam, as the coolant had a slight leak there near the housing looked to be dripping down the housing. So any ideas for a thermostat replacment?
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Post by BenInPA on Apr 13, 2013 14:52:51 GMT -6
$50 seems a little expensive for a t-stat. You should be able to get the t-stat at your local dealer for around $30. If you have a drip on the housing I would get the housing o-ring as well. The should only be $2-$3 from the dealer. The bike needs a t-stat in it to run properly. It will not warm up properly if you do not have one installed. The t-stat stays closed until the engine gets up to temp (I believe it is 180) then it opens letting the coolant circulate. Without the t-stat in place the coolant is going to circulate constantly causing the bike not to warm up properly.
Sent from my DROID4 using proboards
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Post by zekkfett on Apr 13, 2013 18:11:25 GMT -6
The bike needs a t-stat in it to run properly. It will not warm up properly if you do not have one installed. The t-stat stays closed until the engine gets up to temp (I believe it is 180) then it opens letting the coolant circulate. Without the t-stat in place the coolant is going to circulate constantly causing the bike not to warm up properly. Sent from my DROID4 using proboards Now you guys are starting to get it! ;D This is probably as cheap as you're going to find a new one.... www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/1986/EN450-A2+454+LTD/RADIATOR/parts.html$30-$50 is about what you're going to spend for one. You gotta remember, these parts are probably no longer made, so they ARE going to be a bit pricey..... Also, it seems after some research, that the early model Vulcan 500 t-stat is the same part number. Maybe you could find one a lil cheaper by looking for a Vulcan one.
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Post by BenInPA on Apr 13, 2013 18:32:45 GMT -6
I got my new stat online www.kawasakipartshouse.com. the stat is $29.39 and o-ring is $3.81. Shipping is about $7 from this site in the us. Sent from my DROID4 using proboards
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Post by BenInPA on Apr 13, 2013 18:35:02 GMT -6
Zekk the more I come on the forum, the more I learn. I enjoy knowing the answer to some of the guys questions. It nice that because of the forum I can do most of the work on the bike.
Sent from my DROID4 using proboards
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Post by zekkfett on Apr 13, 2013 18:50:41 GMT -6
Zekk the more I come on the forum, the more I learn. I enjoy knowing the answer to some of the guys questions. It nice that because of the forum I can do most of the work on the bike. Sent from my DROID4 using proboards The explanation of WHY it needs a thermostat is what impressed me. ;D Good on ya! The only part you missed, was that EFFICIENT combustion occurs at a certain temperature, the thermostat helps to keep the engine in that range, for the most efficient burning of fuel. Also, I BELIEVE our t-stat starts opening at 165 degrees, stock. Most aftermarket stats start opening in the 170-180 range.
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Post by BenInPA on Apr 13, 2013 19:17:53 GMT -6
Now I didn't know that part, thanks zekk. I'll know for the next person that asks! Its funny I didn't know our bike normally ran about 1/2 on the temp guage. You and Blaine told me that. Now that my temp issues were fixed I see what it should be. My stat was bad for a long time. I don't ever remember the bike getting to 1/2 temp. It was always just above the second line. Seems my stat was stuck partially open. When my overheating issue started the stat must have stuck in the closed position. I think it was stuck open since I bought the bike until late last season! I also noticed I do not need a lot of choke to start the bike now. I'm not sure maybe the valve adjustment helped that too. But I used to have at least 3/4 choke to warm the bike up. Now I'm barely at 1/4 choke.
Sent from my DROID4 using proboards
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Post by remat457 on Apr 13, 2013 19:43:12 GMT -6
I got mine on Ebay (used but very good condition) for about $20 shipped.
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Post by stormoffires on Apr 14, 2013 7:18:30 GMT -6
Ya i have learned thanks to yall alot about this bike. And so you all know the T-stat should open between 157.1-162.5F or 69.5-72.5C for the rest of the world haha. anyways, i just ordered mine, was really just interested to see if anyone found a cheap replacement for the bike.
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Post by zekkfett on Apr 14, 2013 9:34:57 GMT -6
I also noticed I do not need a lot of choke to start the bike now. I'm not sure maybe the valve adjustment helped that too. But I used to have at least 3/4 choke to warm the bike up. Now I'm barely at 1/4 choke. Sent from my DROID4 using proboards That's the valve adjustment, working it's magic. ;D
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Post by nitrosportman on Apr 15, 2013 8:41:30 GMT -6
i just took mine into autozone or oriellys (can't remember which) and matched it up to a new one i think it was like $4 and made a gasket out of gasket paper
i don't remember the part number though i didn't even pay attention to it
use a hole punch it makes it easy to cut out gasket holes
i know that doesn't help much but maybe you can just take the whole thermostat housing off and take it up there
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Post by tooshnaba on Jan 3, 2015 8:39:01 GMT -6
Hey all,
Join the LTD 454 club with my first bike. I wanted to get some input on a problem I'm having that might be related to the thermostat. My bike has a fresh coolant mix and the fan works. The bike tends to get very hot according to the temp gauge, near the red line after 15 mins of riding. It is definitely pumping coolant (The hoses are hot after running to and from the engine). Should I be worried about overheating? Could the gauge be reading wrong?
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Post by eaglerider on Jan 3, 2015 13:17:13 GMT -6
Your radiator could possibly be partially clogged.....might need to get it cleaned.
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Post by tooshnaba on Jan 4, 2015 19:17:28 GMT -6
I flushed the system thoroughly twice. There was a lot of rust and gunk in there. There are also lot of bent fins on the radiator but I didn't think that could make the the bike overheat by itself. Thanks for your reply.
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Post by eaglerider on Jan 5, 2015 8:11:02 GMT -6
Flushing will get the loose stuff out, but not the "baked on" stuck stuff. There are several posts on cleaning radiators here on the forum...many have used CLR, the stuff you get to clean showerheads,etc.
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Post by tooshnaba on Jan 5, 2015 9:05:11 GMT -6
That sounds likely. This bike did sit for a long time. I will give that a try. Thanks!
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Post by livefreeordie on Jun 10, 2015 22:38:41 GMT -6
This is probably as cheap as you're going to find a new one.... www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/1986/EN450-A2+454+LTD/RADIATOR/parts.html$30-$50 is about what you're going to spend for one. You gotta remember, these parts are probably no longer made, so they ARE going to be a bit pricey..... Also, it seems after some research, that the early model Vulcan 500 t-stat is the same part number. Maybe you could find one a lil cheaper by looking for a Vulcan one. $40 is obscene for an 80's Japanese bike thermostat. I need one tomorrow. Or the next day. Does anyone have any information on cross-references between manufacturers? We'd save ourselves hundreds of dollars if we did something like this list: zzrbikes.com/threads/75383-Thermostat-cross-referenceFor the ZZR, OEM thermostats are $40, aftermarket is $8. Unfortunately none of the aftermarket manufacturer's websites show anything for the 454. Are we really relegated to the stealership for these?
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Post by grind3r4 on Jul 7, 2018 16:32:58 GMT -6
In regards to the thermostat I discovered if you take it out yes I'm sorry about lubrication stuff you can spray it off with and lube it real good it'll work again that's what I just did on mine and it works I'm not guaranteeing it for everyone and it's only temporary fix
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Post by eaglerider on Jul 8, 2018 4:24:18 GMT -6
Somewhere in the forum, there are a couple or more posts, with info on what thermostats for different cars. If I remember right, one is for a Honda or Toyota.
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