overheating trike

[rtired]

while at bike week, my trike got hotter then normal,around 2/3 of the way, but not over to the red line while going very very slow through main street. about an hour I guess but my main problem was that the clutch felt like it has next to no effect when it was depressed. when I released it , the clutch chattered and a couple of times it stalled. however, when the temperature dropped back down to normal every thing was just fine. 1 is this a normal occurance with the clutch and 2 should it have gotten hotter like that since there is a cooling fan. thanks for what ever inputs you may have <img src="images/smilies/smiley confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="confused" class="inlineimg" /> 1998 1500 11k miles

[Ayatolla of Rockin' Rolla]

The most obvious question would be when was the last time the radiator was drained & flushed ?

[tfdeputydawg]

Wings and many other brands, when in the "parade" mode, which trying to ride in the bike week mess simulates, has been known to cause exactly what you described!
Happens to more Harleys than Wings but, I have seen some Wings have to pull out of parades, especially on hot days and walking pace movement!

[John Luciano]

Did you hear the fans come on. They should have been running wide open. Didn't mention year of bike. Assume it was a Goldwing?. I would check fans and I would add 50/50 antifreeze. Check level of coolant! Only had it happen once and I was low on coolant. Yes the clutch does not like a hot motor.

[Gold Rush]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>rtired</strong>
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<div class="message">while at bike week, my trike got hotter then normal,around 2/3 of the way, but not over to the red line while going very very slow through main street. about an hour I guess but my main problem was that the clutch felt like it has next to no effect when it was depressed. when I released it , the clutch chattered and a couple of times it stalled. however, when the temperature dropped back down to normal every thing was just fine. 1 is this a normal occurance with the clutch and 2 should it have gotten hotter like that since there is a cooling fan. thanks for what ever inputs you may have <img src="images/smilies/smiley confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="confused" class="inlineimg" /></div>

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</div>I suspect you were not moving enough air through the radiator to cool down the antifreeze. But there are other causes.....<br />
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As some have suggested you might need to drain/flush/and refill with new 50-50 mix. Also make sure your radiator is not partly clogged with bugs and other debris. If all that is good then I'd say the very very slow speed was your culprit. <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" /> <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" />

[msocko3]

When was the last time the clutch fluid was replaced with fresh, brake fluid absorbs water which changes the boiling point and could lead to the clutch not working correctly.

[Gold Rush]

I was just talking with one of the fellows I ride with. He said the only time his GL1500 got over normal operating temp was once when the coolant level got a bit low. Something to check..... <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" /> <img src="images/smilies/poof.gif" border="0" alt="" title="poof" class="inlineimg" />

[FRR]

I'll bet it the fans

[champsman97045]

Honda clutches are terrible when working at slow or parade speeds.
Every year I use mine in a parade and works fine as long as you don't keep slipping it to maintain the slow speeds. works fine as long as you operate it fully disengaged or fully engaged.

[JaysGone]

I stopped doing any Parade riding.
My trike will 100% overheat at 5mph for an hour or so.
Fans on full blast.
Here we have lets say an average Dec temp of 75 degrees.
July 85 degrees.
I cant say about where you are but if there isn't enough air flow moving over the inlets.
Your doomed.
So from my experience sitting on the sides of I595 with both my GW Trike and other years my Yamaha RoadStar. Smoking cigarettes with the other mainly air cooled V-Twin boys waiting to cool down.
My parade days are over.