Radiator fan issue

[Neil G]

Good afternoon all.

The radiator fan on my 2008 Varadero 1000 has started blowing the 20 amp fuse. The motor seems to spin freely so I'm guessing there's an internal fault with it.

I've resisted the temptation to replace it with a 30 amp one so I reckon it's time to investigate a replacement fan motor but, according to David Silver Spares, a new one (just the motor, no fan, housing) is special order at £400.

I'll go to good old FleaBay for a second-hand one if I have to but I'd like to replace it with a new part if possible.

The fan motor on the bike is made by Panasonic and has the following numbers on the label;

SSW96223E
DC12V
826730
6Z17G

Try as I might, I can't match this number anywhere, not even on all the Panasonic websites I've looked at.

I believe the fan Motor off a VTR1000 is similar if not the same, does anyone out there have a direction they can point me in??

Many thanks.

Neil.

[S Barker]

I don't think the fan motor is grounded (it's mounted in a plastic frame ??) and it is switched on by the thermostat switching the return line to ground so it's far more likely to be a wiring problem than the motor itself.

Does the fuse blow when the engine is cold or just when it's hot ?

The wiring diagram shows a plug/socket close to the motor, have you tried disconnecting this ?


SB

[Neil G]

Hi SB.

The wiring does differ between the earlier carb models and the later fuel injection models.

Looking at the differences in the wiring, the carb models have a 2-pin plug but the one lead coming off the fan motor is in two parts. One has a spade type connector that goes to what I'm guessing is a temperature switch and the other lead coming from the plug has a ring-tag that must go to earth somewhere. this bears out your theory that the earth is switched by the thermo switch thus making the circuit and turning the fan on.

the later FI models just have two straight wires going directly to the plug which I suspect is switched directly (maybe through a relay) by the ECU.

The fan was working perfectly until a few days ago and then started blowing fuses. I can't see any obvious wiring faults and everything else on the bike works as it should which is why I'm pointing the finger at the fan motor.

[Neil G]

Hi again SB.

Apologies, I forgot to add that the fan fuse only blows when the engine is hot and the fan should be working.

[The Prodded Dog]

Do you have a multi meter?
Sounds like there is insufficient resistance in the fan body causing the fan fuse to blow or a broken wire between the temp switch and fan.
Establish how it is wired by using the multimeter. Suspect it is power to temp switch then to one side of the fan motor with the other direct to earth.
Circuit only completed when temp switch passes power to fan. Check the resistance across the fan connections. if it is low or open circuit then the fan is letting the current
go straight to earth blowing the fuse. Could be the windings in the fan motor or a broken wire somewhere in the power feed. Check the wire from temp switch to fan for any damage or fraying.
You might be able to pull the fan apart to have a nosey round the fan motor for any clues.
Sorry don't have the resistance value for the fan motor. Might be listed in a haynes manual somewhere.
Good luck.
The Prodded Dog.