You might be able to repair your current fan switch by simply cleaning it with vinegar. Especially in older bikes that sit, or have sat sometimes for years, the switch can become gummed up and stuck.

The switch is actually three pieces and the end cap is removable.

Because this part sits in the coolant it attracts the same gunk that plugs your rad.

Easy step by step process - and I'll add pics below when I remember how to do it.

1. After the switch is removed from the bike it is best to soak it for a few hours in a straight vinegar bath. This helps break up any corrosion that has accumulated on the threads that hold the end cap.

2. Firmly grip the main body of the switch - I used a hand held pair of vice grips where the wrench would normally go.

3. DO NOT GRIP OR TURN THE END PROBE - WHICH IS THE COPPER PIECE ON THE END.

4. Underneath this end probe, there is a small and very short shaft and then a slightly larger piece. In profile there are eight distinct sections of the switch. You are looking for the third distinct piece counting the end probe as number one. (Shown better in the photos)

5. Grip this third section with a needle nose vice grip and turn it gently to unscrew it. It will take some effort but not much. If you are stripping metal off it like I did at first, it probably needs to soak longer.

6. Once the end piece is removed you will see a pin that is supposed to slide freely inside.

7. Soak the end piece with the pin in vinegar overnight and it should loosen enough to pull the pin out. If not, let it soak some more.

8. When the pin is removed, use your fingernail to scrape off any more residue that may be stuck on it and clean out the hole where it sits. I used a toothpick and vinegar bath.

9. Once clean, the pin should slide very easily in and out of the hole.

10. Re-assemble.

11. Test, or not, to suit but should probably test as this will only work if the switch is broken because the pin is stuck.







Hope the pics attached ok. If not I will add them again later.

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M King
1976 GL1000 - Yellow - Restored
1981 GL1100 - Naked - Restored and Sold

I'll be dad-gummed! That is a fine little tutorial, thanks bunches!

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I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes offers polishing and upholstering for your Wing!

I had no idea ...

Worth trying on the old one (which never got thrown out, of course).

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Steve -- IBA #8078 -- Winnie, the '81 Nekkid Bagger build

my experience is the bottom contacts stay good. The top piece with the powdery stuff in it goes bad or collects moisture past its special seal and messes things up like the sliding pin. i cut one top piece apart in the lathe to take a look . If just the top part that screws out was available I imagine most could be saved. JB

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jbz

Having some trouble on this very thing and I'm a long way from home. Does any one have part numbers for the automotive ones that fit?

FAN SWITCH
roady did the research for this, i didnt see it here in this list so here is the link to his post. octane posted the interchange list and it will fit a bunch of gl's.
viewtopic. ... 3965#63965
here is the link to rock auto
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php
click on part number search
here is the part number
2011614
timma11

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77 WING, under magnaficent scalpel
77 Wing. black and ready
83 Wing, ready to alter, finally... A title.

Doing the vinegar soak in combination with an ultrasonic cleaner may speed up the process.

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82 GL1100 Standard/RatBike
83 GL650 Interstate