Temp needle never moves

[dogmatic69]

Well, maybe about 1mm or so, but nothing noticeable. Where should the gauge be sitting under normal riding?

Also, if it should be moving what should I check for? As far as I know there is good earth. Been riding the bike for 2 years now and never seen the gauge work.

[Neosophist]

What bike?

Form your profile, either of them should be about half way.

Check the temp sender wire.. its on the thermostat housing, its only one wire.. with the igntiion on, pull it off and ground it out to the frame, the needle should swing all the way to hot.. if it does this then your temperature sender is the problem.

if it doesnt move you have a wiring fault / maybe a faulty gauge.

dont ground out the wire for longer than 5 seconds though it can damage the senseor.

[dogmatic69]

Its the RVF NC35. I will test it out tonight and see what happens, thanks

[Neosophist]

Its the RVF NC35. I will test it out tonight and see what happens, thanks

np, above instructions apply to both bikes.

[dogmatic69]

Ok, I tested it out and gauge does not move at all.

The fan kicks in when its grounded + loads of sparks.. is this expected?

[speedy231278]

That sounds like you have grounded the fan switch on the side of the radiator. The temperature gauge transducer is located in the thermostat housing which you'll find behind the right mid fairing panel. The fat hose on the top rad goes straight back to it.

[dogmatic69]

I was grounding to a frame bolt, and ground is ground so not sure what difference any other ground would make.

And when I say I "grounded it", that would be referring to the single temp sender wire normally connected to the sensor on the left rad

[Speedy]

...ground is ground so not sure what difference any other ground would make...

And when I say I "grounded it", that would be referring to the single temp sender wire normally connected to the sensor on the left rad

As you found out, the wire you grounded is for the fan; at least now you know the fan still working.
As explained by others, ground the single sender wire (yellow if I'm not mistaken) which you can find attached to the thermostat on the right hand side, mid panel.

This pic should help:

If the needle moves, the problem might be the sender itself.

[dogmatic69]

ah, ok. a different wire. Will give that a go and report back...

[speedy231278]

...ground is ground so not sure what difference any other ground would make...

And when I say I "grounded it", that would be referring to the single temp sender wire normally connected to the sensor on the left rad

As you found out, the wire you grounded is for the fan; at least now you know the fan still working.
As explained by others, ground the single sender wire (yellow if I'm not mistaken) which you can find attached to the thermostat on the right hand side, mid panel.

This pic should help:

If the needle moves, the problem might be the sender itself.

Yup, that's what I meant! Sorry if it was unclear!