radiator fan

[j_berg]

How hot does it have to get before the fan kicks in?

[TDbiker]

I was just about to ask the same question. The other day we were riding around town for a while and I couldn't believe how much heat was being thrown off the engine. I couldn't hear the fan (I wear a 3/4 helmet), but the light didn't come on either.

 

I stopped at my local dealer and asked this question of the service manager. While he didn't give a specific temp, he did say that they do have to get very hot, and that the fan is quiet and with a helmet on you may not even hear it. As long as the temp light didn't come on, he says I'm fine.

[j_berg]

I was just out for a 200 mile ride and it is like 86degrees here and hotter than hell in town I dont wear a helmet and I cant hear it but I also looked and didnt see it running but the light didnt come on either i was just wondering

[mm482]

Around 220 degrees F on most car engines, I would think our RVS are in that same area.

 

Earl

[Sylvester]

In nine years, I have only heard my fan once. That was when I left it out on the street (running) and went inside. After awhile I remembered the bike and brought it into the garage, and it was fairly hot outside at the time.

 

[Monty]

It comes on at around 215 degrees F. Mine bike has been at 247 degrees so far, in traffic, and the light didn't come on(I have gauges), so these things must be able to get pretty hot before any damage. At 247, the fan was working overtime.

[phertwo]

The fan is something that has got my attention for a little while now. While sitting in traffic one day I noticed that things started to get really really hot. I leaned over while at a stand still in traffic and noticed that the fan was not on. I convinced myself that something was not right. Maybe a bum thermoswitch.

 

So I took apart the rad and pulled out the thermoswitch and heated it up on the stove (just like the manual states). Sure enough, at I think it was 105F, the thermoswitch closed. So its definitely not the switch. My next thought would be faulty wires/connection. So I connected my multimeter to the thermoswitch wiring connector and started to twist and yank on the connector/wires to see if something was a-miss. But, everything seemed to be alright. I put it all back together with some dielectric grease in the connector and hoped for the best.

 

The fan did turn on after idling the bike for the first 5 minutes after I put it all back together. But shortly after that ( a few rides) the fan is dead weight again. I dunno, I guess I have to just keep the bike moving and never stop. Either that or jump the thermoswitch so its on all the time. Thoughts anyone? Maybe I am just paranoid.

[Scooter Bob]

Either that or jump the thermoswitch so its on all the time. Thoughts anyone? Maybe I am just paranoid.

 

For the little bit that fan is needed, I wouldn't jumper it, maybe a switch for if you THINK it's too hot.

 

About the only time I get the fan on is doing a carb sync on a hot day. Other than that, it's pretty rare.

 

Just my , Scooter Bob

[jlh3rd]

my laser thermometer shows around 215 when the fan comes on....

[phertwo]

A switch is what I was thinking. I commute with my RSTD in heavy Toronto traffic (now rated as the worst traffic in the North America by a recent study) and still no fan. I know the fan should be on because it was working for that brief period when I worked on the rad. But now I got nothing, even during a carb sync. I'm sure this bike is perfectly fine without a fan at all as a static rad will still displace a good deal of heat, but I still feel like something not working properly.

[buddy]

These XVZ motors can take some heat!!

My 83 had the gauge and the fan would not come on until around 220-230F but would cool off pretty fast and shut off as for my RSV the fan hardly comes on but when its does it doesn't run for long both hardly ever came on for me and I never once worried about it! These motors are built pretty dang good.

 

Now if you want heating issues my Friends Ultra Classic now theres you some heating issues before he did some adjustments on his fuel mixture his oil temp gauge was reading 300-390F and it was burning him up pretty good got to the point he hated setting in traffic due to the heat was cooking his legs. He still has heating issues but not as bad..

 

Yep Who ever designed these XVZ motors were a head of the times....

 

Let the motor do its job while you enjoy the ride.........

[phertwo]

300-390F, think of all the good baking you could do on that ultra while you ride! Pre-heat to 350F for 5 minutes then place pizza on lap - ride for an hour and enjoy! Dinner could always be ready when you get home from work!

[Midrsv]

I have a temp gauge and mine comes on when I'm stuck in traffic at 215 degrees and he fan cycles and holds it that temp until I start moving again. Normally it appears the thermostat opens at about 190 or so. It will hold about that while riding.

 

Dennis

[Guest tx2sturgis]

 

Now if you want heating issues my Friends Ultra Classic now theres you some heating issues before he did some adjustments on his fuel mixture his oil temp gauge was reading 300-390F and it was burning him up pretty good got to the point he hated setting in traffic due to the heat was cooking his legs. He still has heating issues but not as bad..

 

Buddy, I NEVER saw the oil temp hit that range on my Ultra. Even in the summer, but my oil temp sensor is at the very bottom of the engine. I wonder where his sensor is located? It may be picking up the temperature of the heads, depending on its location. Or that COULD be a head temperature gauge.

 

390 degree oil is most likely ruined and wont last long or protect the engine.

 

The highest I ever saw it was around 260, on a hot summer day, idling for long periods in the stop-n-go traffic in Sturgis. The oil might have hit higher temps in the upper cylinders, but was cooled down some by my oil cooler. Admittedly, the oil cooler doesn't do much when idling. Does your friend's Ultra have an oil cooler? And does he leave the lowers on during the hottest months? I always take mine off around mid July, and leave them off till mid-September. This would depend on your local weather trends, of course.

 

Normal oil temp for my Ultra is around 180-200 after riding for awhile in moderate temps, and it will climb to 220 or so on a hot summer day cruising the highway. My Ultra has the 88 inch motor, so it may simply be that he has a high compression, higher horsepower motor, and those WILL put out more heat.

 

As far as the RSV throwing out a lot of heat on hot summer days...yep. What you folks are feeling is the fan coming on and pushing heated air over your boots, legs, and arms, as the fan and radiator are working correctly. You cant normally hear the fan, its pretty quiet compared to the other noises the bike naturally makes. I find that it will cycle as I'm riding on a hot summer day, with air temps nearing or over 100 degrees...at temps under about 85 or so, it seems that the ram-air effect keeps the fan from coming on, as the radiator seems to get enough air to work OK.

 

 

[Monty]

TX2Sturgis,

 

Yours isn't that hot because it was made before the EPA came along and made them lean out their new engines, making them run hot. Harley's "fix", was to make it run on just one cylinder while idling at a stoplight....lol http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd2007HD_heat_00.htm

 

I would think using a Power Commander to richen it back up would be the fix.

[buddy]

TX2Sturgis,

 

Yours isn't that hot because it was made before the EPA came along and made them lean out their new engines, making them run hot. Harley's "fix", was to make it run on just one cylinder while idling at a stoplight....lol http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd2007HD_heat_00.htm

 

I would think using a Power Commander to richen it back up would be the fix.

 

I do not know how it was done but Ronnie told me he had HD redo the fuel system to dump more fuel into the motor to the point of flooding out the spark plugs in order to get the engine temp. down some. Bad thing about it is Ronnie paid for it all out of his own pocket. He said he wished now he dint trade in his 05 Ultra Classic on this new Ultra.....

I really like my RSV . Funny thing is so does Ronnie his looking at may be getting a RSV too .....

[Guest tx2sturgis]

TX2Sturgis,

 

Yours isn't that hot because it was made before the EPA came along and made them lean out their new engines, making them run hot. Harley's "fix", was to make it run on just one cylinder while idling at a stoplight....lol http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/hd2007HD_heat_00.htm

 

 

Not quite correct. The EPA has had emissions laws in effect for years before mine was made. ALL Harleys run VERY lean as a stock bike, and that causes them to run hot. I assumed that Buddy's buddy ( you KNEW I'd get that in there!) has had at least the stage one kit added. After that is done, the bike cools its heels a bit, and runs better besides. We call that the 'Harley Tax'...adding around $500 of goodies that are really needed to make it run right.

 

As far as the rear cylinder cutout, yes, that was a dealer flash the first year, then when the touring bikes got the 'drive-by-wire' throttle, the user could manually cut the rear cylinder out by rolling the throttle FORWARD at a stop.

 

 

I simply am curious WHERE the sensor is located on that Ultra, since Harleys do not come from the factory with an oil temp gauge. It had to be installed somewhere, by someone. If its the actual digital dipstick gauge, and its showing oil at 300-390 degrees, that motor is not long for this world. Normal oil temps are in the 230-280 range, but nowhere NEAR 390 degrees. Thats NOT normal, even for a stock, or 103" or 110" motor.

[Monty]

 

 

I really like my RSV . Funny thing is so does Ronnie his looking at may be getting a RSV too .....

 

 

HMMM.....sounds like someone else I know.

[footsie]

Bobby bought a device that plugs into the line on the O2 sensors on his 07 electra glide, that fixed his over heating problems, drop his gas milege for awhile but it came back up.

 

Gregg

[buddy]

Not quite correct. The EPA has had emissions laws in effect for years before mine was made. ALL Harleys run VERY lean as a stock bike, and that causes them to run hot. I assumed that Buddy's buddy ( you KNEW I'd get that in there!) has had at least the stage one kit added. After that is done, the bike cools its heels a bit, and runs better besides. We call that the 'Harley Tax'...adding around $500 of goodies that are really needed to make it run right.

 

As far as the rear cylinder cutout, yes, that was a dealer flash the first year, then when the touring bikes got the 'drive-by-wire' throttle, the user could manually cut the rear cylinder out by rolling the throttle FORWARD at a stop.

 

 

I simply am curious WHERE the sensor is located on that Ultra, since Harleys do not come from the factory with an oil temp gauge. It had to be installed somewhere, by someone. If its the actual digital dipstick gauge, and its showing oil at 300-390 degrees, that motor is not long for this world. Normal oil temps are in the 230-280 range, but nowhere NEAR 390 degrees. Thats NOT normal, even for a stock, or 103" or 110" motor.

 

Brain when I talk to Ronnie I'll ask where this thing is hooked up at? got me wondering now?? last I heard Ronnie he was putting it up for sale so he could buy another ride? I'll find out and let you know...