Air flow

[Bondoman]

Curious if anyone has taken off the rad cowl and re directed the air intake. Just trying to allow more air around the engine and exhaust to eliminate getting HOT feet and legs.

[circa1968]

I too had this problem last year when I purchased my 2007 with 21k miles.  I could not ride for more than 15-20 minutes without getting unbelievably hot.  PO had put a chrome cover over the radiator, took that off - no help.   Changed the coolant - no help.  Changed the thermostat (major PITA) - no help.  In the end, it was gunked up carbs causing a lean running condition, which caused it to run hot.  When I bought the bike, it had the freer flowing K&N air filters, which probably added to the lean running condition a bit too.

I had the carbs rebuilt by member eusa1and replaced the air filters with stock.

If you have access to a shop that has an exhaust gas analyzer, they could tell you if you are running lean.  There is a port on each exhaust pipe for this purpose.  I was thinking about having that done, but once I took the carbs off and saw how gunked up the float bowls were, it just made sense to have them rebuilt, which solved my heat problem.

[Freebird]

Removing those lowers is a fairly major ordeal.  I don't think I've actually seen it done.  There are a lot of electrical components inside the lowers.  On the left side you have the cruise control assemblies and on the right side a fuse box and etc.  I would be hard to find a new place for all the things you would have to move. I've owned a lot of bikes and the Venture runs about as cool as any for a bike this size.  The new Venture Transcontinental, the Harley, and the Indian all run MUCH hotter.  

[saddlebum]

Maybe you could try fabricating some type of ram air snorkel that would direct cool air over your legs or past the side of the engine to redirect the hot air.

[luvmy40]

Isn't there set of air wings for the lowers from Yamaha? could those be installed to allow them to divert air onto the rider's legs/feet?

[Bondoman]

Thanks for the input. I took the cowling off, and it's an electrical plate of spaghetti under them, not gonna work. The carbs were rebuilt just before I bought the bike, but I can't be sure if they are to lean without an exhaust analysis, I'll try to find a dealer with the proper equipment to do that. I was wondering also about the deflectors that I've seen on some rad cowls, are the to deflect air inward or outward, and where can they be found ?

[steamer]

On 8/7/2021 at 12:21 PM, Bondoman said:

Thanks for the input. I took the cowling off, and it's an electrical plate of spaghetti under them, not gonna work. The carbs were rebuilt just before I bought the bike, but I can't be sure if they are to lean without an exhaust analysis, I'll try to find a dealer with the proper equipment to do that. I was wondering also about the deflectors that I've seen on some rad cowls, are the to deflect air inward or outward, and where can they be found ?

 

On 8/7/2021 at 12:21 PM, Bondoman said:

Thanks for the input. I took the cowling off, and it's an electrical plate of spaghetti under them, not gonna work. The carbs were rebuilt just before I bought the bike, but I can't be sure if they are to lean without an exhaust analysis, I'll try to find a dealer with the proper equipment to do that. I was wondering also about the deflectors that I've seen on some rad cowls, are the to deflect air inward or outward, and where can they be found ?

try mike eykamp, he salvages royal stars and is a good source of used and new parts.