| Author | Message | ||
     Brad1445 |
Whodom Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 09:15 pm: Any idea who the existing fan vendor is? _____________________ I have a feeling it's a close relative of whom ever is in charge of purchasing. | ||
| Az_m2 |
I've got 18k on my Uly. My fan has sounded like it was going to fail for quite a long time now, but keeps running just fine. In the Buell survey I filled out I wrote that the fan was the #1 issue by far for me. It was unacceptably loud and was the only reason I considered getting another bike. Seriously, it bothers me that much. It is also the #1 thing that folks have commented on about my Uly by far. For me, the fan takes away from the experience. Noise cancelling earphones have helped quite a bit, but why should I need them? | ||
| Brad1445 |
agreed Az_m2 and we even have a V-Twin sound we are supposed to be enjoying. | ||
| Davo |
My biased opinion: A right side scoop will reduce fan time and keep the engine cooler at speed and under most conditions. During extreme heat and slow moving or idling conditions the scoop will reduce the cooling systems efficiency. A good compromise would be to use a right side scoop and reverse the polarity of the fan so that it no longer pulls hot air into itself. The open right side will reduce the pressure on a reversed fan. No more hot seat and battery! Air off the back tire will now assist the fan. (Message edited by davo on September 02, 2006) (Message edited by davo on September 02, 2006) | ||
| Whodom |
Davo, Thanks for the manufacturing info. A Google of that company leads to: http://www.spal.it/default.php?t=site&pgid=41 | ||
| Aeholton |
Thanks for the manufacturing info. A Google of that company leads to: http://www.spal.it/default.php?t=site&pgid=41 I love the 5th feature in the list  (Message edited by aeholton on September 02, 2006) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Quiet compared to what, a french horn? | ||
| Wademan |
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| 12x_infatuation |
For eriks sake! I just got a quote from trojan horse to freight the RSS (large) to australia. 175 GBP = 332 USD = 432 AUD !!! Looks like im going to have to fashion one from an ice cream container and a coat hanger! What does the Hillbilly-Motors version cost? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Why not get a sheet metal guy who's worth his salt to roll and cut you one out of 18 gauge steel that you can paint. No way is it going to cost you more than 100 bucks. The sheet metal guys that I used to have do stuff for me could do anything and fast. Certainly doesn't need to be plastic, does it? Just show them the picture from BadWeb and give the dimensions you want and voila, you are in business. Nobody should be exhorting 200 to 400 dollars for a 1/2 a plastic funnel. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Hey 12x, not a bad idea, then you could fit one of those 9" fans from spal.it into it! Probably be one hell of a torque reaction when it kicked on though...  | ||
| Xbimmer |
That's a good idea, E-glider. | ||
| Blake |
Diablo Brian, Don't confuse ram air intake with plane old air deflection/ducting. They are two entirely separate subjects. Pretty sure the left side scoop does a wonderful job of deflecting air onto/over the rear cylinder. | ||
| Teeps |
Off to Wrightwood,CA today; about 200 miles round trip, from Torrance. I'm taking scoop that Xbimmer loaned me for the ride, too. Since I've done the same ride with the stock scoop. I may have some additional Semi-scientific observations tonight. | ||
| Davo |
Ok I might have found a new variable to the scoop issue. I changed my oil and went out for a short ride and pulled the front wheel several times and got into the rpm after the engine warmed up. I got back to the garage to check for leaks around the oil filter. The fan did not come on after I shut her down. I am now wondering if the lower fairing is cleaning up the air in such a way that it is robbing the engine of some cooling potential. Just some more food for thought. | ||
| Thespive |
I love the fan. I think it is cool. --Sean | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Was the lower fairing off during you short ride? I would think that without the lower fairing trapping all that heat the engine would stay cooler longer. The oil filter would probably act as an oil cooler also. What do you think? | ||
| Davo |
Yes, the fairing is still off. I think it has an effect on the cooling. I have not tested it with a log yet but I will post the results as soon as I have them. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I've had my lower fairing off the bike for the last 3 weeks, with both my r/s scoop and without. Only change in my fan behavior was after I rode away and left my r/s scoop with Teeps last weekend. Fan has been running overtime all week. Yesterday it was AFRICA HOT in the San Fernando Valley CA and the only time it shut off was at a long gas stop and when I stopped at a bike shop in N Hollywood. Split lanes from Universal City almost all the way back home and fan ran constantly, not so sure the chin fairing would have been much help... | ||
| Wademan |
Guys, I suspect that Buell has investigated every possible way to effectively cool this bike. You are trying to out engineer a team of guys that do this 40 or more hours a week. Chew on this.... The very first post in this thread had some actual hard data and found that an additional scoop on the right side actually INCREASED the head temps in hot climates. +1 Buell Engineers Others have observed that in milder climates the addition of a right side scoop slightly decreases head temps. This is in a situation where additional cooling is even not needed. +1 Buell Engineers My chin fairing is off, my oil filter is a huge heat sink, maybe if I spread my legs more air will deflect down there.... +1 Buell Engineers So who is winning here... The way to win.... LEAVE IT STOCK If you love your Buell enough to fret about it this much then have some faith in the ones who designed your loved one, quit playing with scoops and go ride. JMHO Wade | ||
| Brad1445 |
Fan sounds like a cheep piece of crap. - 1 Buell Engineers | ||
| Davo |
Wademan, I agree with your opinion and my bike is still stock. I think the concern for most riders is the uncertainty of the fans operation. If the fan has to run most of the time and it fails then the rider is in big trouble unless they have a right side scoop and keep the bike moving similar to all HD motorcycles. That is my only issue. It is my opinion that a $60.00 imported fan failure could burn up my engine even if I am running 60 mph on a cool day. It is kind of like leaving home with a water soluble umbrella, you got to tote it around, know its there and always be aware of its weakness. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Blake, that was exactly my point. I think some of the people here were under the (mistake) impression that there was a sort of ram air effect generated by the scoop, so more is better. That is not always true of course. There are complex bits of engineering involved with the design of the cooling system on these bikes. There are a lot of variables like volume, velocity, differential temperature etc. Your bike has some very specific needs. The stock right cover and left scoop help direct air around the heads and keep the air velocity higher around these parts when the fan is running. This is very important! By increasing the area of the front opening with the right side scoop the effect is kind of like the difference between having your thumb over the end of your garden hose (stock config.) then removing your thumb (twin scoop). Same amount of water/air, but which one will do more work in less time? I know that there are some minds I won't change, but I thought about getting one of the right scoops and in the end I decided that I did not have all of the facts (yes, I openly admit this!) and the good folks at BMC are pretty darn good at their jobs. I think that a quieter fan would be nice, but it is not the big deal that some make it out to be. By the time I have my gear off and cane out it has stopped every time I've gone for a ride. If bystanders don't like it...BFD! It's my bike.  | ||
| Xbimmer |
Wademan, no offense, but that strikes me as very simplistic, IMHO. To assume that because a manufacturer releases a product to the world's consumers it is the pinnacle of engineering... ? I'm not picking on Buell, how about Detroit? Daimler/Benz AG? VW/Audi? And countless other non-vehicular manufacturers who've released products that have inherent flaws requiring recalls and fixes. If not outright bans! My Uly is also stock except for the r/s scoop which I'll have the pleasure of reinstalling soon. It's also stock with the recalled and fixed snapper sidestand, the recalled (and rejected now that after four months of waiting for it I find that it sucks) Tall Shield, the stock lowspeed lurching and bucking and pinging itself away when I try to get past a Corolla in hot weather, the stock $1000 saddlebags held closed with $3 Pep Boys bungees... The Uly is a diamond in the rough. Controversy concerning its faults is only tough love and will pay off in the longrun. | ||
| Davo |
Diablobrian, I do not assume that there should be a ram air effect. I just wish there was enough air, without the fan, for the bike to be safe at speed in the event of a fan failure. I carry a spare fan in my saddle bag and that is kind of ridiculous. I like air cooled machines because of their simplicity and fewer moving parts. No anti-freeze, radiator, hoses or water pump but my bike does have an air pump. My Harley's are pump free. | ||
| Dave |
Help me out here...This is an honest question open to all that are worried that the Ulysses fan is running periodically. What rationale supports being concerned over your Ulysses fan running but doesn't share the same concern when (or even if) the cooling fan turns on under the hood of your car? I drove my '96 SVT Cobra yesterday and it didn't cross my mind once. The last time I rode the Ulysses I noticed the fan on at times but it isn't a concern. If the fan started making grinding noises then I could share a concern that the fan would going out. (And I am not doubting anyone that hears the fan grinding itself to a slow death) HD v-twins didn't have fan for years... So what is stopping the folks that don't like the fan running from just unplugging it? DAve ...count me as one that likes the fan. | ||
| Brucelee |
Is it me or are you Uly guys having tons of issues with your bike? Fans, side stands, shields, pinging, what the hay is going on over there. My XB is pretty much a no brainer. No issues save a clutch cable snapping. It would have helped to lube that cable I think! What gives? PS-took a 50 mile ride on Friday. No fan at all. Love my RSS. | ||
| Az_m2 |
What rationale supports being concerned over your Ulysses fan running but doesn't share the same concern when (or even if) the cooling fan turns on under the hood of your car? For me (and most I think), it's the loud fan noise and not the fact that it is running all the time that bothers me. It's not a concern but an annoyance. I did fret over my fan going out on a recent 6k trip because it is making funky noises, but I had no problems. For me the fan takes away from the experience, that's all. HD v-twins didn't have fan for years... So what is stopping the folks that don't like the fan running from just unplugging it? The other HD v-twins and Buells prior to the XBs' rear cylinders weren't shrouded by a frame. I don't think it would be a good idea to unplug the fan. Is it me or are you Uly guys having tons of issues with your bike? My bike has been just about perfect. My only problem so far has been the little plate light cover that broke off during cleaning. I had the headshake problem but that was caused by the Dunlops. No pinging (regularly ride in 110+), no surging, no oil weeping, no problems whatsoever. | ||
| Brad1445 |
I have no doubt the fan is needed on the rear jug covered in the frame. Its the poor quality the sound makes that I personally find annoying and embarrassing to explain. I have many bikes but, all have fans, car has fan, none sound so odd and loud as the fan Buell chose to install. Its Naive to think all any manufacture does is perfect. Look at this forum. The seat was re done, the front suspension was redone, the intake was redone, I just wait for the day that the fan is redone. Continuous improvement is essential to remain competitive and it is not Bashing Buell to address these items in one way its actually more support for the manufacture as we have a desire to see total success. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
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