| Author | Message | ||
     Coch545 |
Been reading all the fan info out there, still concerned. My fan just ran continuously for 60 miles at 65 MPH in 75 degree temps. 07' with 850 miles, changed to 20/50 Mobile 1 at 700 miles, no change in fan operation. Should I be concerned??? | ||
| Ftd |
Install a RSS. You'll be all set. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I have an alternative theory given recent events. Because the charging system shunts excess power back into the stator and regulator, I think the fan serves to bleed off additional power to prevent stator damage. Just a theory.  I am thinking of adding a Frankenstein laboratory electricity arc thingy on the back of my bike so that excess power can be directed toward it. Be glad your fan is running, it's probably saving your electrical system. | ||
| Dentguy |
Don't worry about that fan running. Mine runs all the time after it gets up to temp. I have done 650 miles a day and it only stopped when I stopped for food and gas. That is without a RSS. I worry when it doesn't run. (Message edited by dentguy on October 28, 2007) | ||
| Packdog |
You might want to check to see if there are any error codes on the ECM using VDSTS or ECMspy - or there is a way to retrieve the codes manually, but I don't know what that procedure is. I doubt you will find anything wrong, since what you are describing sounds like "normal operation" to me. I wouldn't be concerned about it, but if the noise bugs you installing a right side scoop like Ftd says seems to be a popular fix. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Ft Bstrd: they call those "Jacob's ladders" I've seen used to light quite a few boilers over the years. When I worked HVAC I made a few up for friends as halloween party props. Of course they weren't the 3 foot tall ones you see in the movies, but I did find a couple from an old boiler that were 18 or 20 inches. I wish I would have kept them now... FWIW many of them run on 24vac which could be achieved on your bike if you pulled the power from before the voltage regulator (124vac or so) and use a step down transformer. If one were so inclined that is... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Brian, I wonder if I'd get any weird looks. It would be interesting to be able to quantify the amount of energy being "shunted" back into the system. Maybe I just need to get some ground effects neon. | ||
| Hoon |
Yeah,chuck some spots on it,that'll suck some juice up. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I like stealth, but I'm thinking a couple 3 million candle power deer incinerators might just do the trick. Think 300 watts would be sufficient? I wonder if I could fit an ion drive on the back? | ||
| Diablobrian |
You could also build your own jacobs ladder using a neon light power supply tapped off of the 124vac. Of course you'd have to balance the draw off of all 3 legs of the stator or it could lead to trouble. | ||
| Teeps |
Coch545 Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2007 My fan just ran continuously for 60 miles at 65 MPH in 75 degree temps. 07' with 850 miles, changed to 20/50 Mobile 1 at 700 miles, no change in fan operation. Should I be concerned??? No. The fan runs when IT needs to run. I have a routine ride of 50 miles that I do regularly. I've had the fan start running in as little as 7 miles on one ride. Then the next ride the fan does not run until the bike is stopped at 50 miles. The operation is very fickle... | ||
| Treadmarks |
I did a 130 mile ride yesterday. Sunny 78 degrees out. 70% back roads and 30% traffic. I have the RSS, a ceramic pipe, Odies blankets and heat barrier on the bottom of the right side fuel rail and used Mobil 20w50 v-twin this time. The fan never came on, until I stopped for fuel and again when we arrived home. | ||
| Coch545 |
RSS on the way. Thanks for the replies. | ||
| Bearly |
Also your fan will run a little less when you get a couple of thousand miles on it. No worries. | ||
| Teeps |
Bearly Posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 - Also your fan will run a little less when you get a couple of thousand miles on it. No worries. Not really. The only time the fan on my bike ran consistently less was with a Right Side Big Air Scoop. | ||
| Lorazepam |
My fan is on within 5 miles, and it is always running when I slow down and can hear it. Any time I slow down in my videos, I can hear it. My second screaming meamie now has 11k on it and still going strong. | ||
| Iugradmark |
I still think Buell is going to eventually come up with some improvement for the fan / heat issue. Either through different scoop designs, header coatings, or other air management solutions. The sound of the fan, the heat, and the failure rate of the part is something that comes up in almost any bike comparison that includes the Uly and has become a consistent complaint by the bike mags. I believe a little wind tunnel time and some creativity from Buell could make a big difference in how the bike is reviewed and discussed and improve sales. | ||
| Teeps |
Iugradmark Posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 I still think Buell is going to eventually come up with some improvement for the fan / heat issue. Either through different scoop designs, header coatings, or other air management solutions. I would like to think that too; but it ain't going to happen. The XB series of Buell is an example of 10lbs stuffed into a 8lb bag. Buell did an excellent job of making it all work; as well as it does. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Teeps, I hope you are wrong. We keep hearing from Buell that they really love air cooled engines and believe in the motor. The last phase is to sort out the heat and fan issue. It may be a combination of pipe coatings and new airflow designs but if they don't address it they will continue to get beat-up by the press and scare off the market they need to grow the business. Their only other option is to kill the motor and move to a water cooled option. I hope that doesn't happen but the current approach will not allow them to sell enough bikes as long as the market perception is tainted. | ||
| Teeps |
I'm not holding my breath waiting for a ceramic coated exhaust system, quieter fan or other heat management strategies. In my opinion (and you know what that's worth) the XB line is mature as it's going to get. The XB line will continue to be sold until they (Buell) can no longer sell them at a profit. | ||
| Ulynut |
I'm starting to like the fan noise. (stockholm syndrome???)  | ||
| Treadmarks |
I'm starting to like the fan noise. (stockholm syndrome???) If you think the fan sounds nice now, you should hear my new forced air mod for the oil cooler. Twin sofasco 7000 rpm 40 cfm industrial cooling fans, 60mm x 25mm. They bolt to the outside of the oil cooler, under the scoop and force air through the cooler when activated. Right now they are connected to the engine cooling fan and come on whenever it does. Super simple install and if you didn't know what to look for you would never know they were there. More to follow.  | ||
| Bertotti |
Treadmarks that is pure evil. Dropping a tid bit like that with no pics or more info.  | ||
| Brad1445 |
I have no concern if it ran 24/7 just make it sounds better than it does, please.... | ||
| Bertotti |
Has anyone disassembled the fan? I wonder how hard it would be to open it up and change out the greases for some high temp greases, in the bearing. | ||
| Al_lighton |
The 08 bikes have new fan temperature set points. The 03-07 bikes had on at 428F, off at 356F, when the engine was running. The 08's are fan on at 455F and off at something around 376F I think, I can't remember that one and my manual is at work. In another thread, an anonymous wrote that they had tried RSS but couldn't pass emissions with it mounted. 08 is an emissions change year, new levels to achieve, I think. Could it be that the only way that Buell can pass emissions is to run it that much hotter? The 08 fans also run longer when shut off. Al | ||
| Treadmarks |
Treadmarks that is pure evil. Dropping a tid bit like that with no pics or more info. Sorry man, didn't want to hijack. After reading about all the fan failures, I decided to provide an alternate means of cooling the engine incase of failure. I am planning a big trip in a few weeks and was a little concerned. | ||
| Teeps |
Al_lighton Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 In another thread, an anonymous wrote that they had tried RSS but couldn't pass emissions with it mounted. I believe that. But Tail Pipe emissions are only one part of the equation... Ever let an XB with A RSS sit and idle a while? The RSS starts to smoke! A bike with a smoldering RSS would likely never pass the Shed Test... | ||
| Al_lighton |
The thing I didn't mention about the 08's that should be mentioned at the same time is that the oil cooler is a larger 8 row unit with greater cooling cpacity. It supposedly is NOT backwards compatible with the 07 and before bikes, and I suspect that is because it likely requires the new oil pump design with it's higher capacity to use it. Not sure, that's just speculation. I only have about 100 miles on my new 08. I did notice a fair amount more crotch heat than on my 06 Uly. Not sure if that is because of the airbox mods on my 06, or the corbin seat, or what. The 08 has those little plastic duct thingies that channel air backwards off the side holes, but I never really noticed heat from those side holes to be an issue to begin with. I recommend BBQ paint for the painted fiberglass RSS scoops we sell due to the proximity to the header. It generally is a flat to satin black that matches the plastic scoop on the other side pretty well.  Al (Message edited by al_lighton on October 31, 2007) | ||
| Thunderbox |
If the fan never comes on anymore there is something wrong and your engine is running to cool for it's design. Good luck with that motor |
