| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
Since the temps have plummeted for most of us anyways, I believe that no one has mentioned the dreaded Buell fan.  | ||
| Skyclad |
My fan does still occasionally come on while riding, but it is rare. It does come on every time that I turn to engine off. It has been in the low to mid 30's and I have about 750 miles on the Uly (hey I just got it last Monday). | ||
| Backroad_hog |
Riding in Texas we have had a few days of 60 to 70 deg weather, I have been talking with a guy on the ADV list about the dreaded fan and installing the Right Side Scoop to try to reduce the fan ussage. I love my Uly, but that fan makes me long for the days of my KLR (still had a fan, but it came on less and was at a lower volume) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Hey, I guess I just mentioned it. It doesn't really bother me because it let's me know that the engine was properly warmed. | ||
| Chrisb |
Mine was running yesterday morning 27° on the way into work. | ||
| Loveall13 |
Haven't heard mine in weeks. That because it has been in the shop since the 2nd. Damn regulator/plug. Jeremy | ||
| Johnboy777 |
I don't pay attention to my fan - i will never pay attention to my fan. if the eng. starts to skip fire, to cool itsefl down, i think that'll get my attention, real fast. f**k the friggin' fan. i have 355mi on it now (per the buell break in limits + lots of accell & decel), since late Nov. and as soon as i get 500, i'll run it as hard as hell. god i love this bike! john h. | ||
| Conchop |
Mine only comes on when I turn the motor off. If it was really getting the hot seat, once the ignition was off, it runs a good few minutes. Short cool runs get a short fan run. 08 model running between 45 to 75 degrees, mostly in the 40's. Seems like it would give my Kirby vacuum cleaner a run for the money. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I love the fan. I go out and idle mine till the fan comes on and off at least twice. Long live the fan. I chose to applaud the things the Uly does the best. So the fan makes a little noise. We all know it does there is nothing you can do about it so stop harping on it and enjoy the beautiful Uly ride. And yes Electraglider has the right idea. It lets you know the engine is at proper operating temps. (Message edited by thunderbox on January 16, 2008) (Message edited by thunderbox on January 16, 2008) | ||
| Saltydog |
In the summer its not the fan running that bothers me....its when the fan stops running. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Assumed the correct level of comment-worthiness perhaps. | ||
| Bugnut |
I'm a bit skeptical about that "proper temps". I've had the right side scoop for about nine months. Lately my Florida weather has dipped a bit low and my oil temps rarely get above 180 / 190. And that is with the fan on sometimes at lights, sometimes on only when shut down, sometimes, just on. All with an oil temp of 180ish. I don't think the fan is a "warmed up to temps" kind of gauge. Now during the summer months, oh yeah, that temp gauge is nicely over 200 and the fan singing a song. Almost always! | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Lately my Florida weather has dipped a bit low and my oil temps rarely get above 180 / 190. How do you know what your oil temp is? Thanks, John | ||
| Chadhargis |
No matter what the outside temp is, my fan runs nonstop from the moment the bike reaches proper temp until I shut the bike off. If your fan ain't running, you ain't ridin' hard enough.  | ||
| Khelton |
45 to 50 degrees here..fan comes on every ride. It's like a coffee table book...gives people something to talk about.. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Is it possible to add the model year after your fan comments, I am curious how much the fan runs on the 08 model | ||
| Chris_socal |
I am in the same boat with Chadhargis. If the RPM's drop below 4500 it is because I am coming to a stop. My fan goes pretty much nonstop. To be fair I do live in Southern California and 65 is as cold as it gets during the day here. I am on an 08. -Chris | ||
| Chrisgrant |
65 is as cold as it gets during the day here. You suck  My yard is covered in snow right now. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The fan is on the bike to regulate the engine oil temperature. You don't take the thermostate out of your car because the cooling fan comes on at the stop light so why would you put an additional scoop on to prevent the engine oil from getting up to the proper temp. | ||
| Bugnut |
How do you know what your oil temp is? Way back in the beginning..... sorry. here's the thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/218892.html It's a meat thermometer run through the oil dipstick. Dipstick portion is cut off, hole drilled through, thermometer RTVd in the hole. Of course, hash marks on the "new" dipstick. I can see exactly what the oil temp is at every stop. Just look at the top of the knob. I had a air cooled bug for 20 years - had to keep a close eye on oil temps. It was the only way to know if the engine was o.k. And a head temp gauge. I'm working on that for the Uly. And I'm still not convinced the oil itself isn't too cool after crossing back into the swingarm. The rear head may be up to temp and need the fan, but if it's cold out and the oil cooler keeps scooping up cold air, it may not be boiling off the condensation. Any one know the path the oil travels? Mike (Message edited by bugnut on January 17, 2008) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
The oiltemp dipstick I ended up with looks much nicer than the one on that thread. Larger faced thermometer. Bugnut, it is pretty handy to have and I almost always look at mine when I dismount the bike. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Thanks, Bugnut, i can't imagine why we don't have cyl. head temps on our display - that along with ambient temp would be nice. john h. | ||
| Bugnut |
Electraglider: I was browsing other topics on dipstick, oil, and temp and saw you had gone to a bigger faced dial. As I age I'm thinking the same thing as it's getting more difficult to see that small dial. That was my first mod to the bike in the beginning. Followed your every word like gospel. Great tip. Johnboy: I have an ambient temp gauge that I'm thinking about connecting up to the rear head. Again maybe using some form of kitchen utensil. Having no electrical skills what so ever, I can't come up with a good way to have two sensors, switching between them - yet. I'm sure it could be done, just ain't got no talent in that arena. Mike | ||
| Bearly |
My buddies sometimes raze me a bit about my fan when we pull up somewhere for a rest. I just tell them "it's my supercharger!" Since I installed my Micron Exhaust system, I can't hear the fan hardly at all while it's running. The pipes are now loud enough. I think that is some of the problem with the fan. The Stock bike is too quite except the fan. Believe in the fan. Be Be, Be... the fan. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
About 1/2 way down this thread shows some good photo's of the oil temp dipstick. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/293989.html Only cost about $10.00 for the meat temp probe at ACE hardware. A new ULY dipstick is all of $5.00 if you screw it up. With one of these on the swingarm you'll realize or rather notice just how much cooling that swingarm provides the oil in cooler weather compared to hot summer days. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Boy that's slick, Electraglider_1997 ya wanna start sellin' those?? i'll buy one. . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Johnboy, I'd be interested in knowing what folks would pay for one. That'd give me an idea whether it would be worth the effort. My costs which would include shipping would probably be around 24 bucks each. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on January 18, 2008) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Bugnut, you said in an above post I'm a bit skeptical about that "proper temps". I've had the right side scoop for about nine months. Lately my Florida weather has dipped a bit low and my oil temps rarely get above 180 / 190. And that is with the fan on sometimes at lights, sometimes on only when shut down, sometimes, just on. All with an oil temp of 180ish. I don't think the fan is a "warmed up to temps" kind of gauge. The oil cooling affect of the aluminum swingarm really exaggerates itself as the outside temps drop. With that in mind, the temp dipstick will show lower oil temps when that fan kicks in because the oil is cooled fast in the swingarm. The cylinder head still gets up to temp though eventually and that is why it takes longer for the fan to come on as our weather cools. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Electraglider_1997 ...."I'd be interested in knowing what folks would pay for one. That'd give me an idea whether it would be worth the effort. My costs which would include shipping would probably be around 24 bucks each." not to tell you what to do, of course, but if it were me, i would think $25 per (say $25 cost + $25 profit...so maybe a $50 selling price) would make sense as long as i could do each one in under 1/2 hour, so that i'd be at $50 per hour, min., for my time. then i'd schedule to do a batch of 15 or so (7.5 hrs)in one day (15 X $25 = $375) personally, i would want to make at least $50 an hour for the trouble ... don't forget the time to ship, etc., UPS would stop by if you would have them all boxed and labeled, no sense to burn up your gas 'n time to run them to UPS. after the first batch, you'd be better able to gauge, time, real costs (boxes, etc.) and whether or not it made sense for you, personally might be fun! hope that helps. here's your first pre-order, where do i send my $50.00? ... john h. 1). i assumed $24 was with the cost of a new oil cap thingy, and the meat thermometer, and sealant. 2). on the off chance there's any manufacturing cost analysis experts out there, i know i've taken a lot of liberties here.. my bad. . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
If I can get a minimum of 9 others (besides johnboy) to say they'd buy one then I'll do it. The temp dipsticks would have an upper limit and add lines scribed so, yes, you can still check your oil level. Has worked just fine for me. And they'd be calibrated. |
