| Author | Message | ||
     Jkpotter |
This may be a "dumb" question but here goes. I just pick my 08 XT up from the dealer after having the rocker gasket replaced. After riding for 20 miles, when I turned off the bike the fan for the first time ever did not come on. I don't have a lot of confidence in the dealer from past experience, so I was curious is this normal for the fan not to come on? I'm in Florida, and even though it is cold by our standards (51 degrees) I have rode it in colder weather and short trip and the fan always came on. | ||
| Chadhargis |
It is odd that it didn't come on, but not unheard of. I've had mine not come on before if I wasn't beating the bike and it was only a short trip. | ||
| Mad_doctor |
Check the fuse, If it's O.K., then wait for the check engine light to come BACK on after you turn the ignition switch on to start the bike. (If it flashes, you may have problems), if it stays off, it should be O.K.. Good Luck! | ||
| Etennuly |
I have had instances where my fan had just cycled while the bike was running, it shut off, and then I shut the engine down without having it come back on. | ||
| Skinstains |
The plug for the fan is right over the rear head, give it a quick check it may have become loose during the procedure. | ||
| Froggy |
It is possible that it just wasn't hot enough to come on. Hell here in NY it has been in the 20's and 30's, my fan only comes on a quarter of the time. It sucks, I need a switch to force the fan on so I don't look like a poser at gas stops  | ||
| Jkpotter |
Thanks for the advice- I have checked the fuse and the plug they are okay. Talked to Harley-Buell Customer Service & the Dealer (Three-way conversation) They have assured me that if it's a continued problem it will be fixed and to just ride and listen for the fan. Was advised that BadWeather Bikers are "just riders not technicians and they don't know anything" However, everything I learned about Buell flash updates and recalls I've always read here well before the dealer is even aware of them. Thanks again. Love my Uly (6 months -8K miles so far) just not thrilled with the dealer. | ||
| Teeps |
I have found the Uly fan operation to be somewhat fickle. Once I rode 100 miles and never once did the fan come on. The ride included 40 miles @ 80mph freeway, 40 miles of technical twisties (2nd & 3rd gear, rpm in the sweet zone), the rest city streets, to and from the freeway. It runs when it wants to and there is nothing you can do about it... | ||
| Froggy |
They are right, we are just riders, not techs. We can't be held responsible when you end up riding over a thousand miles each way to Georgia for March Badness. We also cannot be held responsible when you find out that the ground off peg feelers are the bikes way of saying "Keep going! Your not dragging the handlebars yet!" Oh, and your dealer has 9000 more important things to worry about at the instant a new flash is available. | ||
| New12r |
I am a tech by trade, so yes, some of us are techs. And we all eat, shat, and sleep Buell here. As far as the fan goes, just keep your ear open, if you dont notice it after a good spirited ride then take it back or learn how to work on it yourself. | ||
| Hooper |
I imagine it was the DEALER that said that we were all just riders and not technicians, right? I hope? Let's see, what wide, sweeping generalizations can I make? Here's one: Buell riders are among the most savvy, least-fluffy, most connected-to-their-bikes riders on the planet. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Consider BadWeb the amalgam of the minds of 10,000 Buell fanatics. At least ONE of us is going to remember the exact same symptoms and the resolution for the problem that caused the symptoms. I almost ALWAYS read new problem threads so that I can familiarize myself with the problem, with recommendations for resolution, and with the final completion of the solution. I may not be a technician by trade, but I am a friggin' Jedi with a search engine. I can recall that the thread exists and hot link it. I would trust our 10,000 people against 90% of the dealer techs and customer service folks. | ||
| Hooper |
"These are not the Ulys you're looking for..." Word up, Mr. Bstrd! | ||
| Skinstains |
Hey Froggy, I wired my hi-beam flash/dip switch to run my fan. I use it at redlights in the summer months to keep things extra cool. It was a pita to do it nice and neat and soldering everything in the switch housing but a worthwile mod imo. | ||
| Paul56 |
In nearly 3 years and 57k miles I have never ridden 20 miles at any ambient temp (provided the trip included freeway speeds) that didn't result in the fan coming on. Even in low 30's the fan will be on at the end of my 35 mile commute. | ||
| Jkpotter |
Just a quick update... Went to leave work last night, the bike had major trouble starting, the check engine light came on, it ran like crap and needless to say it is at the dealer's this morning. FYI: It was the Harley-Buell Customer Service rep that said "just riders, not technicians" Hopefully, it will all be resolved and I can enjoy a long Thanksgiving ride. Ride safe & Happy Thanksgiving. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
If the ECM sends the fan power and no current flows, the "check engine" yellow light comes on. Whether it is intermittent or stays off, a fuse, a connector or the fan that is bad - the light will be on. With rear cylinder gasket leaks, often oil coats the fan, dirt and grime build up and it won't start. The weak fan has a low locked rotor torque. ~jammer | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I do garnish invaluable info on these boars, but I also know to look for multiple sources, use the service manual, and diagnose my bike symptoms as if they are unique. I have learned plenty here, and share when I can. Service techs do not get paid to teach owners how to repair, sorry, just a livelihood with huge investment in time & tools on their part. Writers here may suffer from non-related (and undiagnosed) issues, don't have access to factory issued service bulletins, don't have Digital Technician data, and some may write poorly unintentionally misleading readers. Sure, some service techs are not Buell-centric or are marginal in ability. No less tragic than a poor doctor. But would you self-diagnose and self-medicate a chronic illness from a patient board? But we are all wise to read and educate ourselves on symptoms, diagnoses, treatments - they make our care givers more alert and responsive if we are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment. Just some thoughts. ~jammer | ||
| Mad_doctor |
While your bike is at the stealership, you can have them hook up the digital technician and force the fan on, just to be certain it IS working, This should only take a few minutes. (I'm not really a Buell Technician, but I did spend the night in a Holiday Inn). | ||
| New12r |
You can turn the fan on with ecm spy too. Takes less than 30 seconds from connect to running the fan. | ||
| Jkpotter |
The trusty technicians have determined it is a bad fan and maybe "other things" (I guess that technical talk) but they won't know until they get a new fan in sometime next week. No turkey day ride for me. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I bet that they left a cable tie end jamming the fan or something silly like that. (I do stuff like that all the time.) | ||
| Mad_doctor |
Hey Jkpotter, I,m sorry to hear about your fan and "other stuff", I guess I'm just a badweatherbiker, cause, I don't understand such "technical" jargon like "other stuff". LOL. But I hope you are able to get more ride time in before the weather turns too bad. Have a good Turkey day anyway. |
