| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
Over 31,000 miles on mine with the original fan. Sounds good a it ever has. When is it going to grenade? (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on July 11, 2011) | ||
| Froggy |
I'm a little shy of 50k on my 06, but my XB isn't a daily rider. Still holding up, occasionally sounds funny. | ||
| Debueller |
32,000 on my '08 and It's still the orignal. The last 10,000 have been with a race ECM that makes it run all the time I'm moving over 15 mph. I have a used one on the shelf just in case..... | ||
| Froggy |
The 06s had a batch of sub par fans that flake out prematurely. Other years are unaffected. | ||
| Hughlysses |
My original fan outlasted the engine on my 07 (~29,500 miles), and even survived an oil soaking from a failed rear rocker box gasket. I had bought a spare from American Sport Bike a long time ago, so I swapped it out when I swapped the engine, but I'm still keeping the old fan for a spare. (Message edited by Hughlysses on July 11, 2011) | ||
| Etennuly |
My '06 original went out the way of the elderly. At about 10,000 it started to fuss on start up. It continually got worse, nearing 18,000 it would fuss full time, sounding awful when shutting down. Then at 20,000 while I was 600 miles from home in the dead of summer it went up in smoke. I thought the bike was on fire! New fan has been in there since, now at 55,100+ and I run it nearly full time with a manual switch. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lovin the fan. Like to hear it working. Sure pulls the heat away from that rear jug. | ||
| Motorfish |
The fan on my`06 started to make noise around 15K, so I went out and bought a new one. I thought it sounded like bearings rattling, but it stopped so I never replaced it. I`m over 17K now and it is still ok. New one on standby. | ||
| Paul56 |
Kinda hate to jinx myself, but the fan on my 06 has a little over 94,000 miles on it and doesn't sound any different now than when new. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Paul, I sure like to hear that, mine has a long way to go to get anywhere near that use. | ||
| Etennuly |
Paul, Post a picture of that bike. I have not seen one with that many miles on it! I want to see what I have to look forward to!  | ||
| Paul56 |
I plan on it when I hit 100k later this year. I'll do a writeup of what I've had to replace and generally how things are going. I'll have to learn how to post pics, though. I ride it 70 miles round trip to work every day (unless I have to carry something that won't fit) and keep it covered to limit sun damage. Garaged at night. It gets washed pretty much only when it rains. A couple times a year I clean it up. I plan on taking it on a 2 week trip next year- probably Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah. Until someone makes a new bike that can compete with the Uly point for point on the things that are important to me I'll keep riding it! | ||
| Froggy |
Paul, the new Multistrada 1200 has been available for a few years now, time to retire the Uly  | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
Paul,let me know when you make it out to Idaho,I'll show you some awesome roads!..Also want to check out that 100,000 mile bike!  | ||
| Etennuly |
Froggy, you are such a positive influence on the BB&D board.  Go to your room!  (Your beloved 1125 board) and let us adults have our fun! | ||
| Xbimmer |
The 06s had a batch of sub par fans that flake out prematurely. Other years are unaffected. I wonder about that. My 10/05 built '06 started having a rattly fan 6K after new. Never died but I had it replaced under warranty with the fuel pump at 45K just before the 2 year warranty expired 05/08. Last month that one failed, no rattle, just intermittent fail to fan and when it did work spun slowly. That one was a '07 built fan. Replaced it with the '06 built spare I bought back in '06, hope I'm not back where I started. To be fair to the warrantied fan it went 30K, and it does get a lot of exercise where I live. | ||
| Paul56 |
Idaho Buelly- thanks! I'll look you up next year! I would love to get some local knowledge of what looks like prime riding areas. When the Multistrada first came out I thought Wow. Gorgeous. Fast. Expensive. Like some women I've seen (not up close!). Probably a huge rush, for a while. Then the headaches start. Not into headaches. Have to go to work everyday and hate to drive the truck. I think if I had to pull the trigger now it would be the new Stelvio. Especially like the 8(!) gallons of fuel. I could go, like, 4 days on a tank instead of 2. OK- hijack off. | ||
| Brown_e |
My fan died at 23,000. The new one seems to run more often. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My fan hardly ever runs except at shutdown. It used to regularly kick on when the oil in the swingarm was at 185 F as read on the temp dipstick. Then I installed that comfort kit. Now the oil gets about 15 to 25 degrees hotter in the oil tank and the fan rarely kicks on. Most would love the fact that the fan doesn't come on but I differ in that regard. Buell engineers fought the right side scoop ( RSS ) for years saying it essentially would fight the original Left side scoop air flow thereby heating the rear jug more. I think that is actually happening when considering the increase in oil temp and the fact that my fan doesn't come on. That RSS might be cooling the temp sensor keeping the fan from coming on but overall the rear head is getting hotter than before the RSS was installed. Of course it might be that the real reason my oil is hotter is because the swingarm is now getting hot from the directed heat of the shroud from the comfort kit. I really don't know how much heat is shunted down that shroud when the fan is off and blocking the air flow off the rear head. What I plan on doing is taking the RSS off and putting back in place the old plastic piece and seeing if that reverts things to the way I perceived them to be before the comfort kit was installed. If nothing changes, oil temp wise or fan kick on wise then I'd be surprised. The shroud will be there in any case so if the oil temp goes down then I'll be inclined to believe the RSS is the culprit and only there because Buell got sick of us bitching for one. Of course I'll let you folks know what the outcome of this experimental foray is asap. | ||
| Uly_dude |
What you say all makes sense EG. I'll be very interested in your test results. Might have to get me one of the oil temp dip sticks myself. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I just got finished putting back on the original equipment shroud. From taking off the RSS and putting back on the OEM shroud it took me less than 10 minutes. Fortunately the Buell engineers were kind enough to use all the original fasteners for installing the RSS. I only had to take off the RSS and use the three 1/4-20 button head torx screws to reinstall the shroud. It will take a bit of riding to come to some conclusion. I have effectively hijacked my own post. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on July 14, 2011) | ||
| Jessemc |
Eg-1997: Of course I'll let you folks know what the outcome of this experimental foray is asap. good on you for the hijack...my inside of the thigh sense is that you may be right about the RSS elevating temp somewhat. I'm interested in hearing the results of the experiment. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'm going to take a ride this evening and it is hot than the blazes outside, over 95 F and very humid. I'll report what happens in regards to fan, oil temp and whatever else I notice. I've change the fluids, 15W50 in the crankcase and new Formula+ in the tranny. I just finally put the Michelin Pilot Road 2 on the front last night and haven't ridden with it yet. I've had a PR2 on the rear for some time now with a Pirelli Scorpion on the front. I'm hoping the front PR2 will turn in a bit faster. My son's got a D616 front and rear and his drops in way easier than mine, almost too fast for what I'm accustomed to. I'll find out on my ride. | ||
| Ourdee |
No comfort kit here. I sealed the gap between the seat and air box, then made a shield for the header. That works well for me. I'm staying away from the RS scoop. There was a reason for the engineer's concerns. My CJ had a recall for a cover to be put over the exhaust manifold. Problem was some owners, that never checked under the hood, wound up with leaves on the exhaust manifold that caused a fire. The "repaired" vehicles sometimes had heat related problems with a couple of the cylinders after the fix. I am glad I just said no to it. How hard is it to look under the hood? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I took my 06' for a ride on Saturday. The fan actually came on. while I was riding. At what temp it came on I am not sure because I always wear ear plugs. Oil temp got to 205 in the swingarm according to the temp dipstick. The outside temp was better than 95 F so I'm not surprised that the oil was hot. The nice thing though was that the fan came on, something that rarely if ever happened with the RSS in place. I was riding with my wife on the back which is also rare as she has her own 07' 1200 Sportster, but we were going to have a high octane beer at the Nebraska Brewing Company. One of those micro beers really puts the head in a buzz. We both had a tall glass of EOS Hefeweizen which only has 1/2 the alcohol content of their Hop God but really hit me hard. After one beer each, we walked until I was fit to ride again. http://www.nebraskabrewingco.com/brews.asp Only time will tell whether that RSS does anything other than keep the fan from coming on. The fan keeps the oil temp from getting out of hand so I'm inclined to think it running is a good thing. I do know that my oil temps with the RSS in place get way hotter than they used to pre-RSS. One ride does not prove anything. I can say that I've ridden with the RSS on and the swingarm oil has gotten to 210 and the only time the fan came on was at shutdown and that does not seem to be right. Took the RSS off and the first ride had the fan come on during riding instead of at shutdown. Looks promising. Will report as I get more riding in but the temps outside are heatwave miserable for the next week or so. And I'm doing the 1st day of RAGBRAI for those that know what that is. http://ragbrai.com/ | ||
| Paul56 |
Best of luck on the RAGBRAI. Good friend of mine (very dedicated rider) got to do it once years ago and loved it. Wasn't killer heat like now, though. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Paul, I've done as much as 3 days, but mostly I just do the 1st day. Back in 1987 I rode the "Ride the Rockies". Now that is a ride that takes some preparation. 13 mountain passes and the scenery was much better than Iowa's. http://ridetherockies.com/ | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I stopped when my fan came on today while riding. 195 F. oil in the swingarm. Remember this is with the RSS removed and the original plastic piece put back in place. Normally the fan would not come on with oil temp at 195 with the RSS installed. I'm not sure what good that RSS is providing. I want the fan to come on when the oil gets hot. | ||
| Paul56 |
Electraglider- 195 isn't hot for oil. I want mine to run about 215 or so to keep the condensation evaporated out. Especially with synthetics, oil temp just isn't likely to be a problem. I worry more about the hot airstream on the ECM. It's cooking there! Wish I had some thermocouple leads and a digital thermometer to do some tests. Hmmmm.......... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Paul, The 195 F temp is measured at the swingarm which is another cooler not unlike the othe ULY finned oil cooler. The oil quickly looses heat when it joins the oil sitting in the swingarm. The oil temps inside the engine are certainly much higher. The larger finned oil cooler on the 08, 09, 2010 ULYs was designed to bring the oil to 185 F which I read a few years ago when all the updates were explained. Remember, our engines are air and oil cooled. Once that rear head gets hot enough to signal the ECM to turn on that fan, you can be assured that the oil is plenty hot enough to boil off the condensate. The rear head temp sensor has to read north of 300 F for the fan to kick on at shutdown and hotter than 400 to kick on while running. Can't recall the actual temps, someone please chime in. The swingarm oil temp at shutdown only has to be 150 F or so to kick the fan on at shutdown. That means that rear head is already hotter than hell. The 150 temp is from a few years of observation of the oil temp dipstick. It is exactly the same on my son's 07' ULY. When we go for a ride I'll check his oil temp dipstick and mine and they'll always be exactly the same temps for whatever length of ride we took. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on July 20, 2011) |
