I have a Dakota digital guage on my Nightster. It is ready 350, is that hot? How hot is too hot of the engine temp, and does anyone know where the ECU is getting the temp reading? It reached the 350 after about 40 minutes of running in 60 degree weather and was going up. I am afraid it is getting to hot. I have aftermarket pipes and SE air along with power commander. I was thinking that maybe I am running to lean. Or is that temp nothing to worry about? I am thinking once the weather gets hot I will be running at 400 degrees or somewhere around there.

 

guessing that your temp gauge is off. about 200 is the max on mine with synthetic and a rick setting. with the factory lean setting it could see 220. i rarely see 200 now... also aftermarket pipes and sucker on my bike.

 

Are you talking engine head temp or oil temp?

 

I'm guessing you have the same dakota digital I have, it reads cylinder head temp. Not oil temp.
linky: http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd684.htm

From the setup manual:
"TEMP Temperature warning setup
· Press and release the switch until “TEMP” is displayed, then press and hold the switch until “ - “ is displayed.
· Release the switch. H and number from 307F – 419F or 153C – 215C will be displayed. Whenever the temp exceeds this
number the gauge will flash.
· Press and release the switch until the desired value is displayed.
· Press and hold the switch until “ - ” is displayed to save the setting.
*** Default is 419 F(215C), setting it to this temp will also prevent the gauge from flashing.
***Temp units follow the speed unit setup. MPH sets for F and km/h sets for C."

 

Yeah, i did that. But everything i have read said the head temps shouldn't get that high either.

 

It's normal........mine constantly read around 370 as an 883. I did a 1200 conversion and have hit around 407 max. I'm in Florida and the outside temp was around high 80's at the time.

 

Mine read 357F, but my oil gauge temp was between 150-200F. It was about 64 degrees and I rode about 40miles.
Today I did about 30 miles, but temp was only 48F and very windy. When I got home and checked the dakota digital, it only read 199F.
So I'm thinking cylinder head temp is greatly influenced by the ambient air and air flowing around the cylinders. Its aircooled after all

 

Haha, maybe we should start a thread for Dakota Digital owners to see the temp range we all are having.

I had worries at first, then I found another rider and confirmed that we were averaging the same temps.

 

Great idea, start one i will jump in the thread then.

 

I service mine,,
Use good sythetic oil,,
Ride the snot out of it,,
I never punish the bike,,,
Don't see the need for any temp guage,,
Was going to get an Oil temp dip stick,,,
Looked at so many on bikes,,all sayin the same thing...
220-230 with roach oil,,
200-210 with synthetics,,
190 with Intercoolers wich Is too cold for
an engine designed to run 230,,IMO

Borrowd a freinds temp guage,,,
we went riding,,,
showed the same temp he was getting,,,

Yep It hot down here In Florida,,
Still,,,,I see no need for a Temp guage.

It's alot harder to over heat a Sportster than most people think btw,,,

Running good synthetic oil haulin *** or In parade mode slow crawl
at a rally, 250 degrees,,still no worry,,,270,,,time to put her In Da Wind XD
BTW 270 will cook Roach Oil,,,
wont bother synthetics..

So,,
How will you know If yer overheating without a temp guage ??
The Bike will tell you,,It will shift sloppy,,slow,,numb,,clutch action will suck.
and yer still not In the danger zone,,Just put er In Da Wind,,or park it