question on twin cam idling
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
When you're idling intraffic you are not getting airflow arcoss the engine fins, so the oil heats up. With the oil cooler if you are sitting traffic you are not getting airflow across the oil cooler rows either, how effective is it then?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Too many people over worry about the heat build up in these engines. Anybody ever met someone who melted down their bike sitting in traffic? I doubt it.
We have been using Twin Cams for police Motors since 2000. We don't have oil coolers or fans and use dino. Yeah, they get hot in traffic, often times hot enough to kick in the engine management system. Still, the bikes run great. Never had one break down.
We have been using Twin Cams for police Motors since 2000. We don't have oil coolers or fans and use dino. Yeah, they get hot in traffic, often times hot enough to kick in the engine management system. Still, the bikes run great. Never had one break down.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: La Porte, TX
If it's carbureted 10 minutes is usually when you are going to start hitting high engine temps and should decide whether to pull over or run the shoulder. On EFI modules, like xxx said, their is an engine management system that adjusts the AFR to help cool it a little.
When it comes to warm up time... regardless of some opinions, if you don't allow the engine to properly warm up you could be doing damage to the seals in the lower end which could eventually cause leaking into the primary. I've seen it more than a few times. If you don't know how to completely tear down an engine/primary and replace seals this is a VERY expensive project. A good rule of thumb is to let it idle until the rear rocker box is uncomfortable to touch with the back of your fingers. Another easy way to do it is let it run for about 1 minute then shut it down for 5 or so - this allows the heat to sink into the entire engine (you'll be surprised how much the heat will move around after you shut the motor down).
Just my .02 but with a lot of life experience.
When it comes to warm up time... regardless of some opinions, if you don't allow the engine to properly warm up you could be doing damage to the seals in the lower end which could eventually cause leaking into the primary. I've seen it more than a few times. If you don't know how to completely tear down an engine/primary and replace seals this is a VERY expensive project. A good rule of thumb is to let it idle until the rear rocker box is uncomfortable to touch with the back of your fingers. Another easy way to do it is let it run for about 1 minute then shut it down for 5 or so - this allows the heat to sink into the entire engine (you'll be surprised how much the heat will move around after you shut the motor down).
Just my .02 but with a lot of life experience.
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