do the 96"s overheat?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 52,957
Likes: 44,480
From: SW OH.
The dynas have less restricted air flow than the dressers so it's not a problem,no harley or any other air cooled bike is designed for prolonged idling and traffic jam riding.I got stuck on a one way road with 7 miles of traffic and stop & go 5 mph,90 deg. riding.Of course the motor was feeling hot!I have always used syn oil and to be on the safe side I installed XIED's to enrichen the mixture in these situations.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 4,889
From: Missouri City,TX
My '09 Street Bob runs kinda' hot...I don't know that it "overheats", but if I'm stuck at a traffic light and the air temps are 75* or above, it starts idiling like a damn jackhammer...like it's hittin' on one cylinder....but it's never stalled or stopped running due to the temp.
I have Amsoil synth in the motor and primary and Redline synth in the trans. and it hasn't helped it to run cooler. The motor is stock except for stage 1 SE intake, pipes and a HD download. I'm avg 34.5 to 36.5 mpg in city riding, so I don't know that it's running too lean since the mpg aren't that great.
The dealer said they are known to run hot, so I'm not too worried about it.
I have Amsoil synth in the motor and primary and Redline synth in the trans. and it hasn't helped it to run cooler. The motor is stock except for stage 1 SE intake, pipes and a HD download. I'm avg 34.5 to 36.5 mpg in city riding, so I don't know that it's running too lean since the mpg aren't that great.
The dealer said they are known to run hot, so I'm not too worried about it.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 1
From: ,,
A PCIII or XiEDs will help as air cooled motors need to run richer to stay cool but can't due to our friends at the EPA.
Even with out, if you don't leave your bike idling for close to half an hour you should be fine.
Edit: you will also start to feel it on your thighs when it gets hot...
Even with out, if you don't leave your bike idling for close to half an hour you should be fine.
Edit: you will also start to feel it on your thighs when it gets hot...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
streetbob, do you know about the "parade mode" that harley designs into the ecm on tc96? basically it cuts off fuel to rear cylinder and injects air into it to cool and lowers engine idle. it is running on 1 cyl. also the more add ons you have for performance will lean out fuel mix in many cases too far and cause heat increase, also o2's will read lean and tell ecm to go rich, thus mis 30 mpg, not good
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 4,889
From: Missouri City,TX
streetbob, do you know about the "parade mode" that harley designs into the ecm on tc96? basically it cuts off fuel to rear cylinder and injects air into it to cool and lowers engine idle. it is running on 1 cyl. also the more add ons you have for performance will lean out fuel mix in many cases too far and cause heat increase, also o2's will read lean and tell ecm to go rich, thus mis 30 mpg, not good
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
The TC96 does not "overheat". It does run hot because it is a stroked version of the TC88 and there is a larger rotational mass with the engine internals which generates more heat. Add to that more stringent lean tuning to meet EPA emission regulations and you have an engine that will approach 300*F on a hot day in slow traffic. But all you have to do is use sythetic oil and you are fine as the syn oils handle 300*F with no issue. .
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,579
Likes: 10
From: S.E. MO
i have ran mine in some pretty hot and nasty conditions and its never overheated. It did run hot when it was stock but never overheated.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 383
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Your engine will get hot but protecting it with a good synthetic is key.
Here are some synthetics with their respective flash points:
Mobil 1 V-Twin (20w-50) - 518*
Bardahl American Classic (20w-50) - 500*
AMSOil Synthetic Motorcycle (20w-50) - 449*
Redline Motorcycle oil (20w-60) - 490*
Havoline Formula 3 - 465*
Pennzoil GT Performance - 460*
Castrol GPS (20W-50) - 414*
I think Harley's Syn3 is rated around 300.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Mine has never overheated. It does run a little hotter than the old TC88 but not problems.