Don't know if any of you have tried this before. I've discovered an additional oil cooling method which is super low cost and looks trick. In behind the medallion timing cover on the right side of a twin cam is a fair bit of surface area. As the engine runs, oil is flung on the internal surface of the timing cover. If the cavity is left exposed, the heat can't help but to be dissipated through the exposed surface area. If you mount your medallion out ward with longer screws and jam nuts to retain the medallion 1/4 to 1/2 inch out from the face of the timing cover you get a cool look and get air flow in to the timing cover cavity to aid in pulling heat out of the oil splashed on the inside of the timing cover surface. Folks, don't worry about oil loss or dirt in to the engine. That cavity as factory cast, is sealed on Twin Cam engine covers. Anyhow from doing this recently I swear my oil bag temperature is down from past traditional temps. Jim's sells a device that acts as a heat sink for the same area. My method is way more economical. LenBoyLo

 

Interesting. I'll have to give that a try.


R,
Sanjuro

 

I would think it would be comparable to dropping a drop of water into a pot of boiling water. Would be cooler but by how much.

 

Lets have a picture of what you did.

 

Hey man. This is so simple. Give it a try and see for yourself. I work in the industry of steam as an engineer and understand heat absorption and heat dissipation. I haven't bothered to quantify "by how much". Just that my observation is cooler oil back up to the oil bag. Simple stuff. Have a go see how you do.

 

I'm surprised someone at HD didn't come up with this.

 

I'll see about a picture. But go buy longer screws. Maybe 1 1/4 inch. Put the screws through the medallion after you take it off. Put the jam nuts to the back side of the medallion. Thread the screws in to the timing cover threaded holes. Run the jam nuts up against the back side of the medallion. Done. depending on how far you want to space the medallion away from the timing cover will determine what length screws you use. Should be long enough to gently bottom out in the threaded holes of the timing cover. You may also want to tape mask things off and put a light coat of flat black spary paint in the cavity. Black draws heat from a higher heat sources. Silver reflects.

Hahaha. Now the secret is out there and it doesn't cost much but for 5 screws and 5 small nuts.

 

I can't tell if this is a serious thread or not.

 

Evidently he thinks he's serious.

 

Oh you skeptics. Just on looks alone it's cool. And a super cheap try that's not irreversible. The Jim's device (heat sink) is stated to cause the area to run 10' cooler. Costs 116.00 Canadian. Like I said for the few dollars it will cost in longer screws and nuts, try it yourself. When the timing medallion cover is buttoned tight to the recession in the timing cover that's a heat trap. If the trap is opened whatever was inside it escapes. Now with the added benefit of air circulation at road speed, heat gets wicked away in the passing air. I notice a slight difference by temperature indication of the oil in the bag after a ride. Around town and highway. And it's not intended to replace and oil cooler. If you're riding a Harley without an oil cooler that's on you. Black paint on cooling fins and radiators is used for a reason. To wick heat from the metal it's painted on. My little cooling trick is simply a slight enhancement that looks good to boot. Enough said. Now do or don't do it. Hahaha.