I am on my 3rd Heritage Softail in 25 years. My 2011 96 cu in runs very hot in slow traffic and high ambient temps. Have had the engine remapped for richer and hopefully cooler running. Summer will tell. Any other ideas?

 

Oil cooler. Theres also that fried thighs thing you can install. One more thing not sure if the 11s have this but parade mode may also help.

 

When you say "overheating", is it stalling?

To my knowledge, all air-cooled cycles run hot when standing still or in slow traffic in high ambient temps, and the bigger the motor the more heat it will give off.

 

I think you've got the catylytic converter in your headpipe also. It will cause more heat issues.

 

Got to get the catalytic out of the header pipe, you can cut it out, or buy new header pipes ( I think the best way) Who ever remapped the engine to run richer don't know what they are doing. Why ? Cat needs to run hot to burn off or it will clog. By removing the cat or new header pipes now you can add fuel and the bike will run cooler.
Live with it or make the changes
Get the cat out me I like Rush header pipes
Air cleaner I like Stage1 HD
Slip on's or keep the stock ones I use Rush Big Louies
Fuel management system I use Power commander5
good DYNO TUNE.
Cost for all of this is about 700.00 exhaust, Stage1 Kit 149.00, Power Commander 300.00 Dyno tune 300.00. With a 2011 you should to be able to find some of the parts used, I did see a power commander for sale here I think for about 150.00 I just sold a stage1 kit for 50.00 so they are out there.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Well an oil cooler only works when one is moving and air is flowing over it and the problem is when one is hardly moving. My Evolution and 88 never did get as hot as the 96. Will speak to my Mr fix it man about the catalytic converter and the mixture

 

my stock 07 96'er ran around 250-255* while riding on the oil temp stick, for the first K..

At the 1 K service I did the usual stg one, pipe,SE/AC, Syn oils, but also did SERT tuner and Dyno, that dropped it to around 235-240*

At the 15k service I added some Andrews 26's.. that made the biggest diff.. since the cams it runs around 215-220* most of the time..

Heavy stop and go traffic will make any air cooled bike hotter.

an oil cooler wont help much in heavy traffic either unless you have a fan on it also..

 

Install a set of Wards Fans!

 

On the Heritage, I believe any CAT will be in the mufflers, not in the two head pipes. My 2011 RK with the 96" motor would do what you describe and kick on the EITMS even on cool days if in stop and go traffic. My '14 with the 103" used to get a LOT hotter than the 96" until I did the full stage one.


From your post, I'm not sure I understand your main concern. Is it the EITMS coming on? Or is you leg frying? Or just concern for the motor in general. You can shut the EITMS off by turning on the ignition (without starting it), and rolling the throttle forward and holding it there for a few seconds. Should get a light flashing on your dash/speedo. At least so, with the touring bikes. Not positive on the set-up for the softtails. Check your manual and it should explain it. For the fried leg syndrome, Crotch Cooler from Captain Itch will solve that part of it. For just the hot motor, pull to the side of the road, in the shade, and shut it down until traffic clears up.

 

Slow stop and go riding though traffic will cause an increase in your temps, after all it is an air cooled motor. When I went to Sturgis and rode through their heavy stop and go traffic, I found out first hand what hot thighs felt like and it felt so much better after I got out of town and was able to go faster.