should i shut down in traffic????
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
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RE: should i shut down in traffic????
When I am stuck in a traffic line up (I.E. border crossings, toll booths, traffic accidents/jams) I have been known to shut my engine off.Some times, due to traffic moving soooo slowly I can duck walk my bike to the next place in line. This seems to work wonders onpreventing overheating (not only for me, but for my bike too). Sitting there idling and not moving for a long period of time is just not an option.
I have already experienced heat exhaustion (for me, sitting on my bike while it exudes high temps from overheating for way too long). You would just have to make a judgment call on how long you may have to sit and wait. If traffic is moving (even if it's sssslowly)...I wouldn't want to start and stop and start and stop over and over for a long period of time. But, sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
I have already experienced heat exhaustion (for me, sitting on my bike while it exudes high temps from overheating for way too long). You would just have to make a judgment call on how long you may have to sit and wait. If traffic is moving (even if it's sssslowly)...I wouldn't want to start and stop and start and stop over and over for a long period of time. But, sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,481
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From:
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
ORIGINAL: nine11c2
I've been working on cars since I'm 7. When you shut down a car engine, the heat actually goes UP for the next hour or so. You have all the heat in the engine, and you've shut down all the cooling. We learned this when you had large, relatively high compression engines in the 1970's which when they got hotter, the pistons expanded in the cylinders and the starters simply couldn't restart them a half hour after you shut them down on a hot day until they cooled down.
Harley engines are not that different than those engines in materials or mechanically. When you shut them down, you are not generating any more heat, and not cooling MUCH with no airflow, but shutting it down shuts down any cooling that the engine does for itself (the oil moving heat out of the dead center of the engine).
The danger of sitting in traffic combined with the fact that the engines just don't lose heat all that quickly when shut down leads me to suggest that you find a way out rather than shut it down completely.
I've been working on cars since I'm 7. When you shut down a car engine, the heat actually goes UP for the next hour or so. You have all the heat in the engine, and you've shut down all the cooling. We learned this when you had large, relatively high compression engines in the 1970's which when they got hotter, the pistons expanded in the cylinders and the starters simply couldn't restart them a half hour after you shut them down on a hot day until they cooled down.
Harley engines are not that different than those engines in materials or mechanically. When you shut them down, you are not generating any more heat, and not cooling MUCH with no airflow, but shutting it down shuts down any cooling that the engine does for itself (the oil moving heat out of the dead center of the engine).
The danger of sitting in traffic combined with the fact that the engines just don't lose heat all that quickly when shut down leads me to suggest that you find a way out rather than shut it down completely.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 0
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
ORIGINAL: nine11c2
I've been working on cars since I'm 7. When you shut down a car engine, the heat actually goes UP for the next hour or so. You have all the heat in the engine, and you've shut down all the cooling. We learned this when you had large, relatively high compression engines in the 1970's which when they got hotter, the pistons expanded in the cylinders and the starters simply couldn't restart them a half hour after you shut them down on a hot day until they cooled down.
Harley engines are not that different than those engines in materials or mechanically. When you shut them down, you are not generating any more heat, and not cooling MUCH with no airflow, but shutting it down shuts down any cooling that the engine does for itself (the oil moving heat out of the dead center of the engine).
The danger of sitting in traffic combined with the fact that the engines just don't lose heat all that quickly when shut down leads me to suggest that you find a way out rather than shut it down completely.
I've been working on cars since I'm 7. When you shut down a car engine, the heat actually goes UP for the next hour or so. You have all the heat in the engine, and you've shut down all the cooling. We learned this when you had large, relatively high compression engines in the 1970's which when they got hotter, the pistons expanded in the cylinders and the starters simply couldn't restart them a half hour after you shut them down on a hot day until they cooled down.
Harley engines are not that different than those engines in materials or mechanically. When you shut them down, you are not generating any more heat, and not cooling MUCH with no airflow, but shutting it down shuts down any cooling that the engine does for itself (the oil moving heat out of the dead center of the engine).
The danger of sitting in traffic combined with the fact that the engines just don't lose heat all that quickly when shut down leads me to suggest that you find a way out rather than shut it down completely.
Good point.
It's not just sitting at a longsignal, it's also stop and go traffic.I would rather have the oil circulating the heat through the entire engine than subject myself to sitting at a signal with a dozen angry cagers behind me while my starter is laboring to kick over a hot engine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 5
From: Oregon
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
Yesterday, was caught in traffic on the 205.. sat there <5mph with both of my boots walking for a good 3-5mins..i said screw this, and cut off on the side of the medium and past a half mile of traffic and magically a truck was the whole hold up. One stinking trucking going 3mph with nothing in front of it.... got in front and saved myself headache.
While illegal... I was actually headed to the nearest off-ramp.. didn't want my bike to be harmed because of stinking lame *** crackerjack drivers who think they own the road.
While illegal... I was actually headed to the nearest off-ramp.. didn't want my bike to be harmed because of stinking lame *** crackerjack drivers who think they own the road.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 92
From:
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
Depending on how often you were shutting down and restarting in traffic, I'd be worried about running out of battery. If its that bad, get off the road for a while.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 770
Likes: 2
From: East NM
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
It's too dangerous to be out on the road with the engine shut down. If your bike starts heating up, it's better to go park someplace and let it cool down. Last year, there was a video on mytube or someplace showing a sportbike getting run down while the rider was bobbing it around to pop it in gear. Think how much longer it would take to fire it up.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
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From:
RE: should i shut down in traffic????
For California Riders. - Remember Lane sharing is legal. As long as you are not driving irresponsibly most CHiPys will look the other way.
I will Lane share / Split if Traffic drops below 25 mph.
I believe the lane sharing law in California is on the books because historically most Motorcycles were air air cooled and subject to over heating when stuck in traffic. Just cautiously slip through traffic and stay cool.
BTW I just read in the HOG magazine that there is a service bulletin on 07 Harleys with heating issues. The computer download shuts down the rear cylinder when stopped.
Wally
I will Lane share / Split if Traffic drops below 25 mph.
I believe the lane sharing law in California is on the books because historically most Motorcycles were air air cooled and subject to over heating when stuck in traffic. Just cautiously slip through traffic and stay cool.
BTW I just read in the HOG magazine that there is a service bulletin on 07 Harleys with heating issues. The computer download shuts down the rear cylinder when stopped.
Wally