softail engine heat issue

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May 31, 2008 | 11:17 AM

#41

jimmers1817

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 6,975

Likes: 12

From: NJ

RE: softail engine heat issue

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Other Sheep

You have to understand the workings of Harley's efi system. Closed loop/open loop. The bike operates in closed loop from idle to about 50% throttle. It goes to open loop at about 50% to wide open throttle. Most add ons like the fuel pak only change the open loop portion. The nightrider IED or XiED changes the air/fuel mix from idle to 50%, the closed loop area. So if you only use one or the other your only changing your bike about 50% for the better. If I had a choice of only one it would without question be the XiED. The fuel pak helped, the XiED fixed it. The bike runs so cool now compared to before that if it wasn't mine I wouldn't believe it. It makes the bike run at an optimum air/fuel ratio, the one that harley would do if they were allowed.

Thanks for explaining that. What made you choose the XiED over the IED. Seems only info I can find on the nightrider site is that one lowers the mixture more than the other. It doesn't tell you why to get one over the other.

May 31, 2008 | 11:52 AM

#42

Other Sheep

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 5,615

Likes: 9

From: Escondido, CA

RE: softail engine heat issue

The XiED puts the mixture at approximately 13.8/1 which is an almost ideal ratio. The IED makes it about 14.2/1 which is a lot better than stock at 14.7/1. Because I have a K&N filter (RK 3909) and Vance and Hines Big Shot Longs (kinda loud) I thought my bike would benefit from more fuel mix. I believe ifI wasn'tdoing any changes to the bike I would have chosen the IED. My son also put them on his Wide Glide. It improved his rideability an amazing amount. His motor is not balanced like a softail but it reduced his engine shake at idle and low speed an incredible amount. This is absolutely the best $100 we've spent on the bikes. We each have about 12,000 miles on the rides and now are looking for reasons to ride more. Your right thigh will appreciate them.

May 31, 2008 | 12:11 PM

#43

harley57

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 111

Likes: 0

From: North Carolina

RE: softail engine heat issue

I have an 08 Deluxe with V & H true Duals, Big Sucker air cleaner, and SERT. I also just had the dealer put in synthetic oil.. Wow! I would get third degree burns on my left leg if I wasn't careful...The heads are too hot to touch and so isn't the oil tank...Now the stealer is telling me I need to spend another 300.00 to have the thing Dynoed. Will doing a dyno really help my problem?? I don't want to waste any money tying to fix the heat issue...

May 31, 2008 | 12:36 PM

#44

jimmers1817

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 6,975

Likes: 12

From: NJ

RE: softail engine heat issue

Quote:

ORIGINAL: harley57

I have an 08 Deluxe with V & H true Duals, Big Sucker air cleaner, and SERT. I also just had the dealer put in synthetic oil.. Wow! I would get third degree burns on my left leg if I wasn't careful...The heads are too hot to touch and so isn't the oil tank...Now the stealer is telling me I need to spend another 300.00 to have the thing Dynoed. Will doing a dyno really help my problem?? I don't want to waste any money tying to fix the heat issue...

Sounds like a normal HD to me.Ifyou think the heads and oil tankare hot try touching the pipes. We have two 08s in the family and heat doesn't bother me unless I'm stuck in traffic. I don't know much about SERT but I thought the Dyno waspart of the package.

May 31, 2008 | 01:01 PM

#45

Other Sheep

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 5,615

Likes: 9

From: Escondido, CA

RE: softail engine heat issue

The SERT has a feature that allows you to max out the a/f mix at idle or during closed loop so the XiED is not needed. How to max it out is the question you need answered. Maybe try asking on the tech forum under tuner. If you have computer ability you may be able to do it yourself without the dyno. Jimmers I would order the XiED if I had your bike with the Rush slip ons.

May 31, 2008 | 06:52 PM

#46

tmitchellof PG

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 3,718

Likes: 11

From: Punta Gorda,FL

RE: softail engine heat issue

Quote:

ORIGINAL: donk_316

My '08 isnt "too hot"... Feels like every other air cooled engine ive ridden but bigger...

Prob just one of those internet myths that one person who is a touch on the pansy side doesnt like the heat being radiated on their legs... HD makes a little clip on air deflector for those folks.

You probablyappreciateanyheat that comes off the engine, while riding in Canada. You might have a different opinion if you lived a thousand miles or more further south.
Tom

May 31, 2008 | 07:52 PM

#47

ebeattie

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,620

Likes: 117

From: ARIZONA

RE: softail engine heat issue

Stage One with SERT precanned map eliminated the issue. Got 50 mpg on a recent road trip to AZ.

May 31, 2008 | 08:13 PM

#48

renoa18

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 292

Likes: 0

RE: softail engine heat issue

The SERT is so specific that unless you have some good engine and computer skills it is hard to tune. You can plug the SERT into your computer and computer on your bike and it gives you a graph of various different air fuel mixturest real close rpm intervals. They say that every 20 rpm you can adjust the mixture on a SERT. The setup I am running after it was dynoed it ran straight on the perferred air fuel mixture line.