Fangs and engine cooling
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Fangs and engine cooling
Hello again. I have the Harley "fangs" mounted to reduce buffeting of my head. They are incredibly effective. However, do they interfere with air flow to the engine? When I look at them with my untrained eye it sure looks like there is plenty of open space to let air flow o he engine. So hat is your opinion?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 40,434
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From: N.E PA
I just put a set on my Heritage, this past week. They definitely reduce the air flow coming up from around the tank. I did notice a significant increase in heat on my right thigh from the engine and pipes, that I never felt before. It started to get extremely uncomfortable.
I removed the fangs, heat virtually gone. They definitely affect the air flow over the pipes and around the engine. I'll save mine for cold weather riding.
I removed the fangs, heat virtually gone. They definitely affect the air flow over the pipes and around the engine. I'll save mine for cold weather riding.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Thanks for the input. I will take them off and see hat happens. On Thursday I had my bike cammed and re-tuned. Unfortunately for me it hit 101F that day and on my 2 hour ride home my oil temp hit 245F with steady riding. Heading to pick up an oil cooler this AM. Hopefully with the oil cooler and Fang removal the temps will drop.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
I think you guys are worrying about nothing.
I've ran the wind deflectors on my '92 & '95 Heritage and my wife has them on her '99 & '08 Heritages.
On both of my Heritages I pulled a trailer while riding double through mountains and once across Death Valley, and neither had an auxiliary oil cooler.
True, the 96's & 103's do run hotter than the Evos and T/C 88's and should have an auxiliary oil cooler but H-D did test them and they're under warranty, right?
You may feel the higher ambient temp's but for an engine that's already running near 280 degrees another 10-20 degrees don't mean much.
If your bike has synthetic oil it should handle the heat.
If your bike uses dino oil, use the straight H-D 50 wt.
Then main thing is to keep the bike moving for more air flow.
A few years ago, I was with a group of bikes near Times Square in September. I was riding my Ultra (full fairings). Some of the guys were pulling to the side of the street and using their hats, hands, whatever to try to fan some wind towards their engines because they thought their engines couldn't take the heat.
My bike never indicated that it was overhearing (no lights, etc) though I knew we would be fine if we could just keep the bikes moving, which at times was impossible.
I've ran the wind deflectors on my '92 & '95 Heritage and my wife has them on her '99 & '08 Heritages.
On both of my Heritages I pulled a trailer while riding double through mountains and once across Death Valley, and neither had an auxiliary oil cooler.
True, the 96's & 103's do run hotter than the Evos and T/C 88's and should have an auxiliary oil cooler but H-D did test them and they're under warranty, right?
You may feel the higher ambient temp's but for an engine that's already running near 280 degrees another 10-20 degrees don't mean much.
If your bike has synthetic oil it should handle the heat.
If your bike uses dino oil, use the straight H-D 50 wt.
Then main thing is to keep the bike moving for more air flow.
A few years ago, I was with a group of bikes near Times Square in September. I was riding my Ultra (full fairings). Some of the guys were pulling to the side of the street and using their hats, hands, whatever to try to fan some wind towards their engines because they thought their engines couldn't take the heat.
My bike never indicated that it was overhearing (no lights, etc) though I knew we would be fine if we could just keep the bikes moving, which at times was impossible.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
You are probably right, but then I would have nothing to worry about.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,477
Likes: 14
From: Western MD
i run the fangs yr round. i've been in 105 deg temps and never see a big diff in temps. It runs about 220 and the heat coming off the rear cyl/right side has always been there.. i mean you are sitting on top of a eng.. its gonna get hot.. go open the hood on a cager and sit on its valve cover and let me know how cool that is..
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Clermont, GA, CSA
When I put the fangs on my '02 Heritage, I did notice a little increase in heat that I felt at slow speeds, 35mph and under.
Once I got over 35mph, the felt heat went away.
Mal
Once I got over 35mph, the felt heat went away.
Mal
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