Hi all, My son used my bike today (09 Fatboy) He said he was stuck behind a parade for a long time. The oil temp was up to 265 and he said it was running real bad. Unfortunately I did not warn him about the air cooled engine, He has a water cooled crotch rocket. I have not seen him or my bike since. Does anyone know if this could have damaged the engine or am I worried for nothing? Thanks in advance. Mike

 

Highly unlikely that the motor was damaged at that temp. Did the check engine light come on? If not, I doubt you have much to worry about. I believe that starting in '09, all big twins feature something called "parade mode", which shuts down the rear cylinder when head temps (different from oil temp) reach 285 at idle. This may have been why your son thought it was running badly.

 

Mine runs about 250 normally so I don't think yours was running that hot

 

Haven't seen him since? Maybe he got wise and is gonna keep the Fatboy!

 

Your fine. 265 on a twinkie is not unusual.
As already posted once head temps exceed a certain temp the bike shuts off fuel to the rear cylinder. This would explain your sons observation of it running rough.
I suggest checking the oil. Smell it. If it smells burnt or funny I would change it and not give it a second thought.
I had a digital oil temp gauge on my 08 street bob and it saw 315 degree oil temps last summer quite often in traffic. When I went 106 this spring
there was no visible or obvious issues. I had Amsoil in it all last year and iirc flashpoint is over 400 degrees so the oil can handle those temps without issue.
Your bike is fine. Ride er

 

Thanks for the replies. I thought I may just be paranoid. I have never seen it past 220. And yes machinistmate maybe he did get smart!! Thanks again, Mike

 

Parade mode is only on the touring bikes, not on Softails.

 

Have seen 270 on the oil temp couple times on my 06 heritage and no damage, although don't like it, but does happen ..

 

The motor will shut down if the head temp exceeds 310 to prevent any damage.

You are fine.

 

According to my experience and others in here the Softails does have the EITMs option.

I've had my 07 Heritage cut the back cyl out twice in the five yrs I've had it while waiting on a train and I remember reading in here that it can be done, but it doesn't come with it turned on, is what I am reading.

So somewhere in the tuning of it they must have enabled the EITMS.

I looked it up to be sure and found others have it on their Softails also.

So far I've found the earliest Softails in here that has posted about it is 05's have the option to enable it or not..

here's two threads that talk about it...




https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...n-softail.html


https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ir-dyna-2.html







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