Wards Fans or Oil Cooler for 107"
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 404
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From: PA
Wards Fans or Oil Cooler for 107"
Going to install 107" kit with level B heads, 777 cams and SE 50mm throttle body. Going to use the Fuel Moto heavy duty IC cylinders. No problems with heat with the 96" and SE204 cams but I figured I would add something for insurance to control heat with the 107". Was thinking about going with Wards fans but not sure if I would be better off with an oil cooler.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
In short, the engine heats the oil, so if you can keep the heads cooler during traffic events and such, your oil will be cooler as well. So head fan.
Keeps you and the bike cooler when you need it.
That said, with the motor you're putting together, I would put on an oil cooler as well.
It just helps the rate in which the oil gets back down to normal again after a traffic event. Does nothing for rider comfort.
Keeps you and the bike cooler when you need it.
That said, with the motor you're putting together, I would put on an oil cooler as well.
It just helps the rate in which the oil gets back down to normal again after a traffic event. Does nothing for rider comfort.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
My personal opinion on this is that a lot of it has to do with where you live and how you ride. I'd do the oil cooler first and then do the fans if you still need to.
I live on the outskirts of Boston right on the NH border. My riding almost always head, north to NH or VT, or west to Western Mass and NY, or south to Connecticut. All of which is beautiful farm country with minimal street lights and traffic. So I ride all day at back country road speeds between 45 and 80mph and the temps never get above 235 with my 96' and Stage 1 that I also installed a Jagg Deluxe 5 row with no fan. Befiore the Stage 1 and the Jagg heat was a problem.
Now that I have my 107 I may replace the Jagg Deluxe with the 10 row with fan, IF Necessary, but my initial rides with my FM 107 the temps don't look much different than they did with the 96'. I'm seeing oil temps at 200'F (Rodger McEwan oil temp guage) , Engine temps at 255'F and Head Temps at 300'F both from Power Vision.
The New England weather is similar to PA weather, maybe a little cooler, but quite similar, so we only have a couple of real hot months a year. I don't ride real aggressive, and I am hardley ever in stop and go traffic, when I am I'll shut the bike down if I'm dead stopped for something greater than a few minutes.
I run Mobil 1 Automotive 20/50W. Jaime didn't think I was going to have a heat issue. Come talk to me in July and maybe I'm singing a different tune, I don't know yet.
I prefer the oil cooler to the Wards Fans, but it's just 2 ways to attack the same problem. I'd defintely to the oil cooler first and then the fans if necessary.
PS You will love the 107 power.
- Climate/Traffic
- Riding Style
- Engine Temps generated
I live on the outskirts of Boston right on the NH border. My riding almost always head, north to NH or VT, or west to Western Mass and NY, or south to Connecticut. All of which is beautiful farm country with minimal street lights and traffic. So I ride all day at back country road speeds between 45 and 80mph and the temps never get above 235 with my 96' and Stage 1 that I also installed a Jagg Deluxe 5 row with no fan. Befiore the Stage 1 and the Jagg heat was a problem.
Now that I have my 107 I may replace the Jagg Deluxe with the 10 row with fan, IF Necessary, but my initial rides with my FM 107 the temps don't look much different than they did with the 96'. I'm seeing oil temps at 200'F (Rodger McEwan oil temp guage) , Engine temps at 255'F and Head Temps at 300'F both from Power Vision.
The New England weather is similar to PA weather, maybe a little cooler, but quite similar, so we only have a couple of real hot months a year. I don't ride real aggressive, and I am hardley ever in stop and go traffic, when I am I'll shut the bike down if I'm dead stopped for something greater than a few minutes.
I run Mobil 1 Automotive 20/50W. Jaime didn't think I was going to have a heat issue. Come talk to me in July and maybe I'm singing a different tune, I don't know yet.
I prefer the oil cooler to the Wards Fans, but it's just 2 ways to attack the same problem. I'd defintely to the oil cooler first and then the fans if necessary.
PS You will love the 107 power.
Last edited by oldhippie; Apr 9, 2015 at 06:39 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Fans work very well, but there is one thing you need to remember. The fans do not magically make the heat go away, they just move it to another location. (Energy can neither be created or destroyed...)
While I don't have first hand experience with Ward's fans I can tell you where my fan very efficiently moves the heat to.
The inside of my right thigh!
The good news is that via my Thundermax's monitoring ability I can actually prove that my fan works very well to cool down the engine. The bad news is I look silly stuck in traffic (that is when I run my fan) trying to hold my right leg up out of the heat stream!
Like they say, "there is no free lunch".
While I don't have first hand experience with Ward's fans I can tell you where my fan very efficiently moves the heat to.
The inside of my right thigh!
The good news is that via my Thundermax's monitoring ability I can actually prove that my fan works very well to cool down the engine. The bad news is I look silly stuck in traffic (that is when I run my fan) trying to hold my right leg up out of the heat stream!
Like they say, "there is no free lunch".
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
Get an oil temp gauge so you have all the facts before deciding. Unless you are consistently seeing oil temps above 240 there is no need for a cooler. High cylinder head temp is not always indicative of high oil temp. Once your 107 build is done, and properly tuned, you should see nice results. But, Get a gauge.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,684
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Fans work very well, but there is one thing you need to remember. The fans do not magically make the heat go away, they just move it to another location. (Energy can neither be created or destroyed...) While I don't have first hand experience with Ward's fans I can tell you where my fan very efficiently moves the heat to. The inside of my right thigh! The good news is that via my Thundermax's monitoring ability I can actually prove that my fan works very well to cool down the engine. The bad news is I look silly stuck in traffic (that is when I run my fan) trying to hold my right leg up out of the heat stream! Like they say, "there is no free lunch".
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 575
Likes: 190
From: USA
After my FM build, only to a 98", I was measuring 315 to 335 at the rear head around the exhaust port. Jamie stated I would need a cooler when the build was completed so I decided to go the route of the Wards fan. I don't have any issue with hot air on my leg yet but next week I will be in the hot part of the states. Right now with weather in the 70's, same as it was during the previous temp readings, I logged after a 70 mile ride a drop of 30-50 degrees. Now the rear head at the exhaust port area is 285 and front is 260. Very happy with the fan install.
