I recently replaced my stock air filter with a K&N element (designed to replace original filter). The bike seems to be running much hotter now.

Maybe it has just been weather lately, but is sure seems like my '09 ECG is running much hotter with the K&N.

The bike is bone stock.

Has anyone experience this problem?

 

unless you have some sort of fuel management device, your bike is now running dangerously lean is why its hot. more air in=needs more fuel.

 

when u put more air in u need to put more fuel in, many say the stock ecm will correct the afr (air fuel ratio)however this will only happen when the ecm is running in the closed loop mode when ithe ecm is in open loop your running lean look into a tuner i wont open a big can of worms by recommending one ill just say read lots of threads on tunning.

 

Greg, you are definitely running much leaner now since the system is moving significantly more air in the mix. As a minimum, you will want the Stage 1 download from HD (about $145) or a third party fuel management system (PCIII, etc for about $250 or more). It's amazing that the K&N will make that much difference, but I experienced the exact thing on my '07 Road King a couple of years ago - the change made the engine run so much hotter that I was worried I wouldn't make it home. The download fixed it just fine.

 

As others mentioned, increasing the airflow leans your mixture. Fuel is the number 1 source of cooling in air cooled engines, there's where your increased heat is coming from.

The '07 & up closed loop ECMs feature Adaptive Learning. The Adaptive Fuel settings can be reset by a dealer using the Digital Technician II compensating for the increased air flow and restoring your original A/F ratios. Don't let them talk you into a Stage 1 download... the Stage 1 calibrations no longer produce any changes in A/F mixtures, they only raise the rev limiter to 6200 and that's it.

TL

 

I will put stock filter element back on the bike and wait to do a Stage 1 updgrade over the winter.

This is a bit disappointing as K&N (and my dealer) sold this with the representation that this was a stock filter element replacement - with no recalibration required. The stock number is HD-1508.

Lesson learned.

 

Just my 2 cents worth but I don't think changing to a replacement K&N (not high flow back etc.) is causing your heat problems. You may be getting a little better airflow but not enough to cause a real heat issue. If you go to a complete high flow system you will definitely need a tuner !!

 

Also, consider putting some more free flowing pipes to let it breathe a bit better with the a/f and a fule management device. Pay that Harley tax!

 

I just called my local HD service dept. They refuse to consider doing anything other than a Stage 1 download (to the tune of $200). I'm not 100% convinced it's worth $280 for the K&N and HD download. I may just stick with stock. Anyone want to buy my K&N?

 

That was my assumption as well but I guess I was wrong.