Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Question about Running "Lean"

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 03:52 PM
  #1  
Mike T's Avatar
Mike T
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 6
From: Union,Ms
Default

More fuel works to help keep cylinders cool.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 03:52 PM
  #2  
nsp261's Avatar
nsp261
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 3
From: Western Nebraska
Default Question about Running "Lean"

I am not a mechanic, I can do maintenance such as change fluids, filters, plugs, etc.

My question for someone in the know is this, why does an engine run "hot" when it is running lean? I don't have a real reason to ponder this because right now my 2004 Ultra is fully stock so it probably doesn't matter to me. I just want to know.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 03:56 PM
  #3  
TexasGrad83's Avatar
TexasGrad83
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Georgetown, TX
Default

Check out this site for a good explanation on engine heat: http://www.nightrider.com/parts/hd2007hd_heat_00.htm. The XIED really works on cooling down the engine, and it's not too expensive...
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 03:58 PM
  #4  
useR 564357348's Avatar
useR 564357348
Banned
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 651
From: null
Default

Originally Posted by nsp261
I am not a mechanic, I can do maintenance such as change fluids, filters, plugs, etc.

My question for someone in the know is this, why does an engine run "hot" when it is running lean? I don't have a real reason to ponder this because right now my 2004 Ultra is fully stock so it probably doesn't matter to me. I just want to know.
An air cooled motor receives approx. 30% of it's cooling from fuel.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 07:24 PM
  #5  
Harleypingman's Avatar
Harleypingman
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Default

Your stock '04 doesn't have the heat issue that is so common now. HD started leaning out fuel in '07 for EPA compliance thereby creating an aftermarket industry to address the heat created by leaner fuel delivery.

Carl
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 09:10 PM
  #6  
FDHOG's Avatar
FDHOG
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Default

Just think of it this way...The more oxygen you give a fire, the hotter it gets. Fuel just keeps it going.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 09:55 PM
  #7  
honestbob's Avatar
honestbob
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,900
Likes: 4
From: way down upon the Suwannee River
Default

#2 on the Nightrider IEDs I've had mine on for 70,000 miles now , no problems and runs a lot cooler.
 
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 11:08 PM
  #8  
RK4ME's Avatar
RK4ME
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,228
Likes: 3,238
From: west Michigan
Default

If your '04 is stock, it's running too lean; maybe not enough to damage the engine but enough to affect performance. You can keep the stock mufflers and still get significant gains from a low restriction air cleaner and fuel minder like the Dyno Jet Power Commander III or V. I know because that's what I did for my '04 FLHRI with a PC V and map from Fuel Moto.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bbqbrisket
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
1
Jun 25, 2013 08:25 AM
The Cheesehead
Touring Models
8
Jul 15, 2012 11:36 AM
Pi-UNIT
General Harley Davidson Chat
9
Dec 28, 2009 07:56 AM
spizzyman
Touring Models
6
Sep 16, 2008 10:30 AM
2008FLHP
Touring Models
2
Dec 30, 2007 10:37 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:41 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE