Top 5 heat reduction options
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 415
From: Southern Maryland
Top 5 heat reduction options
My bone stock 09 Ultra runs too hot. I know there are things I can do to cool it down, but in what order. Is it an oil cooler, an engine cooling fan, different exhausts, mufflers, tuner, air cleaner??? I am wondering if anyone has a prioritized list of things to do to reduce heat. Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 933
Likes: 4
I had the same problem with my 08 when it was stock. Doing the stage 1 kit with slip on new pipes cooled it down dramatically. After doing this, I was fine with the heat from the rear jug. Also in hot traffic days, rolling the throttle forward to enable the shut off of the rear cylinder works well.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
A/C kit slipons,big change headpipes get rid of the catalytic converter,a tuner not HD stage 1 download or get the XIED'S they change your AFR helps make it run cooler you already have a oil cooler.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
My bone stock 09 Ultra runs too hot. I know there are things I can do to cool it down, but in what order. Is it an oil cooler, an engine cooling fan, different exhausts, mufflers, tuner, air cleaner??? I am wondering if anyone has a prioritized list of things to do to reduce heat. Thanks
2) True duals. You won't feel as much heat particularly on the right side
3) Oil cooler
Done these 3 things in the following order, 1, then 3, then 2 and my 09 Ultra runs cooler now and my legs (and passenger legs) feel much less heat.
I also have aftermarket mufflers but it's more for sound, not really for heat reduction.
Hope this helps.
To "badknees": I'm from the Burgh too. ......... and the 09 Ultra doesn't have a catalytic converter in the headers, only the California models have it.
Last edited by frenchbiker; Feb 24, 2011 at 08:56 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 77
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On my 08 I first did a stage 1 and then an oil cooler.
The stage 1 helped some but the bike still poured off heat on hot days. The oil cooler really solved the heat problem for me. After installing the oil cooler the bike only gets hot if I'm sitting still in traffic.
A buddy and I both bought new 08's together. He currently has a stage 1 where I have both stage 1 and an oil cooler. Our stage 1's are identical. We trailered our bikes to south Florida last week and were riding in lower 80 degree temperatures. At a stop I checked the temp difference between our bikes by touching the exhuast crossover. My bike was significantly cooler. I could keep my hand on my crossover no problem, I could barely touch his crossover because of the heat.
The stage 1 helped some but the bike still poured off heat on hot days. The oil cooler really solved the heat problem for me. After installing the oil cooler the bike only gets hot if I'm sitting still in traffic.
A buddy and I both bought new 08's together. He currently has a stage 1 where I have both stage 1 and an oil cooler. Our stage 1's are identical. We trailered our bikes to south Florida last week and were riding in lower 80 degree temperatures. At a stop I checked the temp difference between our bikes by touching the exhuast crossover. My bike was significantly cooler. I could keep my hand on my crossover no problem, I could barely touch his crossover because of the heat.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
A good tuner: I noticed the biggest difference when I first used the HD SEST.
I had done the mufflers first, then the oil cooler and never noticed any difference until I did the tune with a SEST (not the Stage 1 Download program)
I had done the mufflers first, then the oil cooler and never noticed any difference until I did the tune with a SEST (not the Stage 1 Download program)
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 12
From: DOWN SOUTH
Sounds like you have it figured out already,lol. I dont think there is a particular order, do what fits your budget. I myself would start with the stage 1, for the sound and letting the engine breathe like it should. My .02
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 11
From: TN
I have done them all; syn, oil cooler, true duals, sert/dyno tune. However, removing the lowers gave me a greater heat reduction than all the others combined while on the road. After removing the lowers,the last step, while climbing a 12 mile grade, at 75 mph, in 90 degree temps the oil temp never went over 230.
Stuck in traffic/stop and go in 90 degree heat all betas are off. It is gonna get hot!
Bwana
Stuck in traffic/stop and go in 90 degree heat all betas are off. It is gonna get hot!
Bwana