Hot Oil
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
An oil cooler with a fan might help, but it is still simpler to just switch off! OP's problem is something that happens to most of us vary seldom, so isn't something worth planning a work-around for.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Oil coolers usually utilize thermostats to regulate the flow of oil to the cooler. Jason Ward sells a thermostat that will allow an increased flow of oil to the cooler to slow down the process of oil heating. He has a model for the HD stock cooler and the Jagg units (I believe).
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 67
When I see these post about riders who worry that their air cooled Harleys are somehow at risk for melting down during normal everyday riding I always think about the myriad of cops out there that let their bikes sit idling under overpasses all day long waiting for some unsuspecting motorist to come screaming by, begging for a ticket.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
When I see these post about riders who worry that their air cooled Harleys are somehow at risk for melting down during normal everyday riding I always think about the myriad of cops out there that let their bikes sit idling under overpasses all day long waiting for some unsuspecting motorist to come screaming by, begging for a ticket.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa FL
Well most of the votes are don't do anything but turn your bike off. The predictment I was in didn't allow that, emergency vehicle were screaming down the both pull off lanes so I couldn't pull over in there and you would stop for 2 minutes and then creep 200 ft at 3 mph which kept the heat management system from kicking in. So I guess I should carry a CO2 fire extinguisher with me to cool her off. Or buy a 2014 liquid cool.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 648
Likes: 9
From: WV
Well most of the votes are don't do anything but turn your bike off. The predictment I was in didn't allow that, emergency vehicle were screaming down the both pull off lanes so I couldn't pull over in there and you would stop for 2 minutes and then creep 200 ft at 3 mph which kept the heat management system from kicking in. So I guess I should carry a CO2 fire extinguisher with me to cool her off. Or buy a 2014 liquid cool.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
When I see these post about riders who worry that their air cooled Harleys are somehow at risk for melting down during normal everyday riding I always think about the myriad of cops out there that let their bikes sit idling under overpasses all day long waiting for some unsuspecting motorist to come screaming by, begging for a ticket.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
When I see these post about riders who worry that their air cooled Harleys are somehow at risk for melting down during normal everyday riding I always think about the myriad of cops out there that let their bikes sit idling under overpasses all day long waiting for some unsuspecting motorist to come screaming by, begging for a ticket.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
They don't seem to be breaking down and they are abused way more than the average bike. If you ever wanted to see some abuse you should watch the Utube videos of the MOCO testing bikes out on the Arizona dessert test track where they ride them at 80-90 mph for 4 hours and then gas them up and let them sit idling out in the direct sun for another 4 hours. They try to kill those bikes and they still keep running.
So, how do you know when your air cooled engine is "too" hot? When it starts to ping uncontrollably and smoke starts coming off the fins, then that is when you either get it moving or pull it over.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
thats why they make a shoulder on the freeway, so you can ride on it when the cages are stuck in traffic. i never sit anymore, if the exit is in front of me, i ride the shoulder. i would rather get a citation vs sitting.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 265
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
My fans are a little different from traditional parade fans. The FCS provides full time cooling, even at highway speed, to lower the average engine temp and oil temp. The FCS will drop oil temp as much if not more than the typical oil cooler. While its true you bike can idle all day in the desert and not "melt down", that doesn't mean there is no benefit to influencing more favorable operating conditions like lower temperature. If you are running conventional oil, make an effort to keep it below 250F, useful life decreases by about half for every 10 degrees above that. If you want to cool your oil its not foolish, pointless, or a waste of time, as some believe. I suggest you do your own oil research somewhere more productive like at BITOG.