Under seat heat deflection tip

[Urlawyer]

This is a tip that I got from RJ from RJS Originals, Inc. when I ordered two heat deflectors, one for my wife's 883 Sportster Trike and one for my FlSTC Trike. Although I have not installed it yet, I know this will be a really good install and cheap to boot.

Harley used to have a metal seat pan under the seat, which kept the heat from reaching the riders, but a few years ago Harley changed the seat pan to a plastic one which does not.

RJ's tip is to use aluminum tape or aluminum foil, which you can get from a hardware store, to cover the underside of the plastic seat pan. He claims that the aluminum tape or the aluminum foil will reduce the heat under the seat from getting through the plastic to the riders.

I think this is a great tip from RJ and I thank him for it.

Urlawyer

Note: Cost of the aluminum tape roll at Home Dept. - $10.68 including tax. Enough to do 4 to 5 seat pans. I think I will put two layers of tape on the seat pans.

[rhino 2]

Sounds like it will work, If the adhesive on the tape doesn't melt from the heat and make a mess...Worth a try..

[Rod69]

Have some alum tape in the basement that I used on the water heater connections. Will try. Thanks.

[PIGGI]

Just make sure if the tape doesn't stick to the seat it can't fall on the battery post and short it out.

[pcombe]

Just make sure if the tape doesn't stick to the seat it can't fall on the battery post and short it out.

that's some clear thinking my friend

[Urlawyer]

I covered the bottom my seat pan and my wife did same to her seat with the aluminum tape. We went for a ride and afterwards we agreed that the tape reduced the heat coming through the seat.

[GARYD]

Until I read this thread, I never noticed any heat problem with the seat - stil don't. Maybe the air bladder of the Road Zepplin seat insulates me.


Another reason to get a RZ seat.

[Scorpio49]

I would think that the surrounding heat would cause the tape to unstick and peel away. How do you keep it attached? Like the idea.

[Urlawyer]

The tape is designed to seal air and heat ducts and is used in air conditioning and furnace units.

however, I will keep an eye on it.

[Mr.Wizard]

There are two different kinds of foil tape. Standard and Mastic.

The Standard must be smoothed out with a hair drier and a hard plastic squeegee to activate the glue. It will stick OK but WILL peal off with time and moisture. Go to your furnace and see if you can pull the foil tape away with your fingernail. The glue gets old and the tape will fall away.

The Mastic (a heavy gray glue backing on the foil) will stick more securely. No hair drier is needed but smooth out with a hard plastic squeegee just the same. It's more than double the cost but well worth it.

In either case you should clean the bottom of the seat with alcohol scrubs before applying the foil tape.

The + battery post should be covered but if you have other wires on the hot post that protrude from under the stock terminal cap then cover it with one sided insulation tape. This is a 1/8th thick black foam tape about as wide as duct tape. I use is in a lot of places to prevent paint rubs, squeaks and of course shorts on the + battery post. I also use it on the back side of my windshield bags where the corners rub the windshield. This will prevent them from scarring.

Another thing you can do is remove the HD mid frame deflectors. They scoop rear cylinder heat and pack it under the seat through an opening in the frame. This sends hot air to the ECM, battery, relays and the seat. On a TG there is an opening where the heat is channeled... it doesn't work very well and you still cook your electronics.

RJ, no more fried thighs, sells a mid frame deflector that will whisk most of the rear cylinder heat away and will not pack it under the seat. See my write up for temperature reductions.

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...der-Heat-A-B-C

Although written in 2010 it still holds true today.

[engprosinc]

This is a tip that I got from RJ from RJS Originals, Inc. when I ordered two heat deflectors, one for my wife's 883 Sportster Trike and one for my FlSTC Trike. Although I have not installed it yet, I know this will be a really good install and cheap to boot.

Harley used to have a metal seat pan under the seat, which kept the heat from reaching the riders, but a few years ago Harley changed the seat pan to a plastic one which does not.

RJ's tip is to use aluminum tape or aluminum foil, which you can get from a hardware store, to cover the underside of the plastic seat pan. He claims that the aluminum tape or the aluminum foil will reduce the heat under the seat from getting through the plastic to the riders.

I think this is a great tip from RJ and I thank him for it.

Urlawyer

Note: Cost of the aluminum tape roll at Home Dept. - $10.68 including tax. Enough to do 4 to 5 seat pans. I think I will put two layers of tape on the seat pans.

My seat isn't a problem. My legs get hot when idling in hot weather. Any good (emphasis GOOD) solutions? The HD deflector does nothing.