overheating

[glaswurks]

Got stuck in some stop and go traffic jams yesterday in 100 degree heat and began to wonder how I can tell if the trike is overheating. What to look for in your experience.

Thanks as always for your thoughts.

 

[Gorilla]

The rear cylinder should shut down unless that feature has been disabled. The performance will be sluggish. The motor sounds (lifters etc) will be louder. If the trike was under those conditions for and extended period of time (I would say for me over 15 to 20 minutes) I would change the oil ASAP especially if running regular oil not synthetic. Synthetic will tolerate high temps longer then regular oil.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Got stuck in some stop and go traffic jams yesterday in 100 degree heat and began to wonder how I can tell if the trike is overheating. What to look for in your experience.

Thanks as always for your thoughts.

As Gorilla said, you can tell by the power feeling sluggish.

I can tell you, that even Not in a traffic jam, even at 85* temps, the probability that the engine is running too hot for its' own good is near 100%.

Give this REPORT a read. It has info on how and why the Twin Cams run too hot.

Kevin

 

[Papa Zook]

Got stuck in some stop and go traffic jams yesterday in 100 degree heat and began to wonder how I can tell if the trike is overheating. What to look for in your experience.

Thanks as always for your thoughts.

Tony, the only thing that will keep your air cooled Harley trike from overheating while in traffic is cylinder cooling fans. The most effective fans you can buy are the Love Jugs dual cooling fans. They are very high quality, water proof and are backed with a 100% money back guarantee. There are lots of testimonials on the forum about them. Trike Talk is a stocking dealer for these. Read more about them HERE.

Amsoil also just completed and published an independent test on the Love Jugs fans in slow speed at idle and the results were that the Love Jugs reduced the rear cylinder heat by 145 degrees and the front cylinder heat by 132 degrees. See their report below:

 

[glaswurks]

Thankyou for your thoughts - I'll definitely look into those "love jugs"

 

[screwball]

IF you are stuck in heavy traffic, at a railroad crossing, accident etc. for any length of time in hot weather, shut the motor off and let it cool. We "Flintstoned it" in Las Vegas a while back until we could get off Las Vegas Blvd and onto a side street and get some air on the engine.