Educate me on Tri Glide heat

[DK Custom Products]

On the surface that sounds right. HOWEVER, it is based on a faulty assumption. "really was by blowing air on the sensor"

The Engine Temperature Sensor is buried deep in the metal of the cylinder head. The only way the fan blowing can reduce the temperature that the sensor reads is by cooling the cylinder head around the sensor. That is what you want to happen...actually cool the cylinder heads.

To be clear, the sensor is not reading temps that are outside the engine (where the fans are) it is reading the temperature inside the metal of the head, right near the combustion chamber.

That said, I have heard of a few people that have installed fans and oil coolers that have reported that they have not experienced any significant drop in engine or oil temps. I don't know why.

I have personally done extensive testing on a half dozen different bikes and trikes and always seen a very measurable drop in temps. (see video and chart below)

One thing is sure, if the factory temps are not brought down, there will be accelerated engine wear, just like you experienced.





Full report related to the above chart can be seen HERE.

Kevin

[MDF48]

I have been using Wards FCS fans for 3 years on my TGU. As we all know they are out of business, but are basically identical to the Love Jugs model Mighty Mites. I also have the DK oil filter relocator and cooler.

My fans do work with a thermal switch that comes on at a set temp and they stay on all the time. When I stop and turn the bike off they continue running until the head temp drops to 155 degrees. Usually they just run for a couple of minutes unless it is in the high 80-90's outside temp range. I like this because when I just stop somewhere for a short time and get back on the bike, it is a lot cooler.

I don't keep records anymore on my temps but I run a PV tuner and it is always set to show 4 things on the display. Engine temp, water temp and two other items. I know that when I stop for traffic lights or other things the fans really help keep the head and water temps from rising as fast as they did before I installed the fans. Summer temps here always in 80-100 range.

I do not have an oil temp gauge, but if my head temps are lower the oil temps will eventually follow to some degree.

[DK Custom Products]

I hear you. Including the three you've mentioned (yourself, your father, & his friend), I've had 2 others that have reported the same thing.

What's crazy is that one of those two is in Canada also.

Of course, there may be others that I've never heard from.

I spent quite a bit of time with one of them, really trying to trace down why. Never could figure it out. It is a mystery to me why blowing air across the engine does not cool it down and why running oil thru an oil cooler does not cool the oil.

Oh, btw, I was in Canada last year and my fans and oil cooler worked just as well up there as down here, so it is not Canada. But you may have something when you mention it may be the Canadian bikes.

Seriously though, I know it must have been frustrating to have a Trike that did not work properly.

Kevin

[Fearless]

I'm not sure where Harley puts the sensor for Engine temperature, however the PowerVision tells us our motor temperature stays between 230 and 248 degrees never see 250 degrees. But if I have an old timers moment and not turn them on it goes to 260 degrees and climbing in a heart beat once the motor has been heat soaked. This I think is critical for engine life to have the fans operational at all times and by the way if the motor is running I have the fans running. I can't speak for others only from my experience I will not run that air cooled engine without the fans Love Jugs or whatever is available in the future. Sorry to hear that some people do not have success managing heat with them. Travel safe Fred

[DK Custom Products]

I'm not sure where Harley puts the sensor for Engine temperature, however the PowerVision tells us our motor temperature stays between 230 and 248 degrees never see 250 degrees. But if I have an old timers moment and not turn them on it goes to 260 degrees and climbing in a heart beat once the motor has been heat soaked. This I think is critical for engine life to have the fans operational at all times and by the way if the motor is running I have the fans running. I can't speak for others only from my experience I will not run that air cooled engine without the fans Love Jugs or whatever is available in the future. Sorry to hear that some people do not have success managing heat with them. Travel safe Fred

Yes Fred, I agree with you. I have my fans on a manual switch, and every now and then I forget to turn it on. I'll be reminded when I glance at my PowerVision and see the Engine Temp higher than expected...then I realize I did not flip the fan switch.

Like you, I also run mine regardless of the ambient temperature...just yesterday I rode into work at 39 degrees. I had the fans on.

Does the front cylinder really need the fans on at 39 degrees, moving down the road? Nope. But the rear cylinder does not get anywhere near the air flow of the front cylinder, even at 70 mph. So, even in the cold, moving down the road, I will run the fans so that rear cylinder is getting some air flow.

Kevin

[Jack Klarich]

I hear you. Including the three you've mentioned (yourself, your father, & his friend), I've had 2 others that have reported the same thing.

What's crazy is that one of those two is in Canada also.

Of course, there may be others that I've never heard from.

I spent quite a bit of time with one of them, really trying to trace down why. Never could figure it out. It is a mystery to me why blowing air across the engine does not cool it down and why running oil thru an oil cooler does not cool the oil.

Oh, btw, I was in Canada last year and my fans and oil cooler worked just as well up there as down here, so it is not Canada. But you may have something when you mention it may be the Canadian bikes.

Seriously though, I know it must have been frustrating to have a Trike that did not work properly.

Kevin

I wonder if those trikes were sumping to some degree? That could explain the overheating issues

If these were both first generation oil pumps that would explain alot also