Idea for venting heat

[mtdoragary]

:agree:

The amount of coolant in any heated system determines 2 things, first time to reach operating temperature after initializing the staring sequence and second, the maintaing of a "calculated" temperature range as determined by engineers in their op-specs ("thermo-hydrodynamics" fancy word for heating and cooling by use of a moving fluid).

ANY changes to "cooling" down the engine has an offset on the other side of the equation (ie: balance between time to reach initial warm-up temp versus a reducing lifetime of a component not at temp.).

PERSONALLY I want a ride that does not try to bake me regardless of outside temp. Unfortunately motorcycles do not have a "firewall" which both contains and deflects engine heat (and fire) away from the occupant(s). But liquid-cooling of an engine beats air-cooling any day!

Just some food for thought!

My Harley runs much cooler than my Spyder and is much more comfortable in hot weather. I can't say the same for my other air-cooled bikes with the exception of my old Beemer R60US.

 

[zeebill]

Have you gone into limp mode? If not, I'm unsure that you need more cooling. Remember that the system coolant capacity and radiator size are limited, and that the fan in normally sized to match. Too large a fan can also cause problems...especially when the weather cools. If it is a matter of rider comfort, your needs are more likely a way to move the hot air out of the bodywork...or better insulation and smaller gaps. If it is a matter of performance, something like a Juicebox would be the most appropriate.

I'm with you on this one! I have been running in 90+ degree heat all summer but have never had any heat related issues? The reason I put a question mark there is I really don't know why? I find that by keeping my feet into the body of the RT I really am comfortable and cooler. If I move them outward or splay them around like highway pegs or floor boards would do I start getting baked at certain points. I have noticed that there is a certain point close to the body on the Right side of the trike that there is hot air leaking into the air stream and this I would think is where the better insulation or smaller gaps in the bodywork would help.

I really see no reason to mess with an air cooling system that for me seems to be working just like it is supposed to? If it ain't broke don't try and fix it because all you will do is screw things up. Now the handling that is something else that BuRP needs to straighten out before they are killing people, if they haven't already. Bill

 

[3Ryder]

How's it working for you?

Well I thought I should add my 2 cents even though I have not had a problem with the heat, even driving in this scorching Florida heat. I do notice the heat whenever I don't wear my riding boots and just have my shoes on, and place my feet on my splashguard footrests.
With so many asking what can be done I decided to try a fix.
I used a hole saw to bore 2-3" holes through the plastic shields. 1 behind the radiator and 1 in the splashpan.
I can feel the air being re-directed once the cooling fan comes on so in theory it is working as I expected. Whether it will reduce the felt heat on the right ankle is yet to be determined.
I have attached photos for your viewing pleasure.
in one of the views from below the spyder you can see up to the hole bored behind the radiator. I may not have had to bore the hole in the splashpan, as you can see the airflow would have exited over the top, but I felt it was needed.
C-YA RL

Have you noticed a reduction in heat to your right ankle?

 

[clueless]

I discovered an aftermarket addition to the used 2009 RS I purchased 2 months ago. It turns out that this 5"x5" box that sits on a velcro strip behind the radiator is a programmable fan controller. It has 3 preset modes, and an infinite combination of hi/lo settings. The unit is made by SPAL, and the model is the PWM-V3. Check it out at www.spalusa.com
I'm still reading the manual, but it seems to do well in the hot Virginia sun.
Does anyone have any experience with these?

interesting, its a multi-speed fan controller, so it would be nice to have and kick the fan on at 50% when the engine coolant temp is at some set point, then ramp up to 100% speed if needed.

You simply choose the Low and High temperature settings you desire. When the low temperature setting is reached the fan begins spinning at 50% speed. As the engine temperature increases, the speed of the fan slowly increases until it reaches the High setting, where it is then running at 100%.

http://www.spalusa.com/store/main.aspx?p=itemdetail&item=FAN-PWM-V3

have this plus a relay to the stock fan to activate if at 100% where the stock fan normally would work seems like a nice set up.

 

[InspectorGadget]

Have you noticed a reduction in heat to your right ankle?

YES. There is still some heat there, but it is reduced by maybe 20%. I know that that is not much, but it is a help.
C-YA RL