Oil cooler fans?

[AirForceDirt]

Okay, so I was riding around town today in the heat and was thinking about a way to cut down (possibly) the overheating problem.

The way I figure it, the engine uses the oil as a main cooling liquid and so if there was a way to cool the oil more quickly when not moving(as that's when its more of an issue), I came up with the possibly silly of idea of putting a small fan into the back of each oil cooler cowl.

My thought process is: If the fan was switched so when you were riding through slow city crap or stuck in traffic, you could flick said switch and turn on two small fans behind the oil coolers with the purpose of pulling (or blowing) air across the fins, allowing the oil to cool, albeit slower, but better than with no airflow at all. Then, once you got going again, turn the fans off and let ram air do its job. If one were to position the fans so they were blowing air forward across the coolers, i could see a tiny issue if you forgot to turn it off when you got moving again, but if its pulling air across, it wouldn't matter as much, I'd think.

So my thought went further into what kind of fan would fit back there that would be worthwhile in moving enough air. Computer cooling fans. They are designed to cool things only moderately cooler than our oil coolers would get and move enough air to be manageable and useful. Plus, thats all I could think that would fit in the tiny gap available.

Thoughts?

[towerworker]

That's an idea that has been talked about before. I think CycleRob had an earlier post about it. He was talking of using appropriately sized muffin fans to do just what you said. I don't think he followed thru with it because he is in the process of trading his R.

I think if you spent a lot of time in hot city traffic it would have good merit. There are many small 12V fans that could probably be made to fit. Don't know how much air they would move but as you said anything is better than nothing.

Wayne

[klrstix]

See the following thread...

http://www.r1150r.net/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16498

[snowprick]

Okay, so I was riding around town today in the heat and was thinking about a way to cut down (possibly) the overheating problem.

The way I figure it, the engine uses the oil as a main cooling liquid and so if there was a way to cool the oil more quickly when not moving(as that's when its more of an issue), I came up with the possibly silly of idea of putting a small fan into the back of each oil cooler cowl.

My thought process is: If the fan was switched so when you were riding through slow city crap or stuck in traffic, you could flick said switch and turn on two small fans behind the oil coolers with the purpose of pulling (or blowing) air across the fins, allowing the oil to cool, albeit slower, but better than with no airflow at all. Then, once you got going again, turn the fans off and let ram air do its job. If one were to position the fans so they were blowing air forward across the coolers, i could see a tiny issue if you forgot to turn it off when you got moving again, but if its pulling air across, it wouldn't matter as much, I'd think.

So my thought went further into what kind of fan would fit back there that would be worthwhile in moving enough air. Computer cooling fans. They are designed to cool things only moderately cooler than our oil coolers would get and move enough air to be manageable and useful. Plus, thats all I could think that would fit in the tiny gap available.

Thoughts?

AirForceDirt,

I thought you did not suffer from overheat problems? viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17615

[Airman]

Okay, so I was riding around town today in the heat and was thinking about a way to cut down (possibly) the overheating problem.

The way I figure it, the engine uses the oil as a main cooling liquid and so if there was a way to cool the oil more quickly when not moving(as that's when its more of an issue), I came up with the possibly silly of idea of putting a small fan into the back of each oil cooler cowl

I believe the cop RTs, such as the Highway Patrol uses, have a center mounted oil cooler with an electric fan to keep the engine cool when the operator feels the need for a lengthy roadside chat with one of us. There's quite a bit of room up under the triple tree where the tiny horn is mounted if you felt the need to mount a third oil cooler with its 12v fan. Just a thought.

[AirForceDirt]

Okay, so I was riding around town today in the heat and was thinking about a way to cut down (possibly) the overheating problem.

The way I figure it, the engine uses the oil as a main cooling liquid and so if there was a way to cool the oil more quickly when not moving(as that's when its more of an issue), I came up with the possibly silly of idea of putting a small fan into the back of each oil cooler cowl.

My thought process is: If the fan was switched so when you were riding through slow city crap or stuck in traffic, you could flick said switch and turn on two small fans behind the oil coolers with the purpose of pulling (or blowing) air across the fins, allowing the oil to cool, albeit slower, but better than with no airflow at all. Then, once you got going again, turn the fans off and let ram air do its job. If one were to position the fans so they were blowing air forward across the coolers, i could see a tiny issue if you forgot to turn it off when you got moving again, but if its pulling air across, it wouldn't matter as much, I'd think.

So my thought went further into what kind of fan would fit back there that would be worthwhile in moving enough air. Computer cooling fans. They are designed to cool things only moderately cooler than our oil coolers would get and move enough air to be manageable and useful. Plus, thats all I could think that would fit in the tiny gap available.

Thoughts?

AirForceDirt,

I thought you did not suffer from overheat problems? viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17615

I don't, but I'm sure someone does, or it would be a non-issue. Mine hasn't overheated yet, but I'm sure, given tucson's ridiculous summer temps, my bike will overheat sometime.

[snowprick]

Okay, so I was riding around town today in the heat and was thinking about a way to cut down (possibly) the overheating problem.

The way I figure it, the engine uses the oil as a main cooling liquid and so if there was a way to cool the oil more quickly when not moving(as that's when its more of an issue), I came up with the possibly silly of idea of putting a small fan into the back of each oil cooler cowl.

My thought process is: If the fan was switched so when you were riding through slow city crap or stuck in traffic, you could flick said switch and turn on two small fans behind the oil coolers with the purpose of pulling (or blowing) air across the fins, allowing the oil to cool, albeit slower, but better than with no airflow at all. Then, once you got going again, turn the fans off and let ram air do its job. If one were to position the fans so they were blowing air forward across the coolers, i could see a tiny issue if you forgot to turn it off when you got moving again, but if its pulling air across, it wouldn't matter as much, I'd think.

So my thought went further into what kind of fan would fit back there that would be worthwhile in moving enough air. Computer cooling fans. They are designed to cool things only moderately cooler than our oil coolers would get and move enough air to be manageable and useful. Plus, thats all I could think that would fit in the tiny gap available.

Thoughts?

AirForceDirt,

I thought you did not suffer from overheat problems? viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17615

I don't, but I'm sure someone does, or it would be a non-issue. Mine hasn't overheated yet, but I'm sure, given tucson's ridiculous summer temps, my bike will overheat sometime.

FWIW, The heat issue which certainly DOES exist (see other posts) is usually caused by the catalytic convertor which is conveniently placed directly below the gear box. The heat generated by this unit exceeds the boiling point of DOT 4 fluid, and without sufficient airflow as a result of forward motion, can lead to boiling of the clutch circuit. Next time you have a hot summers night in your location leave your bike at idle for five minutes in a dark place then go back and take a look at your headers. Oh they overheat alright. Go in peace

[Buckster]

If you're worried about overheating to go to that much trouble....it sounds like you may want to get a watercooled bike.

[AirForceDirt]

FWIW, The heat issue which certainly DOES exist (see other posts) is usually caused by the catalytic convertor which is conveniently placed directly below the gear box. The heat generated by this unit exceeds the boiling point of DOT 4 fluid, and without sufficient airflow as a result of forward motion, can lead to boiling of the clutch circuit. Next time you have a hot summers night in your location leave your bike at idle for five minutes in a dark place then go back and take a look at your headers. Oh they overheat alright. Go in peace

I removed my cat when I put the remus on the bike. This is not the only bike with the hot exhaust parts underneath the engine. Take a look at a buell Lightning, the headers come out of the cylinders, go under the bike, and the exhaust opening is a few inches behind the side-stand. Granted, its got a fan, but its under the seat and points to the bottom of said seat.

And buckster, if I wanted a water cooled bike i'd get a brick, like everyone else that rides. I don't want a water cooled bike, I'm quite happy with my boxer, thank you very much.

Like I said, I don't have an issue with it, as mine's never overheated, I was purely thinking of a marketable solution for people who DO have that problem.

Buy new motorcycle....or solve currently owned motorcycle's problem. I'd go with the cheaper option, especially if I liked the bike as much as the people here must like their roadsters.