Topic: Prepping for Summer Heat, and Stop & Go Traffic. Possible Solution?

[Lostboy Steve]

I know the idea of an engine oil cooler has been thrown around here and there. Some people use one and others say you could over cool the engine. Last summer, I noticed that while sitting in stop and go traffic, a few times I had to shut the bike off. My morning commute is riddled with traffic. I do a lot more standing still, than i do moving. Eventually I hit the highway, and everything is fine. I think I have a solution. I want to get an oil cooler, which by itself will do little when stopped, so this is where my idea comes into play. A single, or possible dual high rpm computer case fan with a simple toggle switch, or I could get crazy and use a temp sensor on the cooler to trigger the fans automatically. The biggest problem I can see would be the extra power required at idle, which of course is the only time they'll be on. These aren't regular case fans. They are much louder and move more air. I would bet they would literally take your finger off. These are the power specs.

The questions are, Is it worth it and will it work? I think it might.

Mfr Model Number: TD8038H
Dimensions: 80X80X38mm
Weight: 175g
Rated Voltage: 12V
Rated Power: 9.1W
Rated Current: 0.76Amp
Fan Speed: 5700RPM
Air Flow: 84.1CFM
Noise: 55.2dB(A)
Bearing System: Double Ball Bearing

[lrutt]

as long as your electrical system can handle it. Problem is you will use it when you are generating the least amount of electricity. stop and slow going. And if you have to have the headlight on all the time, you would actually be running a deficit at idle.

[vames]

Good luck getting all that gear to not look like a big mechanical tumor bolted to your bike.

But looks aside, you're up for a challenge -- 20 watts (2x the fans you describe) is not insignificant, especially since you'll be using them when idling in traffic, which is precisely the time that your battery isn't charging because the alt isn't going fast enough.

At very least, you should find a way to shut your headlight when running the fans.

But even more important, you should boil down what you're trying to do: retrofit a 40-year-old vehicle to do something it wasn't designed to do (sit in traffic on a hot day). These bikes are air cooled and designed to move. They were absolutely not designed to sit in traffic on hot days. Any solution you attempt (short of making water channels through the block, adding a water pump and a radiator) is going to be a really imperfect band-aid.

Your solution might be finding a different route to work. Or adding a water cooled vehicle to the stable? In addition to my 400f, I have a 2007 Vespa GT 200 that is plenty fast to ride on the highway and can sit and idle all day long in winter or summer. Added benefit to the Vespa in winter is that it has a lap cover that traps warm air from the radiators, which keeps you toasty while you ride. Or of course there are range of water cooled bikes to choose from too.

[grcamna2]

That sounds like a great idea,what kind of oil cooler will you run? will it have it's own thermostat controlled flow valve ? I had a Lockhart once which was supposed to have one built in

[Airborne 82nd]

Hide a small battery ( deep cycle) if you can find one small enough to hide just for the fans charge it at night don't hook it up to the bikes electric system. Hey if your going to start jury rigging go all the way
You can get a T-stat at the auto store where they sell aux. radiator fans just ty-wrap the sensor to the oil line.

[Geeto67]

synthetic oil. High octane fuel. Oil cooler. Oil temp gauge. Heat wrap the pipes where it passes close to the oil filter and pan (only those areas). 1977-78 F oil filter housing extender.

Even if you aren't moving the oil cooler is still working as a type of heat sync. Same thing with the F model oil filter extension ring.

I commuted on my 75 cb750 in Manhattan in the worst traffic in the world for a long time. Heat wasn't the big issue so much as detonation was. When I heard the rocks in the coffee can, that's when I would shut it down. High octane fuel helps with this a lot.

Modern synthetic oils have much better heat transfer properties. I switched to it years ago on the 750 and never looked back.

A good oil temp gauge is worth it's weight in gold. Do you know when your honda is actually overheating? I can tell you right now my modern air cooled ducati does not reach dangerous overheat until 315 degrees. Operating temp is usually around 210-230 on hot days. What temp does a SOHC overheat at? I don't know either but I betcha it's pretty close to that.

Don't overthink/over complicate things. If you still want to use your fan idea remember that when you are moving the fan will actually restrict airflow to the cooler. A simple toggle, a fan, and some wires. Don't get fancy with it, I don't know any aircooled motorcycles that use a fan on their oil coolers but all modern aircooled bikes come with oil coolers (except HD's because they make you pay for everything as an accessory).

[Lostboy Steve]

Yes, Geeto, Detonation was what I was experiencing most often. First of all, I was thinking of just using a Night Hawk cooler mounted pretty much where they are on the Hawk. Again, not worried about the coolers effeciency at speed. Second, I always have my headlight toggled off and use the turn signals as running lights. Third, to this day there are MANY aircooled bikes, including the new Grom which, from what I gather, is a 50 year old engine design (punched out z50). I had a Buell and it had a bunch of problems, but never was overheating one of them. Last, I already run a thicker Synthetic Oil, have my headers wrapped, and always run 93 Octane Fuel. When I was building the engine I had the valves and pistons both anti-friction coated and thermal barrier coated. Internally everything is new and built for longevity. I dont run low resistance coils or anything. I'll start working on this, maybe I can find a fan less parasitic.

[Garage_guy_chris]

I think your idea of fan cooling a oil cooler could work, you can free up some power by converting running lights to LED bulbs and consider a new regulator rectifier (more efficient)

The only thing that comes to my mind is these case fans arent rated to get wet in weather.  In the dirt biking world they have add-on fan kits and those would be good for water.

here is a company that makes small automotive / powersports fans

https://webstore.spalusa.com/en-us/productlist/0164/products/fans/motorcycle-atv/fans-motorcycleatv.aspx

[goldarrow]

Shut off the bike while sitting in traffic

[bjbuchanan]

I never see anybody suggest to split lanes at slow speeds. Stop and go my @as, I'm going at 5 mph wherever it works for me safest and best.

Bigger city cops are usually cool with it if you aren't going retarded fast. There is no splitting lanes ticket, you receive judgment call tickets.

If anything just shut it down tho

[750K]

^^^exactly, split lanes or if available ride the paved shoulder. I've been caught in standstill traffic on the highway mid summer on my 750 a few times, I always get onto the shoulder till things open up. I'd rather explain myself to a cop than sit and let the bike overheat.

[Geeto67]

to this day there are MANY aircooled bikes, including the new Grom which, from what I gather, is a 50 year old engine design (punched out z50). I had a Buell and it had a bunch of problems, but never was overheating one of them.

I just said I have never seen one with a cooling fan. Yes I know that there are many air-cooled bikes sold today.

All I was saying was try the oil cooler first, if still detonating then the fan.

[Lostboy Steve]

I never see anybody suggest to split lanes at slow speeds. Stop and go my @as, I'm going at 5 mph wherever it works for me safest and best.

Bigger city cops are usually cool with it if you aren't going retarded fast. There is no splitting lanes ticket, you receive judgment call tickets.

If anything just shut it down tho

In New Jersey, this is highly illegal. In my county particularly there are more motorcycle cops than regular cops. I doubt I'd be able to out run a 110ci Roadking.

[Lostboy Steve]

I never see anybody suggest to split lanes at slow speeds. Stop and go my @as, I'm going at 5 mph wherever it works for me safest and best.

Bigger city cops are usually cool with it if you aren't going retarded fast. There is no splitting lanes ticket, you receive judgment call tickets.

If anything just shut it down tho

In NJ, this would be considered a reckless driving ticket. 2 Points.

[Don R]

Food for thought, could a fan behind or under the oil tank help at all? Maybe with some fins welded to the tank? A switch could turn the headlight off when idling and the fan is on.
  My oil cooler has what appears to be a thermostatic by pass, I'd give some thought to a larger oil cooler, B&M makes some nice compact transmission/oil  coolers.

[Airborne 82nd]

I never see anybody suggest to split lanes at slow speeds. Stop and go my @as, I'm going at 5 mph wherever it works for me safest and best.

Bigger city cops are usually cool with it if you aren't going retarded fast. There is no splitting lanes ticket, you receive judgment call tickets.

If anything just shut it down tho

Plus someone might like to open the door just as you get next to them.

In NJ, this would be considered a reckless driving ticket. 2 Points.

[Lostboy Steve]

Don, on a 750, probably. On the 550 there is no oiltank.

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[bailboy]

Hey twisted,

Just so you know, those fans appear to just move air. Which is great but you want fans with HIGH static pressure.  In terms of a radiator on a PC we always use high static pressure fans.  Fans with huge amounts of CFM and low static pressure can't push through the cooling fins.  There are phenomenal fans called yate loon.  They move tons of air with high static pressure.  This fan would probably be better for our bikes' charging system, especially if they are going to be on when the bike is idle. http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10456/fan-688/Yate_Loon_120mm_x_25mm_Fan_-_Open_Chassis_D12SM-12.html?tl=c435s1101b119

If you do add fans to an oil cooler, let me know your findings. I've been thinking about this for some time now.

[Don R]

Don, on a 750, probably. On the 550 there is no oiltank.

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sorry I lost my head,

[Lostboy Steve]

Those tornado fans have pressure. Believe me. They are rediculous. I had to take it out of my server because of how loud it was.

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[LesterPiglet]

My 550 overheated once. The symtoms are a shorter and shorter clutch until you can't select a gear. This happened on a blisteringly hot day on a seafront promenade in a traffic jam for about 20 minutes.
Put a passive cooler on it and don't worry.

Those tornado fans have pressure. Believe me. They are rediculous. I had to take it out of my server because of how loud it was.

I got quite a fan in my pc once when I was into overclocking, 7000 rpm. I can't remember the name but they are well known.
Silly me tried to slow it down with my finger. Damn thing was like a bacon slicer. 
EDIT Delta fan.
 

[Lostboy Steve]

Lol that's got to be similar to this tornado deal. #$%*ing thing sounds like a 747 during take off.

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[bailboy]

Those tornado fans have pressure. Believe me. They are rediculous. I had to take it out of my server because of how loud it was.

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haha you mean you don't want your server to make you go deaf?

[Lostboy Steve]

Lol I honestly didn't care, it drove my then girlfriend, now wife crazy. It was only a server for a video game that I was pretty much done playing anyway.

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