I recently traded an '05 FLHRI for an '07 FLHPI...... Though quite a bit less pleasing to the eye in comparison, the 103" factory stroked motor and accompanying 6 speed tranny are quite appealing! As this newly acquired ride was/is intended as a base platform for the vision in my head I wanted to throw some changes at it as immediately as able to start the transformation without hitting the bank account too hard. So I ordered, received and installed a "Big Sucker" air filter from Godfather Arlen and some performance slip on mufflers from Cycle Shack and have yet to address the obviously necessary new mapping or perhaps tuner to finish the job.
It didn't take long to realize that the 103" in its stock configuration runs hotter than the old 88", sometimes quite a bit hotter and even hotter yet following the application of the new air filter and mufflers as the fuel/air mix has leaned out quite a bit. I only travel 18 miles to work and most of that is interstate highway so normally my commute does not create a big impact on the issue though the idle is a bit unsteady by the time I get to the entrance gate to the facility at which I work. Today this was taken one step further on the ride home. After about 16 miles of 75 to 80 MPH running, traffic came to a dead stop due to an accident on the highway. Stop and go, idle, idle, idle..... for a couple of miles, pass the accident, travel another quarter mile to my exit, stop and go, idle, idle, idle.... and such. The bike is hot! I have to keep the throttle twisted up to keep it running and I finally get to take my turn at moving again after hitting the intersection. If I let the RPM's drop below 2 grand the bike threatens to stall.... I get into the neighborhood, which consists of a big loop road, and follow it around the long way home to allow the engine to cool at slower speeds before shutting it down at the house.....
So the question is my Harley riding peers, "how hot is too hot and how do I know if my bike got there?" Any reasonable input would be appreciated.
I would say your motor got too hot already..
Anytime you gotta mess with the throttle to keep it running you've crossed a line,,,, maybe Not the Final Line of Destruction but very close..
I advise to get any re-mapping of A/F done soon,, don't try to "eke" thru till the next perf mod UP to re-map..
Us guys with old-style sickles can perform those A/F and Timing changes at the drop of a wrench after a Perf Mod--- un-fortunately yours takes a wee bit more,, but it's gotta be done..
Tuning is a Huge part of keeping temps in acceptable range..
Consider an oil cooler too..
Just for comparison----
Our 80", 93", 120" and 127" sickles get ridden daily (rotating basis of course) in this Phoenix Valley summer heat (often 115*+-) and the motors stay in the 290* range on the heads and the oil temps stay in the 185* range----
Thats tuning and oil coolers,, you can have that too..
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
I wonder if the bike may have been trying to go into "parade mode" - running off one cylinder instead of both. I rented a FI Ultra in Louisville, KY, and got stuck in traffic about 4 miles from the dealer. The bike eventually went into "parade mode" where it runs off one cylinder to cool the motor. I had no clue what was going on, and kept blipping the throttle to keep the motor from stalling out. My wife was on the back of the bike and called the dealer, who explained it all to us. I was worried I'd be putting a new motor into a bike I didn't even own! The motor was getting hotter than the devil. You could feel the heat off the motor trying to bake your legs. The dealer said it was fine, let it go into "parade" while it idled, and all should be well. It was fine the rest of the trip. I have no idea if there were any long term issues... Hope this helps. It may be what your bike is trying to do, but I would still get the remap ASAP. No sense in ruining your motor with a too lean mixture.
I have a friend who has a 07 ultra,Sounds like his problem,Check to make sure you do not have a intake leak,His would want to die at idle,backfire and was running rich...Gary
The parade mode doesn't come as standard equipment on most 07s but was available as a free download which you, charlie, may or may not have. you probably know this but it interrupts fuel to the rear cylinder so it won't generate heat while stopped. There are several electronic options available to address the lean issue. Good luck.
I appreciate all the theories and suggestions..... Guess I will see the result on Tuesday as I have a visit scheduled at the local dealership on that day; fortunately for me, sanka, there is a pretty reliable bunch of guys there unlike what you obviously encountered in your local...... As this was an actual fleet bike from the New Orleans Police department in its previous life it came with an oil cooler installed and I would assume that the "parade mode" option is active, then again, we all know what happens when you assume something. In talking to the folks at the HD shop, they believe that the issue can be corrected by simply downloading a new map to the factory ECM though I feel they will be quite limited due to the current EPA rules and regs regarding F/A ratios for factory equipment being tweaked by factory authorized tecnicians in a factory authorized facility..... i.e. - it will likely improve but will still run somewhat lean. In agreement with many of your postings..... a tuner will be the way to go in the long run!
Charlie
How hot is too hot? 
Re: How hot is too hot? 
Linear Mode
