Ulysses quirks

[eric]

Hi from New Zealand
I purchased a new 2006 Ulysses about 3 weeks ago
Great bike but have 2 niggling issues
1. that damn noisy fan
2. heat on my right leg is more than comfortable
Has anyone got any remedies to these problems?

[BuellPartsGuy]

1. The fan you can do nothing about. Its very needed, but yes it is noisy.

2. The heat on your right leg is a factory standard option. :D Also not much you can do about it. You could get your header pipe Jet Hot coated and it lowers the temp at your leg a little.

[maybebuell]

why is the fan needed ?..theres much larger v twins running around from 80 88 96 100 111 113 124 127 ci with no fan buy carry 3 to 4 quarts of oil..all make more power and probably make more heat...is there a oil cooler on a buell

[BuellPartsGuy]

Yeah....the big black one hanging off of the left side in the front of the bike.

[2Evil4U]

The fan is required because the rear jug is completely enclosed in the frame unlike most other air-cooled v-twins. Without it, (and by the way, according to the service manual, it turns on at 320F), the oil will burn in the head and ruin the motor. Just like revving the crap out of a turbo car and shutting it off immediately without letting the turbo cool down.

[maybebuell]

fan blows on the rear head?...is the 320F oil temp or just oil temp in the rear head

[2Evil4U]

Yep. The fan is in the frame just behind the rear head. It actually sucks air through from the duct on the left side and blows it out under the seat which is why you'll feel it on your leg.

The rear head has a temp sensor on it, That's where it gets its data to determine if it needs to turn on or not.

[eric]

So is anyone making a quieter after market fan ?

[BuellPartsGuy]

Nope....

Just curious, but why is it that big of a concern? It all comes with riding a Buell....

[FerrisBueller]

People are always like WTF is that when I shut the bike off and the fan comes on. Just like poeple are always telling me I left my srt-4 running when the turbo timers set.

[BuellPartsGuy]

Can't stand the heat, get the hell outta the kitchen. lol j/k guys :p

[eric]

er thanks for the advice BuellPartsGuy....
Anyway I found a way to shut that fan up when turning off the motor.
Use the kill switch in the usual way to stop the motor. At this point the freakin fan kicks in. Then to actually stop the fan just put the kill switch back into run mode. The fan instantly turns off.
You will find that if you take the key out of the ignition or if you use the kill switch again the fan will come on again.
If the engine has only had a short run and hasn't really warmed up then the fan doesnt take long to stay off when you come to take the key out of the ignition.

Ah I hear some of you say; that doesnt sound good for the engine, but just today I have discussed the possible downside of doing this with the service manager at the Harley/ Buell franchise where I purchased the Buell and he thinks the bike will be just fine and to do this manouvre if I want to. ( No matter, there is 2 yrs warranty on the bike and he has given his blessing so there you have it.) The only downside I can see is that the low beam light/dash board ignition lights are on with the above manouvre so its kind of weird to leave the bike with the key in the ignition for a few minutes to let the thing cool down naturally. But at least here is an alternative to listening to that *#%*#*@ thing of a fan

[DJRYDBRG]

the fact that buells annoy some people in yet another way is just one more reason why i want one![up]

[bahamasair]

I think the fan cutting in when the bike is shut off is pretty cool (see what I did there? :) ). I dont see how the dealer says its good not to have it run. Why would Buell have put it there in the first place if it didnt do some good? There is no way a bike co. would go thru the expense and trouble of putting it there for no reason, also doing all that **** with the switch and leaving the key in the ignition seems like a lot of trouble. Why not put in a switch or remove the fan?

[Spike]

Gidday from Victoria Australia! The might be noisey but at least you know it's looking after that hidden cylinder. The heat blowing out from under the seat to your right leg is uncomfortable after a long trip not to mention all heat blowing over the brake fluid resevoir. However has anyone thought of reversing the power supply & hence the rotation of the fan so it draws cooling air from that underside of the seat? (just a thought it might work)regards Spike!

[bahamasair]

I think the problem with reversing it is the pressure of the air blowing thru it at speed will be fighting against the rotation of the blade. Even if the fan motor was strong enough to still push air out of the front it would be counter acted by the air being forced in from the front when you are moving. Most people say a right side scoop cuts the temps down by alot so you could always try one if you dont mind the price. I cant believe the cost of a damn scoop.

[ogri]

[cool]noisy engine
I own a 2006 uly and its awesome. only road use for me so i fitted nice sticky Pirelli Corsa Diablos. great lateral stability and handling between 150-190km/h through any twisties.

My problem is the bike engine is so noisy. there are a lot of clattering and rattling noises when the bike has warmed up. As i am used to quiet Japanese bikes this sounds as if the bike is going to break any minute. Is that normal? I have done 7000km now.

Any comments please.

[2Evil4U]

Sounds normal to me. HD motors will always make lifter noise and primary chain noise. Just follow the recommendations for adjustments and you'll be fine.

[stevensue]

When people ask WTF when the fan kicks in, I tell them "it's a hand warmer" and put my hands down there. You would be amazed at how many people believe it :D Especially the ladies ;)

[emdash]

RH Scoop sounds like the way to go to reduce the use of the fan and also reduce the hot inner leg. I have been toying with the idea to strap a fridge to the inside rear cylinder but can't seem to get the fekker in there... So I'm in the hunt for that perfect scoop and quieter fan...

[LeFox]

So I'm in the hunt for that perfect scoop and quieter fan...
rh airscoop (http://www.devilstars.be/forum/viewtopic.php?t=299) :D

[emdash]

Thank's LeFox. Interested in the Scoop. Cost details, shipped to New Zealand?

[partmanpartbike64]

hi lefox the devilstar site wont allow me to regester why i dont know anyhow I want a right side scoop in carbon for me ully to the uk HOW much?

[my99scoob]

try the airflow kit that came standard on the 2007 onwards model. it directs heat away from the inside of your thigh. mine nearly burned off early on. ~£20 from a dealer, and problem sorted for hot air :)

[chickn4]

Buellparts.net has a "rider comfort kit" that might be of interest to you. I do not have it, and I do not know if it fits anything other than the XP model as stated. Check it out:

http://www.buellparts.net/content-product_info/product_id-2146/ulysses_rider_comfort_kits_xb12xp.html

Also, several other forums have pictures of mods people have done for the heat issue. I put a little foil tape in a few select spots on mine and it really reduced the heat. Nothing that I feel would compromise the cooling ability, and it certainly did not eliminate the problem.

[BRatigan]

Special OPS has a heat blanket that covers the area between the frame and air box on the right side. It takes care of the problem nearly completely.

BR