| Author | Message | ||
     Lowflyer |
Yes, it is very easy. I mostly followed the SM procedure..err..I read over it up in my bedroom and went down to the garage and got it done. Basically, you just remove the shock (5 fasteners) and the ECM (two fasteners) to get to the fan (four torx head screws). I also used air tools for the removal. Installation will be a little slower. Unscrew the fan, disconnect its wiring, and she pops out under the tail with a little wiggling. Now, the interesting thing about my fan is that I noticed that the bike started running quite a lot hotter before the fan actually quit and I got the idiot light. My suspicion is that it developed this resistance and was not turning as fast as it did when new. It did start to have a little bit of a rattle at about 6k miles. I took it in and was told that it was normal. I rode it like that for another 9k, but I have to wonder if it really was operating normally this whole time. I also figured out that there is no way it was freewheeling when it was not running. I briefly held it out my truck window this morning at 70 mph on the way to work. In short, this fan is a cheap piece of shat. I bet if someone could make a better, more reliable fan, they would do very well. | ||
| Teeps |
I've been toying with the idea of removing the fan all together. Then monitor the difference in operating temperature at various speeds. I'm guessing the fan is there mainly to prevent the fuel from boiling, thus affecting hot restarts. And, of course to prevent the oil from coking up in the rocker box. I believe the engine would do just fine without the fan, as long as it's moving through the air. Hot restarts, though, might be a problem. | ||
| Lowflyer |
You might consider adding the right side scoop. I don't know if it works or not, but it seems like it would if the fan were not there to limit the free airflow. | ||
| Teeps |
I have tried the Big Air scoop (xbimmer's) and it does work. But, fan is still in the way until the blades turn. | ||
| Ulendo |
bit of an aside here, but a chuckle for all with fan problems. I recently bought an older BMW K100RT as a commuter /appliance / 2 up beater for the BC backroads. sure enough, first time I get stuck in traffic, the 'overheat' light comes on.....traced it to a dead fan. So I go look at the K75 parts bike in the back of the ship...dead fan. So despite all the stories, its not just Buell thats had issues with fans on bikes!! | ||
| Lorazepam |
big difference in time of failure though. How long since the K 75 or 100 were built? | ||
| Lowflyer |
I wonder if a scoop could be fabbed up that would mount in place of the fan. Seems to me that you could use a small scoop there to create a sort of venturi that would generate a negative pressure aft of the rear cylinder. That would suck air from behind the motor (like the fan does) to augment the scoop that is collecting and forcing air onto the motor from the front. You'd still have the idle issue however. | ||
| Lowflyer |
My fan should be here when I get home from work today! | ||
| Lowflyer |
I got it and installed it and put the bike back together in about 20 minutes. Total time remove/install = 35 minutes. Today, my drive belt broke.  | ||
| Ulendo |
lorazepram - they were notorious for the fan failure, even from new. scenario is a bit different to the buells though - the fans dont cycle very often, and get gummed up. eventually, due to the extra drag, the motor pulls more amps, causing the brushes to get hot and melt the (very light) plastic brush holders, killing the motor. Kicker is: the same fan was used right through to the 1999 K1100 series with no changes, despite the issues, and customer complaints. be glad of Buell CS | ||
| Lorazepam |
Ulendo- add in the fact that they have more than two cylinders, and therefore are evil. Their fans deserved to die  | ||
| Bobmcc |
Here's another data point for the fan thread... '06 Uly, 4 months and 4100 miles since new, never off road and hardly ever wet, and the fan just yesterday added a kind of feeble whining to its default 2-speed WW2 air raid siren sound track. I imagine the noise will soon be gone altogether but not in a good way. The dealer's only an hour away but thanks to all the BW advice I think the American Sport Bike option is a better choice. Soap box time: Buell made a component choice that in hindsight has proven both mechanically unreliable and aurally obnoxious. No need to assign blame, just address the issues and make a better part available. Thanks again everyone, this site is worth more than a warranty! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I love my fan. Better than fried 50 weight. | ||
| Bobmcc |
EG - I don't hate the function, but I do hate the form... Another benefit of the fan is I noticed that the thigh cooker seems to cool down from Roast to Warm when the fan is running. | ||
| Lowflyer |
After having ridden the bike for a distance without the fan, I think the actual designed purpose of the fan is to decrease thigh temperatures. The oil cooling and temperature regulating reasons Buell purports likely have some degree of truth, but I believe those reasons pale by comparison to the rider comfort issue. IMHO, the bike is all but unrideable without the fan to suck some of the heat away from your legs. I would go so far as to call it a significant liability risk. After my ride, the frame near my leg was too hot to touch with naked skin. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Over on the ADV board there has been mention that Buell is working on a replacement fan for the Uly. Any more info on this? Any chance to get a "little bird" update so at least we know that help is on the way? | ||
| Lowflyer |
I was told by Buell CS that Buell is not aware of any problems with the fan. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Bobmcc, http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/295156.html?1187199451 I don't have a heat problem. | ||
| Hooaah |
Be careful about removing or doing a lot of riding with a dead fan. You can easily put it into the Spark Skip mode on a hot summer evening. Trust me on that one | ||
| Bobmcc |
I don't know EG, maybe you have leather thighs or an exceptionally cool bike but I've shared LowFlyer's "too hot to touch" experience. And I deadened most of my finger nerves washing dishes back in school. Too hot for me is pretty hot. That said, the only time the heat is a "problem" is before the fan activates and it's a hot day and I'm wearing my mesh pants over skivvies. As of last night, the fan whimpered then croaked altogether at shutdown, then after a few minutes came back on briefly for its cooldown run. Same story at work this AM. Since I need the various recalls done anyway, I'm gonna give the dealer a shout and see what they can do for me. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Lowflyer, "I was told by Buell CS that Buell is not aware of any problems with the fan." I'm assuming this is a joke? The number of failures and the mention of the heat / noise problem by magazines like MCN mean they have to know there is a problem. Here's hoping that they figure it out. Mark | ||
| Lowflyer |
Nope, not a joke. The lady told me that they have received relatively few complaints about the fan. This was in the context of my complaining that the dealers in my area carry no fans, bearings, or belts in stock followed by my assertion that it would make good sense for them to do so given the number of failures of which I am aware. Also given that my fan AND my belt failed. I figure my bearings are next. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Lowflyer, If you have and email address for her perhaps we can send her links to this and other posts that highlight the problem. Perhaps a link to the bearing issue would also be appropriate. This is one of the problems with people not reporting the problem and just purchasing the parts and fixing them without taking it through the warranty process. I understand the need / desire to get back on the road but unfortunately it reduces the stats back at the factory. | ||
| Lowflyer |
She told me that they do monitor this site, but acknowledged that it is not practical to take what is found here for face value. What she said was the truth. If you don't believe me, check out the spreadsheet I made for the bearing failure. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p2v-5UmuKDV Blq-OxpYVAaA I have Uly #650 so I know there are a crapload more out there and in here, and all we can get is a measly few data points. | ||
| Bobmcc |
Well, the dealer says they can't pre-order parts for a warranty claim until a tech investigates the problem. No surprise there. It's going in on Monday and at least they can do the BAS recall. The fan hasn't tripped the Check Engine light yet so I doubt there'll be a fault code. I'll give the dealer a fair chance to make me happy and we'll go from there. Optimistic though I am, I'm sensing "down for 2 weeks" and a call to Buell CS deja vu... | ||
| Chadhargis |
Does anyone know the what the fan costs? Before I let a dealer have my bike for two weeks, I'd think long and hard about ordering the fan and doing it myself. When my fan dies, I left the bike for a few weeks, but I was either out of town or working and couldn't ride it anyway, so it was no big deal. | ||
| Midnightrider |
Cost me $73 at a stealership. Delivery time was about a week. If I had to do it again I'd contact Al @ American Sport Bikes first | ||
| Lowflyer |
Chad, Al has them in stock for about $70. He shipped mine within minutes of taking the order. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Is there any way to at least communicate with Buell that these things are failing. I appreciate for a $70 part that people may choose to order and just get it done themselves but it would be nice to get a better part so that it fails less and hopefully not when people are on vacations, etc. where it can become a trip ending event. The bearing issue is the same. Not an expensive part but they seem to be failing too often and will strand folks when the do fail. These bikes are showing themselves to be pretty reliable. We just need some help to fix a few outstanding issues. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Just call the Buell CS number, talk your way through a painfully slow automated call director system, and wait for about 35 minutes on hold while listening to Neil Young. Then, tell them about your problem. They don't get much done apparently, but they are nice to talk to. My dealer's service manager says he used the 'bike down' method of getting the part instead of their reference number Buell CS gave me for my snapped belt. The call did me absolutely no good according to him. |
