| Author | Message | ||
     Rekrab |
My 08 was reflashed with what I think must be the program for the comfort kit. The fan now runs while moving above 20 MPH, can't tell if it stays on above 30 because of other noise. It shuts off below 20 and has only run after shutdown once, on low. Never ran before unless heavy stop. & go, always ran at shutdown. I don't like the noise when riding under 30. Is this suppose to be a fix? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
They installed that code without asking? Are they doing that? I just dropped my 2008 off for 20,000 servicing. I hope that they don't brainwash it! My fan never comes on unless I'm really really stuck in traffic. | ||
| Conchop |
Don't worry, it is better, much better. | ||
| Rekrab |
New ECM to try and fix a long time running issue. Still have the issue ! + noise . | ||
| Nobuell |
So far, my fan only energizes upon motor shutdown since installing the comfort kit. Does anybody out there know what the new flash actually does for fan operation? Does it change the motor operation? My bike is running very well at this point. I want to know what it does before flashing my bike. Anybody out there with this info? | ||
| Nvr2old |
The fan seems to run all the time the bike is moving, and generally matches the speed. If you're going fast, the fan runs fast. If going slow or stopped, the fan runs slow. If you shutoff the bike, the fan does not stay on. At least that's been my experience with my '08 since it was reflashed. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
After reading about the comfort flash it seems to me Buell has chosen a compromise. From an engineering standpoint running the fan while riding should keep the rear cylinder head temp down so no fan is needed upon shut down. The plus is a reduced head temp, the negative is a fan thats running an awful lot. From a sales and rider perspective this is a brilliant compromise. The magazines and riders cant complain about the fan running upon shutdown, which was a big argument and probably always will be. For me I would chose the running fan after shutdown vs having it run more while riding. Whoever built the fan have hard data on expected life span in hours. Seems to me if its running to keep things cool while riding it could be running a hell of a lot. If you wanted to sell more Buell motorcycles what would you do? Maybe stop the fan from running when the bike is shut off and do something about the right side heat. Would you be willing to compromise engine and fan life to do this? For 90 percent of the buyers it would make no difference, it's called a sound business decision. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I like the fan running at shutdown because I know the engine was well warmed up and that means no condensate issues with the oil. | ||
| Trevd |
Rwcfrank, Are you suggesting that this flash has nothing to do with comfort? Since it's part of the "comfort kit", I'd assume that it has something to do with reducing the heat reaching the rider and not necessarily to reduce the temp of the head, although I guess it does that as well. My thinking, not having the re-flash done yet, is that the fan running would push the heat away from under the seat area faster than just the wind alone would. Just my guess... | ||
| Firstbatch |
Key On: Fan On Temp of 428 deg and Fan Off at 356 deg. Key Off: Fan on temp 338 and Fan Off 302, that was the previous spec for the ECM .....at least for the '06-'07? Does anyone have a 2010 SM that states the current model year spec Seems like the Buell techs should publish the specific parameters of the comfort ECM flash......inquiring minds would love to know  My bet would be that as part of the "comfort" effort that temps and duration of the fan at Key Off have been reduced. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Trevd, I think the flash has everything to do with comfort. My question is "was there a trade off?" Flowing extra air through running the fan while riding does both. I guess I look at as comfort vs engine life. I will take a hot leg over and over cooked engine any day. | ||
| Bosh |
This is kinda backwards from what I thought the flash would do. I'd think the fan would shut off at speed with the right side scoop providing the needed airflow to keep the rear cylinder cool. Only having the fan come on at lower speeds where the RSS is not effective. Not having the fan on at low speeds would be a cooker for me as that's what pulls the hot air off my leg. At any kind of speed above 15mph heat isn't really an issue at all with me (06 no RSS scoop). I was thinking of getting the scoop just to prolong my fan life as the thing constantly runs while at freeway speeds. I've read this isn't the case with the new RSS. Weird. | ||
| Ulykan |
Has anyone else experienced a idle speed increase like I did? Mine increased about 400 rpm after the re-flash. | ||
| Nvr2old |
I can't verify that, but maybe that's why mine feels a bit stronger accelerating from a stop. | ||
| Alchemy |
Bosh, When the fan is not running at all, the blades of the fan occlude the enhanced air flow the scoop provides. Letting the fan run when at speed would seem to be a good idea to me unless/until they offer a fan the pinwheels freely. The present fan does not as it uses a permanent magnet as I understand it and resists turning when not powered. I have an 06 that does not get the flash and I think the bike would run even cooler if the fan ran on low speed once traveling at 20 or 30 mph. It seems on the 08 and later that the fan is controlled by BOTH temperature and speed. This is actually pretty cool. It may not be perfect just yet but this ability is clearly in the right direction. I am very pleased with the kit on my 06. There is still a band of speeds when the frame seems to get pretty warm and the operation of the fan would probably be desirable. I have done some quick tests of the oil temp and the kit has not raised the oil temperature that I can see in just a few tests. Still staying under 200. | ||
| Slimdave |
As for one of the bikes (09 XT), customer complained about excessive heat and fan running at high speed when shut off. We reflashed his bike and the fan runs more while riding (like above notes) but at shut off runs at low speed for short time. Comfort was gained. Also, throttle response was improved. I've noticed that a lot of these machines react differently to customer riding styles and ambient conditions. It helps to borrow customers bike and ride it until conditions can be matched and adjusted and corrected. I spend a lot of time listening and riding to help service dept get the bikes/customers tuned in. | ||
| Bosh |
When the fan is not running at all, the blades of the fan occlude the enhanced air flow the scoop provides. You're probably right, especially with the new shroud under the seat. Does your fan run less at freeway speeds now with the RSS installed? I have an O6 as well. | ||
| Alchemy |
Bosh, I have not had a chance to give it a good test at true highway speeds. Seat of pants guess would be that it would have more to do with the ambient temperature as to when the fan came on. I have purposely forced the fan to come on during my commute riding and the kit has added quite a bit of cushion over stock. I had to run at about 4k continuously for several miles at modest speed to get the fan to activate. Used to be about 3k to trip the fan. | ||
| Nobuell |
Alchemy "When the fan is not running at all, the blades of the fan occlude the enhanced air flow the scoop provides" It does not seem that the fan blades occludes flow much when not running. My fan no longer runs when moving. It ran all of the time previously. It would stand to reason that additional cooling is being provided with the addition of the RRS regardless of flow past the blades. What would be the benefit of running the fan, if sufficient cooling is provided by the scope? I would rather the fan only operate when the temperature increases due to lower speeds or high engine RPM and let the fan run as normal during shutdown. | ||
| Bosh |
My fan no longer runs when moving That's what I was hoping to hear, I'm gettin one. | ||
| Reedracers |
Funny thing about this reflash I have been to two dealers here in the Bay Area and one told me that they didnt know a thing about it and the other said my 08 Uly wasnt eligble . Does anyone have a number to this reflash so I can take it with me to dealer number 3 . If I ever find a knowledgeable service dept they are gonna have a customer for life. Dwayne | ||
| Arcticktm |
Reedracer, Point them to the Buell website. It specifically mentions the reflash on the same page that lists the Rider Comfort Kit and kit part numbers. Sad that you have to do that, but.... Others on the board have said reflash is for '08 and newer only, but the website is not that specific. My '06 with the kit still will run the fan at cruise. Only installed it last weekend, but it did come on during 50-60mph cruising on back roads and about 75F temp outside. It took longer to come on, I think, and the shroud makes the fan so much quieter that I did not know it was running until I slowed down to <30mph. The fan noise muffling of the shroud is worth the price and install effort, even if it didn't help in any other way (but it does). This morning, temps are only in the upper 60's and the fan never came on until I stopped and shut off the bike. | ||
| Alchemy |
Nobuell, "I would rather the fan only operate when the temperature increases due to lower speeds or high engine RPM and let the fan run as normal during shutdown." That is what the kit delivers and it is a great improvement! My comments come informed by the extra work I did when installing the kit on my 06. I took the opportunity to replace the fan. When I had the fan removed I was impressed with how much air could be moved through the frame in the hole that is normally occupied by the fan.... especially with the help of the new RSS and duct. I think a cooler running engine is a good thing. The fan helps in some very important sense (key off, parade duty) but not in others. I now wonder how much (if any, we don't know) extra heat results from a static fan in the air flow path. Until the fan comes on it may result in more heat and since it does not come much at all it it's primary benefit may be at key off. I think the comfort kit opens up new opportunities for tinkering. For example (I am not suggesting this)what if the fan were removed and the fan control circuit used for some other action like a high temp warning light or skip spark mode or a completely different fan mechanism or an electric oil pump (at key off). I think of this because I think it is now possible the engine would run cooler in many conditions with unrestricted flow from the RSS moving more cooling air through the frame. This may mean a slight improvement in performance or a cooler seat for the rider in the majority of cases. It is just something to think about. | ||
| Nobuell |
Alchemy I agree completely. The Free Area reduction for the static blades will reduce the airflow however, the increased differential pressure due to the new RRS is sufficient to increase overall cooling efficiency when moving at higher speeds. What would be great would be sufficient room to add a pressure relief (or backdraft damper) that would allow the air to bypass when the fan is off. The damper would then close when the fan is on only allowing air through the fan. This would be the best of both worlds if the PR damper has increased FA over the static fan. Maybe a BD damper at the end of the shroud with two smaller fans mounted on each side? Yes there are many things to fiddle with. Does any body know the air quantity and static pressure of the existing fan? I need to get back to working designing our nuclear ventilation systems and stop thinking about this! I guess we should be happy with the increased flow due to the new RSS. Still, I am reluctant to have the flash performed on my bike until I can get definitive data regarding the fan operational modes. I like the way my fan is off at higher speeds and on when stopped or at parade speeds. The fan running at shut down does not concern me and I actually think it should stay on to preclude temperature soaking of the oil in the heads. I believe Buell had it right for this mode of fan operation. I wanted to send an email to Buell requesting the fan modes for the new flash but could not find an email address. Does anybody have an email address to their technical people? | ||
| Dennis_c |
With the comfort kit and a reflash on a 08 ULY my fan now comes on at 15 mph and stays on until my speed drops below 15 mph and does not run when I shut the motor off. It use to run only when I shut the motor off.All this is when the motor is hot. There is a lot more air flow with the fan on than off at 70 mph. I could not believe it until I put my hand down by the fender at 70 mph with fan off then when the fan on on a lot more air flow. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
I have been to two dealers here in the Bay Area and one told me that they didnt know a thing about it and the other said my 08 Uly wasnt eligble . What dealers did you visit in the Bay Area Dwayne?? | ||
| Blake |
Some folks here would do well to be quite, or to simply admit that they really don't know what the heck they are talking about and are just making stuff up off the top of their heads. | ||
| Jphish |
08' Uly comfort kit certainly does make a difference. Installed all 3 components - here's synopsis of results @ todays temp of 65*F: At speed (60 - 80 mph) for 1 hr, fan did not come on at all - even at shut down, as long as you don't poke around at slow speed for more than a minute or so. In town (but able to maintain 25-30 mph) fan only comes on at shut down, & then only for 30 sec or so & mostly low speed. It would be interesting if someone could do pre / post kit installation heat measurements of the various components of interest. (seat, frame, rear cyl etc) I'm pretty satisfied with kit performance - it does the job. At least within the ambient temps I was operating in. I Don't think I'm going to reflash the ECM quite yet. Still getting 49mpg & cooler ride. What more could ya want? | ||
| Ratbuell |
I think an Anony posted in one of the threads here a couple weeks ago - there is no flash for '06/07, nor for the race ecm's. The flash is for 08/09. | ||
| Raceautobody |
Some folks here would do well to be quite, or to simply admit that they really don't know what the heck they are talking about and are just making stuff up off the top of their heads. Harsh Al |
