| Author | Message | ||
     Tempest766 |
Anyone have luck with disassembling the fan unit and giving it new life? Are there any serviceable parts in it? bearings? I vaguely remember an online thread about a replacement fan that was a 3rd party hack and not an OEM product...did that have merit? The big gotcha for me is figuring out how to remove the fan blade so that I can inspect the motor properly. Any thoughts? I already used my quote of expletives getting the thing out of the bike. I don't have any spare cash for a new one and I don't even want to read the words "e-bay", but I'm sure someone will ignore that request. | ||
| Tempest766 |
OK. I found the SPAL thread. Looks like Summit racing "may" carry them. Will check tomorrow. What was the verdict on the non OEM fan? Who is using it currently in their bike? | ||
| Etennuly |
I replaced mine with OEM around 35,000. I'm due again. Current one will slow down as it gets hotter outside. I'm watching to see what pops up. | ||
| Smorris |
my oem 2006 fan took a quick crap. Replace with newer OEM, all good since. purchased 06 2 years ago 3000 miles, finally rode last summer a couple thousand mile and fan was on its way out. replaced with OEM. while you are in there i made a 2" jumper wire(male and female plugs), now ohhhh so much easier to install that thing, i spent as much time getting the plug separated as removing the fan. i did order a spal off amazon and am going to build the fan for nephew's bike | ||
| Teeps |
Tempest speaking to your first questions. The answer is no. Check out this thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/827469.html?1435596062 Send a PM to xbimmer ask him how long the spal fan replacement lasted. I put an OEM fan in my bike because I didn't have the $$$ to experiment with the spal swap. Fortunately xbimmer took on the task and proved it works. (Message edited by teeps on April 20, 2019) | ||
| Tootal |
I bought a new fan years ago because my fan sounded like it had leaves stuck in it. I figured it was the bearing going as others had the same sound right before failure. By the time I got the new fan the noise stopped!! It's been fine ever since so I guess it really did have leaves in it. I would sell you my spare but as soon as I did mine would explode! It does have over 48,000 miles on it. | ||
| Tempest766 |
given that the SPAL fan is 60 bucks and the HD replacement is 140, you can see why I'm more inclined to use the SPAL fan if it works and is reliable. Summit Racing (within driving distance) carries the correct SPAL replacement...unless they've changed the specs since 2015. All I'd have to do is xbimmer's mount mod to get the new motor into the mount. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Hi guys thought I'd respond here to Tempest's PM. The SPAL-converted stock shroud has never given me an issue since I replaced it waaaaay back when, heck I don't remember when. I'm gonna be honest here though, I haven't put a whole lot of miles on the bike since due to many issues mostly personal, but it's stupid-easy to perform the mod and works as well as stock, and you can put some money in your pocket. Fired up the Buell 2 days ago and rode it around the neighborhood, man I miss the trips Sue and I used to take on that thing. I need to address its various issues and get it back on the road, but heck the fan works great! Missing the Rock Store Teeps. My daughter is now a regular there when not at the track, has become quite the accomplished rider. You all ride safe! | ||
| Tempest766 |
The SPAL-converted stock shroud has never given me an issue since I replaced it waaaaay back when, heck I don't remember when. Good to know. There is a Summit Racing outlet about a 90 minute ride from here and they list the SPAL fan on their website as available over the counter. I need to have lunch in Wheeling and foresee a trip to Akron thereafter to acquire said fan. Will give me some two wheel therapy time on the feejer and the weather is suppose to be cool and dry. | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
The original in my 06 had been slowly dieing the last couple years, finally grabbed a $25 used one of ebay and swapped it, greatly helped my overheating skip-spark issues. I've got 85k on my bike though. I bought another cheap used one and threw it in the saddle bag, and with my skills learned, I could handle on the side of the road if I had to. Lots of cussing and bleeding hands will take place though. | ||
| Sharkguy |
Guys, the original fan in the bike is a Spal. All you are doing is reusing the fan housing/mounting bracket. Replaced mine about 3 years ago and still going strong. The commutator was wearing out on my original. | ||
| Tempest766 |
Thanks, Sharkguy! I have the SPAL replacement fan, and am looking at using it as-is, instead of swapping the motor and connector into the OEM shroud. Two of the three mounting holes line up, and maybe I can mod so that the third hole is used too. I need to fit it to see if it would be stable, not hit the rear shock, and create enough airflow without the HD shroud. Worst scenario is that I have to move the new motor and blade into the old HD shroud and fight with it for 90 minutes trying to get it back into the frame. Right now just taking my time, cleaning up all that caked muck, and looking at it thoroughly and systematically. | ||
| Tempest766 |
new fan, using old shroud, is back in the bike. had to make an educated guess as to polarity, based on available factors: identical motor, review of wiring schematic, ECU probably being on the ground side to regulate the PWM, VR on positive side, fuse on positive side... now I need to find info on fixing the rear shock preload before putting it back together. the preload has been flat since i bought the thing six years ago. the dampening seems to work, but I have to turn the preload in 1/2 way before I even get any resistance. Is there a discussion of that fix on here somewhere? | ||
| Teeps |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/831262.html#POST2632594 Hughlysses Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 - Here’s the procedure: Back off the adjuster knob completely. It may be a good idea to support the rear of the bike so no weight is on the shock. Detach the adjuster from the bottom of the seat pan (2 bolts). If you have the fan shroud from the cooling kit installed, it gets in the way and has to be removed or bent out of the way to give slack in the hose. Disconnect the hose at the adjuster by removing the banjo bolt. Plug or tie up the hose so the oil doesn’t run out. Hold the adjuster so that the hose attachment hole is pointing straight up. Take a small tool (screwdriver, o-ring pick, wooden skewer, etc.), insert in the hole and push the piston all the way down. It’ll usually move 1/4” or so. Pour oil in through the hole until the adjuster is completely full. If significant oil leaked from the hose, it’s a good idea to refill it too. Carefully reconnect the hose and tighten the banjo bolt while spilling as little oil as possible. Re-bolt the adjuster to the bottom of the seat. After this, you should start feeling load on the adjuster after 1/2 to 1 turn. It can make a big difference. (Message edited by Hughlysses on June 12, 2018) | ||
| Tempest766 |
fan fixed, and took the opportunity to refill the rear shock preload piston while it was off the bike. test ride to top off the gastank checked out ok. reinsertion of the fan was easier than taking it out...but it's still a PITA! I also modded xbimmer's mod by making the cuts in the old shroud longer so that installing the new fan motor is easier. the screw attachments on the motor base add rigidity to the shroud connection so I don't believe it's any weaker than it was. |
