| Author | Message | ||
     Cupcake_mike |
06 uly with 80k and what i assume is the original fan and runtime logic (I've had the bike since 16k). For the last year or so, every once and awhile, when i shut off the bike the fan sounds "weak". A majority of the time it works fine, on high for a minute or so, then kicks down to low for another minute. When its weak it also seems to run at two speeds but each sounds slightly slower than normal, almost sounds like its dragging. I figured the brushes or a bushing was going bad. I took a 1100 mile trip this week and noticed during a gas stop about 300 miles in that the fan didn't run when i shut down the engine. It was 70/80 deg and I'd just rode a couple hours at 75 mph, so i know the engine was at operating temperature. I checked the fuse, it was good, plugged in my buelltooth and run the fan test in ecmdroid, fan starts up and sounds fine. Figured maybe it was just a fluke, but no, as far as i can tell my fan doesn't work anymore, unless i force it through the ecmdroid test. Anybody have a clue as to what's up? I don't get it. | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
Mine has done that as well. I just assumed a bearing was worn out or something. It has done it for the past 15k miles probably. | ||
| Tootal |
Just off the top of my head I'd say that if it runs when forced then it's fine. The fact it isn't working in normal operation points to the fact it's not getting a signal to start. Therefore I would suspect the ECM or more likely the temperature sensor for the fan. I would assume it uses the engine temperature sensor but check the service manual. | ||
| Teeps |
Time for a fan. The symptom you describe in the second paragraph is exactly how the fan on my Ulysses acted before being replaced. Notice the wear on the commutator and output shaft.  | ||
| Etennuly |
Same symptoms mine had prior to literally going up in smoke. My second one is doing that varying speed thing now. Time to get one. | ||
| Hughlysses |
In case you're interested, there are a couple of alternatives for the fan now. You can use the OEM fan or you can buy a more standard fan from SPAL and modify it. SPAL made the original fans. IIRC the OEM cost is about $150 while the standard off-the-shelf variety fan is $50. You have to use a portion of the old "housing" with the new motor and impeller and it involves a saw cut to the plastic. There's a thread here somewhere on how to do it. | ||
| Teeps |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/827469.html?1435596062 | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
Well, my temp sensor seems to be reading fine, per ecmdroid, its rising as the bike runs. Fan kicked on after head temp hit 180 when I ran it at idle in the shop, sounded normal. Then when I rode it at 75mph for 50 min (my commute into work), I shut it off and no fan running. I'm stumped. Maybe i'll poke around in the fan settings in ecmdroid, but I cant imagine anything has changed. Eventually, ill just throw money at it, buy a new fan and see if that does it. At least its cooler outside now and i dont do much stop n go in cities/traffic. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My 06s fan has been rattling and sounding generally pathetic for years. I quit carrying the new-in-package replacement in my topcase...oh...five years or so ago. | ||
| Tootal |
My fan has sounded strange upon occasion, like it had leaves in it. Maybe it did? Seems fine now and I too have had a replacement for years but never needed it...yet! Mike, if it's getting cooler maybe it just didn't get hot enough. I know mine doesn't come on all the time in cooler temps, even on long rides. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My 2008 sounded like it was on death's door a few years ago. Turned out it ate a crunchy oak leaf. After I cleared it out, it has sounded normal since. Make sure yours hasn't been "tarred and feathered" with a leaky rocker box and road crap. | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
Dont get me wrong, im cheap...until it shows definate signs of being dead (skip spark type overheating) I won't mess with it...I've felt the pain of replacing an 02 sensor and I am not in a hurry to get my xl size mitts in that small space again. | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ The one thing to keep in mind is if you ride it to the point where the fan dies in hot weather, you can count on doing an engine rotation to replace a cooked rear rocker gasket shortly after. | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
Its got 80k on it, by the time it got to that point, with the miles I typically put on yearly, it'd probably be close to 100K...I'll just throw it in the gutter and go and get another. | ||
| Etennuly |
I rode 600 miles in 90 + temps getting home after mine went up in smoke. Just don't run in traffic and shut it off as far back as possible to coast in to stop. |
