RT-P cooling fan

[prhkgh]

I just got a 2000 R1100-RT, and am concerned about heat*. Have any of you retrofitted the cooling fan off an RTP authority version to a stock RT? If so, any advice as to what was involved, how you control it on/off, etc?

 

Initially I had been shopping for an RTP, and the cooling fan was a big factor in going that way, but found an RT for $2000 less, that had been babied and very well cared for.

 

Why my concern? Because I ruined a URAL when stuck in stop and go traffic on a 105 degree day. Couldn't lane split due to the sidecar. Couldn't get on the freeway due to the low top cruising speed (let alone the fact the rod-controlled manual brakes really didn't do much to stop it.) Of course had I known then what I know now, I would have parked the URAL and waited for less traffic or cooler temps.

 

So...am I overly concerned with my stock RT? I >ASSUME< a 100+ day should not make me park the bike and take the truck, since I've seen these things in Death Valley in the summer... (I'm still getting used to the concept of "ride right away", since with my Sportster it's "let it warm all the way up"...but I read it in the manual, and that's what I'm doing.)

 

Thanks,

 

Paul H

 

[Boffin]

Apart from the tupperware damage when stopped, the oilhead engine is very heat-tolerant.

 

If splitting is legal where you live (filling out your profile a bit more makes answering questions easier) that should not be an issue.

 

The RT-P fan is an easy fit, most people just add a switch and turn it on when the bars on the temp guage get near the top of the scale.

 

BTW, my local Ural dealer hones out the stock barrels as they come from the factory with piston clearances suitable for the Russian steppe, not mild UK weather, let alone hot-weather.

 

Andy

[Bob Palin]

I solved the California traffic heat problem by putting synthetic oil in my RT, it never overheated again either because the synthetic carried the heat better or it didn't register it on the instruments...

 

(Seriously, my bike got hot to the point where it didn't run well on regular oil, never happened under the same conditions after the switch)

[smiller]

100F is no problem if you're moving but will cause the engine to get hot when in stop & go traffic at those temps (God help you), although I've never gotten the RID more than a few bars above normal, and as mentioned the oilheads are pretty tough. If the heat got bad enough I think I'd die well before the bike did.

 

Adding the cooling fan is not difficult but I'd give things a try first, you may determine that you don't really need it. If you are going to really cook the oil with regularity you might want to use one of the better synthetics, but beyond that I wouldn't anticipate any problems. And this from someone in Texas...

[russell_bynum]

BMW's never overheated until they started putting temperature gauges on them.

[SMD]

BMW's never overheated until they started putting temperature gauges on them.

 

A couple of weeks ago I got stuck in stop and go traffic on the freeway. It was the hottest day of the year so far, 90 degrees. After an hour of creeping along at 2 miles per hour, the RID was all the way to the top and the motor started making all kinds of god awful bangs,clunks and other strange noises. I pulled off the FW and shut the bike off for 30 minutes, then continued on my way home with no further incident. An oil cooler fan would have definitely helped in this circumstance.

 

Given the correct circumstances, they do indeed overheat.

[prhkgh]

Thanks folks. I'm in CA (East Bay area), so lane splitting is legal. Did it judiciously on my Sportster, not quite ready to do it comfortably on the RT.

 

After reading the answers, I'll hold off doing anything until I see if it is a problem or not. Quite frankly I wasn't thinking of the oil temp gauge...my URAL let me know when it got too hot by seizing the engine. But now I can watch as the temp creeps, if I'm ever stuck in traffic that bad again.

 

Since I'm about to go home, and it's about 100 outside (but it's a 'dry' heat), I'll pay close attention to the gauge. Supposed to get hotter each day this week, certainly will be topping 105 for me to test things. I have seen it 115 here on occasion. Sure hope that cooling vest I ordered online gets here quick!

 

Paul H.

[prhkgh]

Follow-up, guess I don't need the fan for now: Was over 110 degrees on my ride home. (Previous owner mounted a thermometer whose sensor is right next to the air intake at the front of the bike.) Did about 5 miles in town (30-35mph, couple traffic lights) and 10 miles on highway (70-80mph.)

 

Temp gauge went to 5 bars and stayed there (looked like maybe 3 more bars on the gauge before hitting the red zone), so I guess I'm good to go with the stock setup.

 

Paul H.

(yeah it was hot...but a lot better than the times I've ridden a bicycle, on the same commute in the same weather.)