Rat Bike Project

[willedoo]

I was looking up some youtube videos last night on fans and some interesting stuff there. One mob were doing a lot of comparisons of temperatures before and after adding fans in different situations. They seemed to do the job ok. They found the highest rear cylinder temperature without fans was out on the highway with the engine working hard. Even though they were going fast, the rear cylinder wan't getting much cooling air.

[facthunter]

Intuitively yes, But airflow around bike engines is complex and sometimes Oil from the seat area  ends up well forward. The front Cylinder on a Vee twin works the Hardest and usually has the Bluer Pipe. Any idea Why?   I like V twins , There's a LOT right about them for a Bike AND a small Plane.Nev 

[Litespeed]

I love flat twins and Guzzi V twins.

 

Others not so much.  But do appreciate a high performance twin sport bike.

 

I am resisting the cruiser v twins until my back wont allow sport riding.

 

You still riding Nev ?

[Marty_d]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

 I like V twins , There's a LOT right about them for a Bike AND a small Plane.Nev 

Interesting, I thought most v twins would have too much vibration for a plane - I know mine would!

Mind you a purpose built one like the Spirit might be less like a washing machine.

[pmccarthy]

I think the first Anzani was a v twin.

[facthunter]

Torsional vibration wise they are far better. Never have 2 _Pistons stopped at the same time. Nev

[onetrack]

I need to find a T-Shirt that says, "Harley-Davidsons - Destroying Hearing and Promoting Intense Hatred from Peace-Loving Neighbours Since 1911!"

 

I really don't understand why so many H-D owners can get away with open exhaust systems with a road-licenced vehicle.

[facthunter]

Plenty of 4 cylinder Buzz Bombs do it also.  Not Pleasant for the rider as well as the community. Clamp down on the OBVIOUSLY noisy ones. Engine Brakes on trucks are sometimes worse.  They've been going since 1903 and the early ones were Known as "Silent Grey Fellows"  The Later ones meet all the required sound restrictions , and always have. You could hardly Hear my 1916 as it Passed you. . Great bike at that time. Get you anywhere..  Nev.

[onetrack]

Almost without fail, anytime I see a H-D approaching on the highway, and I have my window down, I wind it up. The owners seem to specialise in ensuring they damage your hearing as they overtake or pass. No Jap bike comes anywhere near them.

[facthunter]

Some do.  They are antisocial. Nev

[willedoo]

The straight-through drag pipes seem to appearing everywhere these days. Not so bad with a quiet steady rider, but I think a lot of others like to crank that throttle on just to make a racket. A mate of mine is putting Verex drag pipes on his new Bonneville, about $1,400 for the pair I think it is. He was a bit concerned about getting pulled up with them, but he's an old bloke and rides steady so should be ok. The standard pipes on his Speedmaster sound like a sewing machine. He checked up on putting the drag pipes on it and seems to think the warranty will be ok.

[facthunter]

The rider will get sick of the Noise if the truth be Known.  It's a "Look at Me" thing for those with no other attributes. Poor sods really.  Nev

[willedoo]

There's one around here that rides a Harley with drag pipes and I must admit, he's not too bright. If he has an audience he will crank the throttle extra hard for maximum racket.  I guess he thinks everyone is thinking "Wow!", whereas in reality they're all thinking "Dickhead!".

[willedoo]

I have a question that is off topic but thought I'd ask here rather than start a new thread just for a simple question. Regarding blown fuses: does a blown fuse always indicate a problem like a short or do they sometimes just blow due to age. A fuse in my car that runs tail lights and dash lights blew; I put in a new one and everything is working good. The blown fuse would be about 23 years old and the fuses are subject to a bit of dust. Could it have been a dust related short or just old age.

[willedoo]

When I said car, it's just a generic term. It's a dual cab ute.

[onetrack]

Willie, if the fuse blew, the circuit has been overloaded. You don't mention the style of fuse (there are several). I'm speaking about the old glass fuses, now. If the fuse fell apart, or the ends fell off, I would put that down to age. However, the ends don't normally fall off, because they're held by the clips, they usually fall off when you pull them out.

 

You can get intermittent electrical faults that are a PIA. A little patch of bare wire touching metal occasionally. A wire being occasionally crushed between other parts that move.

It can be a real pain to track down a lot of the time. Look for areas where movement takes place, where things can be hit (taillights are often hit by road debris), or where moisture has crept in.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by onetrack

[willedoo]

They're the plastic fuses with two exposed prongs. I guess I'll have to wait and see if it blows again, and if so, start trying to track the issue. I was coming back down the highway on Sunday night, about an hours drive, and had to keep checking my speed with the torch.