Why Freewheeler so hot?

[SGMJRamos]

Greetings to all enthusiasts!

I love my trike... Freewheeler, love the handling, love the ride.

It is so sad that these awesome machines run so hot!

Wife and I ride on weekends, of course its deep into the summer, and traffic is miserable in my area of the woods... so we stand in traffic for a while. Then it is so much heat coming from the pipes... that it becomes unbearable, and Momma, says Joe you gotta do something.

I purchased a set of mid air deflectors... kind of works, still hot..

Why did you do that Harley Davidson to such a wonderful machine...

Does anyone have any advice... please...

 

[Paul692]

most of your heat is coming from the header. you can get a de-catted header which will lower your heat a lot. get a tuner and you can richen your fuel mixture. vance and hines makes a nice header but they are not cheap.im going to do mine this winter

 

[Keystone]

There is a ton of info on the forum about making an air cooled V-twing run cooler. The reason they feel hotter is due to EPA regulations. MoCo has to run them lean to get them to pass EPA. That makes them put off more heat.

 

[HDB0B]

I de-catted my stock head pipes and added Nightrider FL-Vied-10 fuel enrichers (set at 62.5%) to my 2014 TriGlide (22k miles now) and it made a world of difference. I still run stock mufflers and air filter.

http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-vied-10.html

http://www.wildpigpipes.com/Store1.html

This was the cheapest solution .... and it worked. If you plan on doing cams or other major mods then invest in a full blown tuner.
My passenger never complains about the heat now!!!! Life is great.

Bob

 

[J.T.M.]

I gutted my cat, installed a stage 1 breather, screaming eagle tuner, wrapped the pipes, dyno tuned. It all made a big difference.
Gutting the cat and installing the stage 1 breather was the best bang for the buck.

 

[Chuckster]

Headers

most of your heat is coming from the header. you can get a de-catted header which will lower your heat a lot. get a tuner and you can richen your fuel mixture. vance and hines makes a nice header but they are not cheap.im going to do mine this winter

There is a guy on craigslist here in Sarasota,fl. (it may be on the Tampa list , getting old and forgot) but anyway he has a new full set of Vance and Hines Power duels for 300.00. I already have my header so thought I would pass this on to you folks.ThumbUp

 

[YYCBOB]

Gutting the cat ?

I gutted my cat, installed a stage 1 breather, screaming eagle tuner, wrapped the pipes, dyno tuned. It all made a big difference.
Gutting the cat and installing the stage 1 breather was the best bang for the buck.

if I only de-cat, is a tune required ?

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

if I only de-cat, is a tune required ?

If you are going to run the stock mufflers in my opinion no retune is required,and here is my reasoning.If you look at the position of the 02 sensors they are in front of the cat there for any changes in exhaust flow would not have any effect on the sensors.I ran a gutted pipe with Screaming Eagle 4 inch street cannon mufflers with stock tune,with out any issues in running or performance.But if you talk to ten different people you will get ten different answers.If you talk to a good tech they will tell you that the ECM has a very limited ability to adjust so as long as you don't change the air intake you will be good to go.

 

[Gone2Three]

if I only de-cat, is a tune required ?

I'm thinking it's recommended if you do remove it... would defiantly help as it's not as restricted anymore. I haven't done mine yet, but it's on the list ThumbUp I however have changed my stock to Rinehart slip ons.

 

[52edub]

I am picking up my Free today with new ceramic headers by Fuel Moto. I measured the headers with my IR gun and hope to see some lower temps for sure.

 

[Gone2Three]

I am picking up my Free today with new ceramic headers by Fuel Moto. I measured the headers with my IR gun and hope to see some lower temps for sure.

Keep us posted, love my Freewheeler and adjusted to the heat, but man...wife said for what I paid and now all this $$ to keep it from frying us and the engine really? I know it's a Harley and I love it! I blame the EPA ! :kpzxvq:

 

[Tin Man 2]

There is an aftermarketle company that makes a twin fan cooling unit, Cool Jugs or something like that. Just Google Harley engine heat solutions and you will find all kinds of info. I will add that sitting in traffic with this summers hot temps is hard on any air cooled motor. Fall is my favorite riding season.

 

[Gone2Three]

There is an aftermarketle company that makes a twin fan cooling unit, Cool Jugs or something like that. Just Google Harley engine heat solutions and you will find all kinds of info. I will add that sitting in traffic with this summers hot temps is hard on any air cooled motor. Fall is my favorite riding season.

Yep, Love Jugs...researched here on the fourm. From the feedback the Wards cooling fan is what I'm possibly going with, but website not taking deposits until year end?? Again one of many mods for my list, funds are in short supply and with everyone's great suggestions and an abundance of aftermarket goodies...big problem p.s. :Agree: this IS the best time to ride here in central Texas! well...that and spring time

 

[DK Custom Products]

Here is a LINK to an article, that explains in-depth, why the Freewheeler runs so hot.


Here is a LINK to an article, that outlines what can be done to cool them down.


This is a subject that I have spent hundreds (probably thousands) of hours researching and working on.

There is a lot of mis-information on the subject, and folks that spend thousands trying to fix it, without much success.

You do not need to "put up with the heat", nor do you need to spend thousand to try & fix it.

Read the two links above. You can be assured that it is good & useful info.

Kevin

 

[cigarman]

The first think to do is a DK custom tank lift. Do the delux version. The deflectors and 2" tank lift made a world of difference and together they are an inexpensive mod at about 100 bucks.

i also put a K&N air filter, fp3 tuner and cobra mufflers.

HDs are all about the mods....

 

[52edub]

The new ceramic header is great and I will be using FL-Xieds to help out with the fueling. My dealer is getting out of ordering and installing any non-approved performance additions so I lucked out. Must be some blow back from the EPA fine and corporate HD telling dealers what to do.

 

[firebikerd]

OK Cigar man

I just ordered the DK 2" tank lift with the custom option! Sounds like and looks like a good option; DK says it works so I ordered it! AZ heat is cooling down now!

Had my 2015 amber whisky Freewheeler 2 days now and AZ DMV almost gave me a hassle over the temp plate!??
All is good and put about 70 miles on it. Great ride had 442mi when I picked it up!

 

[Jack Klarich]

The M8 is at least 50 degrees cooler, the bigger cooler with RCM activated fan is awesome plus the knock sensors work great even with the baffles knocked out @ 55mpg @ 2700 rpm