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[Dan_Lockwood]

been running them a couple of years now with the thermal switch. No problems except one I created with wire management. Tried to tuck everything out of site, but put one of the connector in a bind and the wire pulled out over time. recrimped a connector on, moved the wires and good to go. also running his 160 degree thermostat in the oil cooler. (that was a pain to install) but piece of mind for me.

So what are you using the oil cooler stat for?  Does it kick on an oil cooler fan or just turn on your Wards fans?

Just thinking that most oil temps are well over 200 degrees, if it's turning your Wards fans on, they must run about all the time.  That's probably not what you're doing though.

Thanks.

[WVHoop]

Did a little custom fab to make them work with my horn cover & did the electrical connections differently than he recommends but I'm very happy with them. I'm glad I bought them & would buy them again.

[phato1]

So what are you using the oil cooler stat for?  Does it kick on an oil cooler fan or just turn on your Wards fans?

Just thinking that most oil temps are well over 200 degrees, if it's turning your Wards fans on, they must run about all the time.  That's probably not what you're doing though.

Thanks.

The thermostat closes the bypass at a lower temp than the stock one allowing oil to flow through the cooler sooner thereby helping to keep the oil temp down. I think the stock thermostat closes the bypass at @ 190* and the Wards closes it at @160*.

[CVODON]

Just in case anyone does not know, the Ward Stat Thermo switch has NOTHING to do with the fans, only the oil cooler. It is a thermo switch, switch in name only, it is operated by temp only has no electrical connections. If you look at Wards webpage it has photos and a thorough description of how it operates. Pretty cheap in price and easy to install.
The fans DO NOT blow thru or between the heads, they blow on the spark plug area of the engine only. Someone above posted you could feel it on your right leg, you could not feel it on my bike. I checked with my bare hand and felt no difference after the fans turned on, never ride without long pants on and definitely never felt it on my legs riding,

[Ironhorse]

I will reiterate what I stated earlier. I do feel air movement when the fans run. Not a voluminous amount, but enough for me to feel and notice. I do not presume to speak for the experience of others, only for myself. When sitting at a light, I often drop my left hand over the fans and feel the suction, then drop my right hand by the side of the tank above the air cleaner and feel air movement.

Your mileage and experience may vary.

[grc]

The stock oil cooler bypass thermostat starts to open around 180° F.  The purpose of such a bypass is simple; you want the motor oil to get up to normal operating temperature as soon as possible, and without a thermostatically controlled bypass it would take much longer to get up to normal temperature, especially in cooler weather.  Running a lower temperature thermostat on the oil cooler just extends the amount of time until the oil gets up to full temp, it does not mean the oil temp will always be lower by 20° F.  Ride long enough and the temp will climb just as high as it did before.  Take short rides in cool weather and the oil will probably hold more moisture and contaminants.  In other words, there is no free lunch.  Reminds me of all the guys thirty years ago who thought changing the thermostats in their automotive cooling systems to a much lower temp, or just removing them entirely, was a good thing.  WRONG.

The engine is designed to run a normal oil temperature of 230° F at standard ambient air temps, and that temp will increase as ambient temps increase and/or airflow over the engine and cooler decreases.  If you use the viscosity and type of oil recommended, there is no need to obsess over oil temperatures.  If you ride in unusual conditions, like hotter than average climates or with a lot of low speed riding, then a good fan assisted oil cooler is a much better idea than changing the thermostat in the cooler bypass.

Jerry

[sadunbar]

The stock oil cooler bypass thermostat starts to open around 180° F.  The purpose of such a bypass is simple; you want the motor oil to get up to normal operating temperature as soon as possible, and without a thermostatically controlled bypass it would take much longer to get up to normal temperature, especially in cooler weather.  Running a lower temperature thermostat on the oil cooler just extends the amount of time until the oil gets up to full temp, it does not mean the oil temp will always be lower by 20° F.  Ride long enough and the temp will climb just as high as it did before.  Take short rides in cool weather and the oil will probably hold more moisture and contaminants.  In other words, there is no free lunch.  Reminds me of all the guys thirty years ago who thought changing the thermostats in their automotive cooling systems to a much lower temp, or just removing them entirely, was a good thing.  WRONG.

The engine is designed to run a normal oil temperature of 230° F at standard ambient air temps, and that temp will increase as ambient temps increase and/or airflow over the engine and cooler decreases.  If you use the viscosity and type of oil recommended, there is no need to obsess over oil temperatures.  If you ride in unusual conditions, like hotter than average climates or with a lot of low speed riding, then a good fan assisted oil cooler is a much better idea than changing the thermostat in the cooler bypass.

Jerry

Thank you, Jerry!   

The last time this topic was discussed I gave much the same reply as yours to less than enthusiastic responses.  The mechanical thermostat switch will only slow the rate of oil temperature rise, but if you ride long enough it will eventually get to the same place.  Much the same result of the +One higher capacity oil pans...

The Wards Fans, however are a good investment.  Heat (oil temperature) is largely generated in the cylinder heads and anything that will reduce cylinder head temperature will lower oil temperatures.  And because the Wards fans run via a thermo switch, they allow the motor (and oil) to reach normal operating temperature before turning on...  There are other fans on the market, but the advantage of the Wards Fans, in my opinion, is they are mechanically located in an optimum position to maximize their cooling potential, as compared to other offerings.   

[smkblwr]

I agree with alot of what grc and sadunbar said, a good complete combustion event in the cylinders has many parts one of which is thermal temps of the combustion chamber and surrounding metals.  With the newer Synthetic lines of Oils, oil break down temps are much higher these days. But I come from a school of over building. Which is why I installed the 160degree thermostat, I would rather just start the oil flow sooner through the cooler, my 117ci has no problem getting to normal operating temp. I installed Wards Fans with the head thermal switch and a second set of fans behind the stock oil cooler that are wired to the aux switch for in town/parade use. I figure I have around $600 in everything helping to protecting my $10k motor (cheap insurance in my book) which replaced the stock motor failure with 5k miles on it. Now to be fair I do alot of parade style/slow speed, group, solo, trailer pulling, both extremes of the temperature range below freezing and above 95degree with 100% humidity, interstate hammering, back road puttin. Just this week we have gone from 50 degree mornings with highs in the mid 60s to 69degrees this morning and expected to break 90 with the humidity expected to rise to the "muggy level as the news man said this morning"
With the Wards fans my bike rarely goes in to heat management mode for normal riding around here. Wish I had found them when I had my ol Road King.
Smkblwr

[Rooster]

I had the single fan blowing through the middle before getting the Wards fans now the extra hot air blowing seems spread out more which is to me better than just blasting at you right through the middle.

[nytryder]

Any info on the Wards fans at cruise speed. My bike gets really hot down the right hand side at speeds at 70-75 mph. Mostly on my wifes right foot and calf area.  Been riding these bikes for yrs and this one is really hot. I have the Fullsac DX pipe and 2" cores TTS tuner and a trip out to Doc's for a dyno tune. Will be heading out for out annual trip in a month or two and would help to lower these temps a little. I'm sure they do well in town but I need some interstate help if possible.  I'm even considering a Manstad wind shield to help air flow through a little better. Thank You in advance.

[Royalroadie]

I have been using them for 2 years now.  They work fairly well.  I would say according to my tests with and without that they will reduce your oil temps by 10-15*.  If you use the wards fans also with an air assisted aftermarket oil cooler you can get another 10-15* reduction.  The wards fans blow over the spark plug area and out a smaller vent hole on the right side of the head.  Yes you can feel the heat coming out the right side but it is not unbearable unless the ambient temp is at 90+.  Then I am sure to put my leg either up on the highway pegs when in town or when stopped I just keep my right leg further back so it is not is the airstream  when I am a stoplight.    I used to see temp in the very high 280-290 on hot days,  now 260 is about as hot as it gets.   Use a good syn oil and you will be fine.

[brassspike]

I have been using them for 2 years now.  They work fairly well.  I would say according to my tests with and without that they will reduce your oil temps by 10-15*.  If you use the wards fans also with an air assisted aftermarket oil cooler you can get another 10-15* reduction.  The wards fans blow over the spark plug area and out a smaller vent hole on the right side of the head.  Yes you can feel the heat coming out the right side but it is not unbearable unless the ambient temp is at 90+.  Then I am sure to put my leg either up on the highway pegs when in town or when stopped I just keep my right leg further back so it is not is the airstream  when I am a stoplight.    I used to see temp in the very high 280-290 on hot days,  now 260 is about as hot as it gets.   Use a good syn oil and you will be fine.

I can feel very little out the right side around the breather. If you put your hand behind the rear cylinder you can feel a rush of hot air blowing there. There are passages behind the spark plug that the air seems to follow. No problems with heat blowing on my leg so far. I did the 160 thermostat at the same time. If you read Jason's information, the route that the twin cam oil travels has an effect on how the thermostat operates. In addition, his thought is that it is better to get the oil circulating and cooling before the oil gets so hot, rather than having it get very hot and trying to get it to cool down. Makes sense to me, but then I'm no engineer either. So far I'm seeing about 30 degrees lower oil temps. We'll see when it gets really hot and humid here.......and it ever stops flipping raining!!

[smkblwr]

Any info on the Wards fans at cruise speed. My bike gets really hot down the right hand side at speeds at 70-75 mph. Mostly on my wifes right foot and calf area.  Been riding these bikes for yrs and this one is really hot. I have the Fullsac DX pipe and 2" cores TTS tuner and a trip out to Doc's for a dyno tune. Will be heading out for out annual trip in a month or two and would help to lower these temps a little. I'm sure they do well in town but I need some interstate help if possible.  I'm even considering a Manstad wind shield to help air flow through a little better. Thank You in advance.

nytryder, My Wife doesn't do well on hot days on the bike. I started removing the lowers every year about this time, that seams to help her. I also ride 90% of the time with my feet up on the hwy pegs.
Smkblwr

[davidw221]

I added the original fan I put on, but used epoxy to the wiring of the fan switch, it was phony, beefed it up, I do get hot air on my right leg every once in a while, but I love my setup.

[Hoel Motors]

I put on Ward fans when I moved to southwest Florida from Minnesota.  I too can feel some air movement on the right side of the bike.....more than the left anyway. I love them