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[Sledge]

FLHTCUSE6 Mid-frame deflectors, PC-V, Autotuner, Bub Straight 8's TDX, lowers on but open.

I know heat issues are common and there is a lot of info about it here already.  This seems to be more complicated than the usual solutions.   Hot air is getting deflected right onto the back of my right calf.  It's not heat that is rising from the exhaust since it's worse when I'm moving.  It's like a blowdryer was pointing at the back of my calf.  Ideas?

Could be the oval SE breather is causing it?  Like a dead space behind it sucking air from the left right onto my right calf.

Spent most of the day today with my new bike getting the handlebars raised a bit.  Was at the dealer to get some oil, etc. and decided to let them do it.  The guy in service ruined the inner fairing lower cap, scratched the console, dinged the saddlebag lid, then copped an attitude.  Just wasn't careful, amateur mistakes from a long time mechanic.  Manager is replacing it all.  One hour job took 4 hours while they tried to repair the damage.  Next time I'll do it myself.

Ps. Have careful and considerate service people become extinct?

[Sledge]

Took off the mid-frame air deflectors to test my theory that they are actually directing rear cylinder heat onto my right calf.  Riding tomorrow with some buds so I'll find out.  If nogo I'm going to put the right one back on to see if it will route the hot air out the other side.  If no good I'm going to be checking the Power Commander links here to see if making the a/f ratio a bit richer might help.  Don't care about mileage as much as burning my leg.

Love the new bike though.  Guess I am getting the trial by fire.

[cahdbiker]

Sledge, I have thought that maybe the midframe air deflectors are sending hot air towards my right leg also. Please let us know. I would think that if the air would just blow over the cylinder and be diffused in might be cooler for the rider. Thanks in advance. CAHDBIKER

[Sledge]

Nailed it.  Rode 200+ miles today local coastal streets, roads, and only a bit of interstate at the end of the day, lots of stop and go.

If you want to get rid of heat on your right calf get rid of the stock installed mid-frame heat deflectors.  An idiot designed them.  Apparently to block heat that was wafting up from the crossover/cat and rear pipe.  I guess he didn't think it through.  When you start moving, even a bit, they act as air dams and the hot air bounces off right onto your leg.  I wondered why my breather was getting so hot.

I rode very comfortably all day.  The only time I really noticed the heat was when we were in bumper to bumper traffic for 20 minutes and my engine went into heat mgt mode.  Even then though the hot air rose up on either side of the tank, and mostly missed my arms and legs.

I was concerned when my oil pressure started to drop to really low numbers but it wasn't the heat on me I was worried about, it was what the heat and low oil pressure was doing to my ride.  I don't like that at all.  I had to install a Baisley spring in my '03 103 upgrade to get oil pressure up a bit when hot.  Not sure if that has been compensated for in the new cvo line or not.  Anyone?

Anyways my whole problem was the mid-frame deflectors.  I left on my lowers (open) and took off the adj. delflectors on the fairing.  (I don't think the fairing deflectors were a problem since you can open them way up.)

I wonder how many riders have spent a fortune to help manage heat and just didn't realize air flow management is what they needed, at least to start.

[sled dog]

I rode very comfortably all day.  The only time I really noticed the heat was when we were in bumper to bumper traffic for 20 minutes and my engine went into heat mgt mode.  Even then though the hot air rose up on either side of the tank, and mostly missed my arms and legs.

Sledge were you riding with a passenger? I would take mine off but I want to make sure that the BSR is comfortable also. You know the old adage " If Mama ain't happy......."

Thanks

[Sledge]

Hey SLed Dog,

No passenger.  I only noticed heat coming up near the back of the seat when stopped.  It seemed to be less than with the deflectors.  Weird.

I had RJSOriginals' heat deflectors before on my '03 and they worked great.  They are patented so Harley basically ripped him off by redesigning them and stealing the idea.

His are designed differently with a lot more style and they seemed to direct the heat back and down rather than out.  I'm going to contact him to see if he will upgrade mine with newer ones to fit the new bike.  I'll let everyone know if they do indeed work better than the stock ones.

The only complaint I have about his are that they rest against the side cover in a couple small places and eventually led to abrasion marks in the clearcoat.  Nothing serious and can be polished out though.

PS.  About taking off the deflectors:  You don't have to take off the seat.  Use an open end wrench.  MAke sure to get a grip on the clip nuts as you remove the top bolts.  They just barely fit in the access holes and will slip down in there in front of the battery if you are not careful.  I almost lost one of mine in there.  Took a total of 5 minutes to get the deflectors off.  (and those pieces of crap are never going back on)

I'm working on a simple, cheap, powered, airflow management solution.  I'll post info when I make it work.

[Gecko]

Get rid of the cats and stock exhaust?

[sled dog]

I'm working on a simple, cheap, powered, airflow management solution.  I'll post info when I make it work.

Thanks Sledge. I'm yanking mine off as soon as I post this.

Keep us in the loop on the heat management invention. I always wanted to know a millionaire.

[Sledge]

Hey Gecko,

CAt and stock exhaust already gone.  Got Bub Straight 8's TDX.

[1sharprdkg]

  Lets see it without the shields.

[Sledge]

I swear guys I am going to take some pics of my new ride and will include one without the deflectors.  I also put on some visor style light bezels, a Signal Sorcerer (must have item) and Boom Audio spkr chrome bezels.  And I thought I wouldn't want to add anything to a CVO (slaps self for stoopidity).

I just can't stop riding long enough to take pics.  

Oh, already rode it in the rain.  I laugh everytime I read about a bike for sale that "has never been rode in the rain".  Oh sure and it was only rode to the grocery store once a week by a retired 80 year school teacher right?

[jiml53]

I removed the air deflectors on mine the first week I had it. Also did an TTS and Fatcat 2 into 1. Things are cooler now.


  jim   

[JCZ]

I swear guys I am going to take some pics of my new ride and will include one without the deflectors.  I also put on some visor style light bezels, a Signal Sorcerer (must have item) and Boom Audio spkr chrome bezels.  And I thought I wouldn't want to add anything to a CVO (slaps self for stoopidity).

I just can't stop riding long enough to take pics.  

Oh, already rode it in the rain.  I laugh everytime I read about a bike for sale that "has never been rode in the rain".  Oh sure and it was only rode to the grocery store once a week by a retired 80 year school teacher right?

Take the camera with you.

[cptdenny]

Just when I thought it was safe to sell my RJS Deflectors to a riding bud last week for a $100.  I may have to buy another set.  I had the RJS for about 6 weeks on my '10 RK which was one of the bikes I traded in on this new CVO.  After engine mods hopefully things will get cooler for me.  Since winter will briefly touch us down here in South FL, some engine heat may be welcomed.

Thanks for a solution.

[Sledge]

Re. Take the camera with you.

It's right there in the tourpak, but I never think about it.  My mind is on autopilot:  It's like a program that runs when I see the bike, nothing can stop it:  Put on helmet/gloves, turn on mp3 player in helmet, swing leg over, ign. ON, run sw. RUN, press START,  Ride.

By the way about the deflectors.  I still feel some heat building up back there but not near as bad with the deflectors.  Y'alls particular pipe config will probably make a big difference whether it works for you or not.  I have a call in to RJS Originals the designer of the original deflectors to see if he has a set that will fit my FLHTCUSE6.  The ones I got for my '03 ultra don't fit on the 2011 ultra.