temperature and radiator wings

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ericheath
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#16

Post by ericheath »

Another factor which might help them cool better is removing the heat shield behind the radiator. As Roger mentioned there aerodynamics come into play. I have wondered how much the heat shield slows the air down as it passes through the radiator and then hits a wall and has to make a near right turn to exit.

I'm not up on aerodynamics, so I can't say, but the one I have without the heat shield runs cooler. I do have the wings on it.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#17

Post by Whiskerfish »

Removing that heat shield can really impact the operating temp of the carbs and could have negative effects. I have not done it so I can not speak from experience but it is there for a reason I think??
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#18

Post by zipster »

Removing the heat shield would change the temp the carbs see, and so could affect performance.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#19

Post by rcmatt007 »

and probably put more heat on your legs
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#20

Post by Easter »

Well here I go again. I always leave the heat shield off. If there is any effect I am too (pick an appropriate word) to notice. Seem to run good, doesn't run hot, doesn't make my legs hot, and makes engine and carb changes a heck of a lot easier. Only have about 10 or 15 thousand miles on the various bikes so maybe it is too soon to be sure.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#21

Post by CYBORG »

I'm with Easter. I do not have the shield on ether of my bikes. That DOES let the air flow better thru the radiator. Carbs ARE easier to remove, and work on. And there is a little more heat on my legs, but not enough to be a problem.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#22

Post by RB »

Well compromise..cut some vents in the heat shield that directs the flow out left and right to avoid the carbs..somewhat..;>)!!
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#23

Post by CYBORG »

I think more is gained by the air blowing across the engine block. The heat from the block is also effecting the heat on the carbs. Which, by the way, seem to run better when they are a little warm, then when they are cold. If you are worried about a little warm air on your legs, it's probably because you are riding in flip flops and shorts
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#24

Post by Easter »

CYBORG wrote:I think more is gained by the air blowing across the engine block. The heat from the block is also effecting the heat on the carbs. Which, by the way, seem to run better when they are a little warm, then when they are cold. If you are worried about a little warm air on your legs, it's probably because you are riding in flip flops and shorts
+1
when I built Dragon Wing several years ago, all the parts were in boxes and I had no clue what most of them were for. I did not make a conscious decision to leave off the heat shield, just didn't recognize it belongs. Dragon Wing is my most ridden bike and since then after wrestling the carbs off several (I think I have about 8 or more of the shields if anyone needs one) I haven't seen the need to reinstall them. I never pulled the engine from my '83 Aspencade so I didn't mess with the heat shield on it. That is the only bike I have ever noticed being uncomfortable from the heat on my legs.

Besides I only build Hot Rods--no pun intended. dancr
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#25

Post by desertrefugee »

I used to build hot rods. (Robin still does.) Not GLs.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#26

Post by zipster »

This is temp relevant, so I'll repeat it here....
So my GL1000 has been running on the hot side of normal range throughout the summer, enough so that I've bought a used set of air deflectors to mount. But the other day, running around town in 80 degree heat, when I shut it down I heard what can best be described as boiling noises coming from the engine/radiator. Fairly loud. Anti-freeze levels appear normal, although the reservoir was empty. Any advice? I've got a thermostat on order, and I'll try running observing coolant flow in the radiator this weekend. Any other thoughts or methods to eliminate the source?
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#27

Post by desertrefugee »

Last week, I did head gaskets for a friend who'd overheated his "new" '77 GL1000. A nice original red specimen, he's had it for a couple of months and bought it for a song. His gauges were all non-functional due to the regulator being fried. I warned him that whatever led to the "event" needed to be resolved or he'd blow it again.

So, did the regulator work-around so he'd have gauges and took a short shakedown run. While it didn't overheat, it did push quite a bit of coolant out the overflow. Everything seemed to be in order, but we pulled the thermostat to test it. Well, it didn't need to be tested. It was bad. Not quite sure how it got like this, but that's how it came out of the bike. I've never seen anything like it!
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#28

Post by desertrefugee »

...by the way. He also had one of those fancy chrome radiator grills. His temps were still running a little warmer than he liked, so he pulled that grill and saw a noticeable decrease in operating temperature. In Arizona, that's always a good thing.
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#29

Post by mcgovern61 »

desertrefugee wrote:...by the way. He also had one of those fancy chrome radiator grills. His temps were still running a little warmer than he liked, so he pulled that grill and saw a noticeable decrease in operating temperature. In Arizona, that's always a good thing.
I had one of those fancy chrome radiator grills on my '82. It ran pretty darn warm. Read elsewhere that they restrict airflow when used with the OEM radiator wings. Removed the grill and put an OEM rock guard back on. Lowered the temp quite a bit!
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Re: temperature and radiator wings

#30

Post by Track T 2411 »

desertrefugee wrote:Last week, I did head gaskets for a friend who'd overheated his "new" '77 GL1000. A nice original red specimen, he's had it for a couple of months and bought it for a song. His gauges were all non-functional due to the regulator being fried. I warned him that whatever led to the "event" needed to be resolved or he'd blow it again.

So, did the regulator work-around so he'd have gauges and took a short shakedown run. While it didn't overheat, it did push quite a bit of coolant out the overflow. Everything seemed to be in order, but we pulled the thermostat to test it. Well, it didn't need to be tested. It was bad. Not quite sure how it got like this, but that's how it came out of the bike. I've never seen anything like it!
The first '82 I bought had a thermostat that looked exactly like that. Upon closer inspection, I could see plier marks on the shaft. It had been purposely bent to stay open. The cooling fan also had been hot-wired, and the water pump weep hole was plugged. Of course, the water pump was bad, and someone 'fixed' it... and I had no clue what I was buying...
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