Tank getting hot

jmax5105 · 07-23-2011, 12:01 AM

I recently added V&H pipes to my '08 1600 and it seems that my fuel tank is getting a lot warmer than normal since the pipes went on. Maybe it's the pipes or maybe not. It was a pretty warm day today with some stop and go driving on the way home, but nothing out of the ordinary. I went out to the garage today about an hour after a 60 mile ride home and the tank was still very warm to the touch near the bottom (towards the seat). Anyone ever had something like this or heard of this? I wouldn't think it's normal, but really don't know. Any ideas? Going for another ride tomorrow and it's going to be a warm day.... I'll have to see how she runs again. Heck, maybe it's just from sitting in the sun all day at work and the fuel warmed up to air temp? Just haven't noticed it before. Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts on this you all might have.

jmax5105 · 07-23-2011, 12:16 AM

Quick update... just went back out to the garage, it's been sitting there for 3.5 hrs and it's the heads that are really hot, not the tank (well, the tank is quite warm as well, over the heads, that's just where I first noticed the heat). The heads are still quite hot to the touch. Oil level looks ok. Haven't checked the coolant level yet, I'll do that in the morning. I haven't ever noticed the bike staying hot for so long like that.

AlabamaNomadRider · 07-23-2011, 05:45 AM

3.5 hours, does seem like it should have cooled down in that amount of time. Don't understand why it would still be rather warm.

**ringadingh** · 07-23-2011, 06:23 AM

The bike should cool down over 3.5 hours, at least to be able to touch it. If its in the hot sun, it will still absorb a lot of heat, but in a garage it shouldn't stay that hot. Do you have a fuel processor on it that may need some adjustment? You may be running it a bit lean.

**Cajunrider** · 07-23-2011, 07:29 AM

Is it possible that the header pipes are leaking at the gaskets? If not, it sounds like the engine is running too lean.

cactusjack · 07-23-2011, 08:26 AM

Black bike, tank gets hot. My 2007 was black and would get hot enough to cook breakfast on. Seriously, they can get really hot. It's a large aluminum surface sitting on top of a hot engine, and the fact that it's black it absorbs heat from the sun.

jmax5105 · 07-23-2011, 10:24 AM

I don't have a fuel processor on it yet. It is possible that the header pipes are leaking at the gaskets I guess.... is there a good way to check that other than just feeling for any air escaping? I've done that and can't feel anything getting out.

**Cajunrider** · 07-23-2011, 10:29 AM

Light a cigarrette and circle it around the header gaskets while looking for the smoke to blow away. Before your fan kicks on.

jmax5105 · 07-24-2011, 12:28 AM

Used a couple matches and no leaks that I can see. Went on a 100 mile ride today with a few scenic stops and it was still hot, but everything seemed to be running just fine. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I notice any changes. Thanks for the tips guys.

macmac · 07-24-2011, 09:45 AM

It's 108 in the shade there right? The other day here in NH iit was. It felt like the fan was blowing as I rode, but it wasn't. That engine makes a hell of a lot of heat to disperse.

No fuel modual isn't helping either. IMO you should slam a TFI plug n play n there BEFORE you do another thing. Do not add a free flow intake set up unless you do both at the same time.

And I would.....

**Jared** · 07-24-2011, 06:04 PM

Let ride out to Kamas for some grub next week. We can park both bikes in the shade and then after eating we can check and see if there is a noticeable difference in the heat coming off the bikes. How does that sound? I thinking you may be over thinking it. I'd bet it has more to do with how hot it has been lately.

jmax5105 · 07-24-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

Let ride out to Kamas for some grub next week. We can park both bikes in the shade and then after eating we can check and see if there is a noticeable difference in the heat coming off the bikes. How does that sound? I thinking you may be over thinking it. I'd bet it has more to do with how hot it has been lately.

Well, I guess you twisted my arm just enough.... ok. I did the Nebo loop yesterday (even though there was a road closed sign up at the top). It was hot, but I think maybe you're right and I'm overthinking it a bit. I think that would be a good test though with comparing the 2 bikes.

**Top Cat** · 07-25-2011, 07:01 AM

Don't feel bad, there is a lot of over thinking and over bike maintenance going on around here.

slomo · 07-25-2011, 07:50 AM

I have the same problem. If it isn't hot outside, it isn't much of a problem... but yesterday I went on a 170 mile ride in the 104f Texas heat and my inner thighs were in actual pain. I was going 75-80mph on the super slab.

I do have a fuel processor but it did it before I installed it. Would the answer be upping the pilot setting?

07-23-2011, 12:01 AM	#1
jmax5105 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 113	Tank getting hot I recently added V&H pipes to my '08 1600 and it seems that my fuel tank is getting a lot warmer than normal since the pipes went on. Maybe it's the pipes or maybe not. It was a pretty warm day today with some stop and go driving on the way home, but nothing out of the ordinary. I went out to the garage today about an hour after a 60 mile ride home and the tank was still very warm to the touch near the bottom (towards the seat). Anyone ever had something like this or heard of this? I wouldn't think it's normal, but really don't know. Any ideas? Going for another ride tomorrow and it's going to be a warm day.... I'll have to see how she runs again. Heck, maybe it's just from sitting in the sun all day at work and the fuel warmed up to air temp? Just haven't noticed it before. Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts on this you all might have. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-23-2011, 12:16 AM	#2
jmax5105 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 113	Tank getting hot Quick update... just went back out to the garage, it's been sitting there for 3.5 hrs and it's the heads that are really hot, not the tank (well, the tank is quite warm as well, over the heads, that's just where I first noticed the heat). The heads are still quite hot to the touch. Oil level looks ok. Haven't checked the coolant level yet, I'll do that in the morning. I haven't ever noticed the bike staying hot for so long like that.
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07-23-2011, 05:45 AM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Tank getting hot 3.5 hours, does seem like it should have cooled down in that amount of time. Don't understand why it would still be rather warm. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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07-23-2011, 06:23 AM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Tank getting hot The bike should cool down over 3.5 hours, at least to be able to touch it. If its in the hot sun, it will still absorb a lot of heat, but in a garage it shouldn't stay that hot. Do you have a fuel processor on it that may need some adjustment? You may be running it a bit lean. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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07-23-2011, 07:29 AM	#5
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Tank getting hot Is it possible that the header pipes are leaking at the gaskets? If not, it sounds like the engine is running too lean. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-23-2011, 08:26 AM	#6
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Tank getting hot Black bike, tank gets hot. My 2007 was black and would get hot enough to cook breakfast on. Seriously, they can get really hot. It's a large aluminum surface sitting on top of a hot engine, and the fact that it's black it absorbs heat from the sun. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-23-2011, 10:24 AM	#7
jmax5105 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 113	Tank getting hot I don't have a fuel processor on it yet. It is possible that the header pipes are leaking at the gaskets I guess.... is there a good way to check that other than just feeling for any air escaping? I've done that and can't feel anything getting out.
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07-23-2011, 10:29 AM	#8
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Tank getting hot Light a cigarrette and circle it around the header gaskets while looking for the smoke to blow away. Before your fan kicks on. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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07-24-2011, 12:28 AM	#9
jmax5105 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 113	Tank getting hot Used a couple matches and no leaks that I can see. Went on a 100 mile ride today with a few scenic stops and it was still hot, but everything seemed to be running just fine. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I notice any changes. Thanks for the tips guys.
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07-24-2011, 09:45 AM	#10
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Tank getting hot It's 108 in the shade there right? The other day here in NH iit was. It felt like the fan was blowing as I rode, but it wasn't. That engine makes a hell of a lot of heat to disperse. No fuel modual isn't helping either. IMO you should slam a TFI plug n play n there BEFORE you do another thing. Do not add a free flow intake set up unless you do both at the same time. And I would..... __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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07-24-2011, 06:04 PM	#11
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Tank getting hot Let ride out to Kamas for some grub next week. We can park both bikes in the shade and then after eating we can check and see if there is a noticeable difference in the heat coming off the bikes. How does that sound? I thinking you may be over thinking it. I'd bet it has more to do with how hot it has been lately. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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07-25-2011, 07:01 AM	#13
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Tank getting hot Don't feel bad, there is a lot of over thinking and over bike maintenance going on around here. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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07-25-2011, 07:50 AM	#14
slomo Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mt. Pleasant, TX Posts: 9	Tank getting hot I have the same problem. If it isn't hot outside, it isn't much of a problem... but yesterday I went on a 170 mile ride in the 104f Texas heat and my inner thighs were in actual pain. I was going 75-80mph on the super slab. I do have a fuel processor but it did it before I installed it. Would the answer be upping the pilot setting?
	0

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