engine temp

[poorbiker]

Has anyone on here ever taken heat readings on their knuckle, curious so I did, here are the results.

96 degree day
30 mile ride
50w oil as I`m still breaking it in

temps taken right after engine shut down with an infrared heatgun

engine oil-126 degrees
engine case-200 degrees
rear head-313 degrees
rear cyl-274 degrees
front head 307 degrees
front cyl-259 degrees

[rousseau]

I'm surprised the oil was that cool. On my modern Harley (with an oil cooler) it runs at 230.

[Jerry Wieland]

Knuckleheads have minimal oil circulation to the heads. Your late model heads are literally bathed in oil. Side valve oil runs even cooler.

Jerry

I'm surprised the oil was that cool. On my modern Harley (with an oil cooler) it runs at 230.

[KNUCK]

My late model HD always runs at 200 + in the summer so that really is a low temp. 30 mile ride it should be at temp so that is not an issue.

[rousseau]

Just to be clear, I was not suggesting that something may be wrong. I'm just simply amazed that the new bikes (103 inch with an oil cooler) has a 100 degree hotter oil temp.

[poorbiker]

Took temps again, this time I used my automotive thermometer, it read 130 degrees, was a longer ride and a much hotter day, cyl head temps were up but everything else was pretty much the same. My 02 springer runs around 200 degrees. Not sure why the big diff, frankly I was expecting the oil temp to be much higher especially since the next reading had the heads at nearly 385 degrees. I do have it plumbed with copper lines and with a remote mounted filter that gets lots of air and is away from engine. 41/2 qt oil tank....but I wouldnt think that would relate a huge diff. Would be interested to know what someone elses knuckle temps are

[poorbiker]

wooops, thats still true, even though head temps were, up as said, there isnt much oil up top.........crank case, gear case and those temps are comparable to my twin cam and shovel