ABOUT THE FAN MOTOR

[BIG--T]

Is it suppose to be  kinda loud? With my VTX I can hear it come on but it is quite compared to the Valk. I'm just wondering if the fan is fixing to go. It's a 98 STD with only 10k miles. I've had it since Feburary and never heard the fan until this 95*+ weather.

Thanks

[The Anvil]

I don't think I can recall ever hearing mine come on. I'm assuming that means it's supposed to be quiet?

Electric motors do typically get loud when they're preparing to crap out. Could you have also broken a blade causing it to be out of balance? Have you looked at it closely?

[Michvalk]

There is a possibility you have not heard the fan run until the hot weather came around. Mine is quite noticeable when it runs. Never runs unless the bike idles for a bit. Moves a lot of air, so, it makes some noise. I can't believe the fan motor is bad yet unless something has damaged it. Just normal working, should run longer than the bike will last

[hubcapsc]

I notice mine when it is on, cause it is only on when I'm stuck in traffic or something...

I got it to come on in the cold at a Christmas parade once... It was kind of funny when
some of those guys on those "other" bikes who had looked down their noses at my
tired Valkyrie (I had just gotten it) had to pull off because they were overheating... 

-Mike

[PhredValk]

I've never heard my fans come on before, but the IS has a nice stereo. Last week my Ipod charger on the bike stopped working, and the tunes stopped after a few hours, and I couldn't find an FM station (boonies north of Superior). When I stopped to try to fix it, the fans came on and I could hear them; not loud, just running. Like the GL1100 I had, if there's no squeeking or chatter, and they are not really loud, I wouldn't worry about it.
Fred.

[BIG--T]

I notice mine when it is on, cause it is only on when I'm stuck in traffic or something...

I got it to come on in the cold at a Christmas parade once... It was kind of funny when
some of those guys on those "other" bikes who had looked down their noses at my
tired Valkyrie (I had just gotten it) had to pull off because they were overheating... 

-Mike

Mike The reason they were looking down their nose is because they are just jealous and will NEVER admit it and even more so when they had to cool their twinkies!! Lol  Now in all honesty there has been a few that happened to own harleys that really liked and appreciated mine. Some admire while your'e not looking like one guy that had HD all over him and a HD tatoo on his head but turned his head like he wasn't looking when I caught him!

BTW I got a lot of those" looking down their nose" at the Return of the Warriors ride a while back. 500 bikes going from Easley to Seneca and guess who was riding the Valk? 98.5% HDs!

[Hef]

Comes on only when at idle for extended time. I can always hear it. I wouldn't be concerned unless you hear squealing.

[The Anvil]

You know, I've never gotten anything except compliments from guys on H-D's. They typically respect the Valk for being all of the things H-D is not.

A VTX on the other hand...

[BIG--T]

There is a possibility you have not heard the fan run until the hot weather came around. Mine is quite noticeable when it runs. Never runs unless the bike idles for a bit. Moves a lot of air, so, it makes some noise. I can't believe the fan motor is bad yet unless something has damaged it. Just normal working, should run longer than the bike will last

Since yours is quite noticeable, mines probably alright.

Anvil, I will check her out closely. If it was a broke blade or out of balance I would think it sure would be a lot noiser and vibrate.

Thanks guys!

[BIG--T]

Comes on only when at idle for extended time. I can always hear it. I wouldn't be concerned unless you hear squealing.

Yeah Hef mine only comes on while idling sometimes and ditto on squealing.

Thanks!

[old2soon]

When they do come on on my i/s they can be heard-as long as the stereo is off. I usually kinda feel em more than hear em. Just feel those fan motors kick in. I have had them come on as i got into my driveway and shut off the engine and turned the key back on and let them run. You can hear em but even with the engine off they ain't all that loud. Hope this helps. RIDE SAFE.

[The Anvil]

There is a possibility you have not heard the fan run until the hot weather came around. Mine is quite noticeable when it runs. Never runs unless the bike idles for a bit. Moves a lot of air, so, it makes some noise. I can't believe the fan motor is bad yet unless something has damaged it. Just normal working, should run longer than the bike will last

Since yours is quite noticeable, mines probably alright.

Anvil, I will check her out closely. If it was a broke blade or out of balance I would think it sure would be a lot noiser and vibrate.

Thanks guys!

Well depending on how much of a chunk is missing...

[BIG--T]

You know, I've never gotten anything except compliments from guys on H-D's. They typically respect the Valk for being all of the things H-D is not.

A VTX on the other hand...

First of all I was talking to Hubcapsc not you! You seem to love to argue about anything ,especially with me so why don't you jump on that Valk of yours and go to a HOG rally to be admired! You have got to be kidding me about all that HD crap!!

And What about my lil ole HONDA VTX 1800 V-TWIN Liquid cooled?? I EAT all stock harleys for breakfast and love playing with them on the highway. When they're wide open and doing all they can do, I just wave bye bye in 5th and roll her on until all I see is a dot in my mirror!!
They don't mind my Valkyrie out running them because they all say someting similar to" but you got SIX cylinders" even though some may have more cubes. But they REALLY hate another V-Twin, especially a HONDA, blowing them away!!!

[BIG--T]

When they do come on on my i/s they can be heard-as long as the stereo is off. I usually kinda feel em more than hear em. Just feel those fan motors kick in. I have had them come on as i got into my driveway and shut off the engine and turned the key back on and let them run. You can hear em but even with the engine off they ain't all that loud. Hope this helps. RIDE SAFE.

Thanks old2soon, I reckon mine must be normal!! 

[The Anvil]

You know, I've never gotten anything except compliments from guys on H-D's. They typically respect the Valk for being all of the things H-D is not.

A VTX on the other hand...

First of all I was talking to Hubcapsc not you! You seem to love to argue about anything ,especially with me so why don't you jump on that Valk of yours and go to a HOG rally to be admired! You have got to be kidding me about all that HD crap!!

And What about my lil ole HONDA VTX 1800 V-TWIN Liquid cooled?? I EAT all stock harleys for breakfast and love playing with them on the highway. When they're wide open and doing all they can do, I just wave bye bye in 5th and roll her on until all I see is a dot in my mirror!!
They don't mind my Valkyrie out running them because they all say someting similar to" but you got SIX cylinders" even though some may have more cubes. But they REALLY hate another V-Twin, especially a HONDA, blowing them away!!!

Uh, what exactly did I say?  ???

[N8171S]

There is a rubber flap to direct air flow.  I had the rubber thing hitting the fan blade once, that made a noise. Just  moved it and all has been ok since.

[Steve K (IA)]

When the fan comes on and you are moving slow or you are stopped, you will hear it come on.

[ricoman]

Only had two Valks.
Never heard the fan on either, unless I was trying to hear them.

[BIG--T]

There is a rubber flap to direct air flow.  I had the rubber thing hitting the fan blade once, that made a noise. Just  moved it and all has been ok since.

Thanks I'll check it but I don't think it's that loud. 

[BIG--T]

When the fan comes on and you are moving slow or you are stopped, you will hear it come on.

Steve I only notice when I'm stopped or barley moving in traffic which I think is normal.

Thanks 

[BIG--T]

Only had two Valks.
Never heard the fan on either, unless I was trying to hear them.

Ricoman I'm not trying to hear it I just do. It's not that loud but I notice it and I'm kinda hard of hearing!   The best I can describe it is almost like bearings that needs to be greased. I'm not gonna worry about it until  something happens and hopefully it won't. In the mean time I'm going to get a gauge.

Thanks 

[old2soon]

X guy-mine is a 99 i/s with the radiator pods and the odometer is showing 47000+ Shortly after she took over my life on my bad had to replace a radiator. The old fans that were on the bike are still there. Soon as i get slow less than 25 30 M P H and an ambient temp obove 92 93 degrees f well fans are subject to come on. I really do not have an issue with the fans. Hope all this helps and i also hope there are no issues with the fans on your end. RIDE SAFE.

[BIG--T]

X guy-mine is a 99 i/s with the radiator pods and the odometer is showing 47000+ Shortly after she took over my life on my bad had to replace a radiator. The old fans that were on the bike are still there. Soon as i get slow less than 25 30 M P H and an ambient temp obove 92 93 degrees f well fans are subject to come on. I really do not have an issue with the fans. Hope all this helps and i also hope there are no issues with the fans on your end. RIDE SAFE.

Thanks old2soon, I believe mine will be ok after reading your mileage and same fans!! 

[GOOSE]

xguy.....quit worrying about it....it's okay, nothing wrong.

[BIG--T]

xguy.....quit worrying about it....it's okay, nothing wrong.

I'm not worried about it, just kinda bugged me but I'm over it. If she starts to run hot I'll fix it.

Thamks!

[Rio Wil]

The best I can describe it is almost like bearings that needs to be greased. I'm not gonna worry about it until  something happens and hopefully it won't. In the mean time I'm going to get a gauge.


Not to be a wet blanket here, but you should not be hearing anything that sounds like "un-greased bearings". You should hear a definite fan blade  roar as it pushes air....very similar to all the electric fans used in cars  these days.

Brings me back to a post a few weeks ago.....anyone know who makes the radiator cooling fan motor.  I would almost bet that motor is used in some of the small 3 and 4 cylinder sub-compacts.....

 

[BIG--T]

I 've had a few fans on bikes and cars but this is more noticeable than any bike before. Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if one from an old 1500 -1.5 liter Honda civic might work!

[Rio Wil]

X guy-mine is a 99 i/s with the radiator pods and the odometer is showing 47000+ Shortly after she took over my life on my bad had to replace a radiator. The old fans that were on the bike are still there. Soon as i get slow less than 25 30 M P H and an ambient temp obove 92 93 degrees f well fans are subject to come on. I really do not have an issue with the fans. Hope all this helps and i also hope there are no issues with the fans on your end. RIDE SAFE.

Was the comment about "the old fans" just a typo or does the bike actually have more than one radiator cooling fan?  Usually there is enough air flow at 25-30 mph even in 100+ temps to keep the engine cooled without the fan on. Just wondering if some one modified the fan arrangement to use two fans and the increased space taken up by brackets etc, restricts the air flow to the point of needing the fan(s) to run more than usual??

[BIG--T]

I don't know if they have 2 and was wondering the same thing. I have a STD and don't know if the I/S has 2 fans or not. Somebody will probably let us know. 

[gordonv]

I'm positive my 99' IS had only one fan.

[BIG--T]

Old2soon, Do you have 2 fans in your I/S? "two fans were"? Inquiring minds want to know! 

[ricoman]

Only one fan on any Valk.
Usually a few on ebay, or pinwall will have one-not very expensive.
You'll enjoy swapping it out (if you enjoy a root canal, it'll be piece of cake!)
Given the noise you have, a spare wouldn't be a bad idea.