The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

 So I got bored and was sitting around doing some thinking. Here in Florida it's been pretty darn hot lately. I have an oil cooler but wanted to experiment with something else to maybe DRAW more air in and push the hot stuff out. I came up with this. I bought an R-1 radiator fan off of Ebay for about 45 bucks or so. Had a toggle switch laying around as well as a fused link connection. I just had to rearrange some of the hoses under my tank to make it work and trim off a piece of metal off of the attached bracket. I then zip tied the existing mounts (attached to the fan) to the frame rails of my bike and reverse the fan to draw the air from the tank and blow it down across the engine and intakes....it doesn't draw much air at idle but it does move a lot of air while you're riding. Here are the photo's...any questions please ask. I'm going to take some temperatures with it off and with it on to see if I am really benefiting from having it. This is pretty much just my experiment that I wanted to share with you all.

 Guess noone has been to impressed with the install..lol...tryin to keep this post on the home screen for more people to take a look.

 I guess my questions would be:

1. Does it work?
2. Does it move enough air to help at lights? That's where I'd want it to work.
3. Is the air moving up or down?
4. Would it hinder air intakeon the back cyclinder?
   

I would think while the bike is moving, air is efficiently moved across the heads normally.

I love to see anybody trying to think outside the box. It can't be a good or bad idea if you never try it!!!

Give us some updates as you have some saddle time with it.

 The air is moving down blowing the hot air off of the engine and outwards. By doing it that way it also removes the hot air under the tank. I just put it on last night and have maybe 15 minutes of riding time on it today and really didn't turn it on. It's my understanding that when I removed the side scoop to do my dry-break mod that I also removed an air scavenger for the rear cylinder. From what I've read that scoop on the left side directs airflow to the rear cylinder. I don't think anyone has had a problem with heat after removing it but like I said...I get bored...its tough being 28 and retired.

I love the ingenuity and it can only help. This sure opens the doors for experimentation with other fans. GREAT JOB, Terry!

 Thanks Duke. I'm thinking that some type of shroud can actually be made to cross the frame rails under the tank and a couple of (small) fans can be attached that way. I just want to try and keep my under tank temps below 100 degress....last time a friend and I measured we were averaging 125-135 degrees(F).

Terry:

...its tough being 28 and retired.

 . . . . but not as tough as being 60 and probably never have the opportunity to retire.

 I agree whole heartedly buddy. Obama's already sold your retirement to give the people who refuse to work healthcare. I call Obama's plan, "Trickle Up Poverty"

 another update to get back on the home page for everyone

 I'm very interested in this. Someone else posted that they bought an R1 fan and mounted it in the left scoop but they refused to provide pics after everyone asked.

 Even though you aren't using your left scoop, is it possible to fit it inside or behind the scoop? The guy claimed that it drew a lot of air through the scoop at idle, cooling the engine at lights.

 I'm betting that it wouldn't be that hard. I completely removed my left scoop and did my dry break mod. The fan is relatively small and moves A LOT of air...I mean A LOT of air. The fan itself is probably only 5 inches in diameter...It would take some ingenuity to make one fit. I bet I could make something up if I can find my scoop around here somewhere. Where I have it, the tank is clearanced for the air box and the fan does not hit the tank. I checked the bike earlier after I turned it off and it was sitting at around 139 degrees. With the fan on for a few minutes it dropped to 121 degrees(F). Where you really benefit from my fan is when you are actually moving. It takes the cool air that comes across the bottom of the tank and recirculates it to the rear cylinder and intakes. Like I said, it's more of an experiment right now. I will tell you this. My oil cooler is reading 28 degrees cooler than it ever has. I'm still tryin to piece all of this info together.I will keep everyone posted as to my results.

Terry, is this thermostatically controlled for auto-on and auto-off or would that even be an option to consider in your opinion?  This could be very handy in a lot of places including parades and the southwest deserts in the stop and go.

 I decided NOT to install a thermostat switch for right now. I just simply used an old toggle switch I had laying around to cut it on and off to experiment with it. I did consider using a thermo switch but like I said, I'm just kind of in an experimenting mode with it right now. The wife and I are going on a long ride tomorrow so I'll tote my little kitchen temp sensor (lol, it works!) with me and test it periodically throughout the day to see if it's helping while riding...

 good job!  I like the thinking and ingenuity.  I cannot imagine having the room to put a fan under my tank lol...

What size fuse did you use w/ that R1 fan?

I considered a fan for my bike with the turbo / intercooler set up I have been playing with but I was going to instal behind the intercooler to blow back over the engine but this may be a better set up. Does anyone know how much air the intercooler would starve from the engine?