High temp. head reading from point and shoot temperature gun.

[gabbyduffy]

       Anybody use a point and shoot laser temperature gun to check their twin cam head temps? I'm getting more then usual heat radiating from my rear head, I decided to use a temp. gun and took the reading near the spark plug. I'm getting 350 degree reading near the spark plug on a hot day. Is this a accurate way to get head temps and is 350 degrees high?... bike runs great it just seems like its running a little hot.

[No Cents]

  those laser guns are usually pretty accurate.

Ray

[Blowby]

I was checking the opposite side of the head closer to the exhaust. I seems to be the hottest where the head meets the cylinder. I saw 355 on the rear and 335 on the front after a ride to the dealer and back. I was using HD 60w oil when this was measured, outside temps were 90 deg, measured within 60 sec after the engine was shut off.

[Admiral Akbar]

The side that the exhaust port is on can read that high easy..

[jamess71]

lol I knew I bought my temp gun for some reason. I'm going to check mine out after my ride home from work today. It's 95' here in Raleigh so it should be interesting.

[Blowby]

The side that the exhaust port is on can read that high easy..

Agreed! I was using this side to compare HD 60w to Shaeffers 20-50w temp drop.

[gabbyduffy]

         On the newer bikes isn't there a safety shut off of some kind that shuts the cylinder down if the reading are two hot. I never understood how that safety feature works and how would I know if it was activated.
         also how does that throttle thing work when turned the opposite way........... I never notice a difference.

[Super Dave]

My 2014 Limited I twist the throttle forward while ignition switch is in "run". Rear cylinder cuts off at 80 degrees ambient. Older ones, I blieve turn off rear cylinder at a certain engine temp. I think 09 and up.

[86fxwg]

Fwiw,just shot a 2015 WH rear plug after 10 mile ride 45mph 89deg ambient temp measured 225f


86

[Admiral Akbar]

Fwiw,just shot a 2015 WH rear plug after 10 mile ride 45mph 89deg ambient temp measured 225f


86

It's probably cuz you got the IR temp sensor from Harbor Freight / Walmart / Sears...

[86fxwg]

Fwiw,just shot a 2015 WH rear plug after 10 mile ride 45mph 89deg ambient temp measured 225f


86

It's probably cuz you got the IR temp sensor from Harbor Freight / Walmart / Sears...

Snap on 

[Admiral Akbar]

Fwiw,just shot a 2015 WH rear plug after 10 mile ride 45mph 89deg ambient temp measured 225f


86

It's probably cuz you got the IR temp sensor from Harbor Freight / Walmart / Sears...

Snap on 

They get theirs from Walmart.. 

[PoorUB]

IMO, I don't believe you can get any valuable head temp info from a infrared temp gun. First, what part of the head to you shoot, and second, what temp are you looking for? I have seen engine temps on my 2010 over 380F from the stock sensor that is mounted on the back of the front head. The exhaust side had to be well over 400F, probably closer to 450F. The engine has survived these temps with no ill effects at least as far as I can tell.

[Coyote]

I need to borrow one of those temp guns. 

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[Y2KRKNG]

4 injector bike, two for engine and two for pipe!

[hrdtail78]

I shoot flat next to the head bolt closest to exhaust.  I think it helps reading the same spot every time.  Move it around just a bit and you get different readings.

[Admiral Akbar]

IMO, I don't believe you can get any valuable head temp info from a infrared temp gun. First, what part of the head to you shoot, and second, what temp are you looking for? I have seen engine temps on my 2010 over 380F from the stock sensor that is mounted on the back of the rear head. The exhaust side had to be well over 400F, probably closer to 450F. The engine has survived these temps with no ill effects at least as far as I can tell.

I do think that IR temp sensors have value (no it's not a laser, the laser is only a pointer like on your table saw or level), there are a number of issues that can cause errors in the readings.. IR is nothing more than light (em radiation) below the human seeing range.. It can be reflected off smooth surfaces causing errors in measurement.  The best is a rough dark surface.. Black PCed heads are probably pretty good but still ambient temp and the fact that powder coat is not the best conductor of heat will change readings.. Yes, the IR sensor is reading the surface temp of the PC but is that the temp of the aluminum cylinder heads underneath?  Mounted sensors are far more accurate.. Be it a mounted thermistor or thermocouple to bare aluminum..

Even so you will see a temperature gradient across a cylinder head. Pretty obvious that intake side runs cooler then the exhaust..

Since when has there been a sensor in the back of the rear head?

[hrdtail78]

They are not the best but what is the other option when you are doing carbed Evo's or TC?  Got to go with what you have.

[86fxwg]

They are not the best but what is the other option when you are doing carbed Evo's or TC?  Got to go with what you have.

It's what we use in Automotive to check weather a cat is working,A/C exchange between low & high side,difference between heater lines in & out of the core.

86




86

[Admiral Akbar]

They are not the best but what is the other option when you are doing carbed Evo's or TC?  Got to go with what you have.

It's what we use in Automotive to check weather a cat is working,A/C exchange between low & high side,difference between heater lines in & out of the core.

86

Well they are a heck of a lot better than touching the head to see if it's hot.. 

[86fxwg]

They are not the best but what is the other option when you are doing carbed Evo's or TC?  Got to go with what you have.

It's what we use in Automotive to check weather a cat is working,A/C exchange between low & high side,difference between heater lines in & out of the core.

86

Well they are a heck of a lot better than touching the head to see if it's hot.. 

[PoorUB]

Since when has there been a sensor in the back of the rear head?

Oops, fixed it. Typing faster than I could think!

[Admiral Akbar]

Since when has there been a sensor in the back of the rear head?

Oops, fixed it. Typing faster than I could think!

I think way faster than my typing.. My problem is that my fingers forget what  they are doing...

[Bikerscum]

I shot mine with the handheld when I got home from work today.... 236 front 241 rear right next to the plugs. Powervision reads about 15 degrees higher. Ambient temp 102. I think the highest I've ever seen the PV read is 270 something.

'15 wethead, V&H Power Duals & Twin Slash Rounds, 57H.

[86fxwg]

I shot mine with the handheld when I got home from work today.... 236 front 241 rear right next to the plugs. Powervision reads about 15 degrees higher. Ambient temp 102. I think the highest I've ever seen the PV read is 270 something.

'15 wethead, V&H Power Duals & Twin Slash Rounds, 57H.

Must be a Walmart temp gun,any Max 

86