Oil Bud Cooler Touring Model Installation

No matter when we ride in Texas, the summer heat is always on our mind. While The Motor Company assures us that our air/oil cooled Twin Cam engine can take the high temperatures, our roasted rear end and smoldering legs tell us it's too hot. One of the best devices to reduce engine fever is an oil cooler. However, many bike owners dislike the look of a big radiator in front of the engine. Then consider The Oil Bud because it's a stealth oil cooler. Yeah, how cool is that?

The Oil Bud Touring Model ($595.00) is an aircraft quality, extruded aluminum cooler plate that mounts under the motorcycle between the frame rails. It's virtually undetectable. The Oil Bud cooler plate differs from conventional radiator style oil coolers in that air passes over the plate and not through thin fins. The cooler is equipped with a temperature regulator that begins to open at 185 degrees Fahrenheit and is fully open at 205 degrees. Our kit came with everything needed for the installation including a Dakota Digital Round Oil Temperature Gauge.

We installed the Oil Bud and gauge on a 2006 Ultra Classic. We replaced the air temperature gauge in the instrument panel with the Dakota Digital oil temperature gauge. The install was easy with no fitment issues or special tools required. Our bike owner, Rich, performed the install in a couple of hours in the garage with the Ultra on the side stand.

While we didn't have stock operating temperatures to compare to after the installation was complete, on several rides afterwards, Rich's engine temperatures never got above 220 degrees, even at stops, and he can definitely feel the difference in cooler engine temps.

1. The Oil Bud Touring Model, shown here loosely assembled, includes the cooler plate, braided stainless hoses, hydraulic fittings, oil filter adapter, temperature sender, and Dakota Digital gauge.
1. The Oil Bud Touring Model, shown here loosely assembled, includes the cooler plate, br
2. To begin the install, Rich removed the lower fairings from both sides.
3. Then he removed the nuts from the regulator to expose the front motor mount bolt.
3. Then he removed the nuts from the regulator to expose the front motor mount bolt.

4. To provide clearance under the bike for the cooler plate, Oil Bud recommends reversing the orientation of the front motor mount bolt. Here is the bolt with the motor mount nut up and with the supplied 3/8 inch locking nut (arrow).
4. To provide clearance under the bike for the cooler plate, Oil Bud recommends reversing
5. Next, Rich removed the oil filter and the oil filter threaded bolt, still installed here.
5. Next, Rich removed the oil filter and the oil filter threaded bolt, still installed he
6. He then separated the halves of the oil filter adapter and loosely installed the longer hose and fitting onto the inner half. A thin film of grease on all the o-rings eases connecting and helps create a better seal.
6. He then separated the halves of the oil filter adapter and loosely installed the longe

7. Next Rich ran the hose through the frame rails to the right side of the bike and attached the inner half of the adapter to the oil filter attach point with the supplied adapter nut. He then torqued the adapter nut to 40 lb-ft and tightened the hose fitting.
7. Next Rich ran the hose through the frame rails to the right side of the bike and attac
8. Rich then removed the right side floorboard's front Allen bolt
9. Then he attached the hose to the Oil Bud cooler.

10. He then slipped the flat brackets on the left side of the cooler plate over the left side frame rail and slipped the vertical bracket on the right side of the cooler inside the right frame rail and aligned the bracket hole with the floorboard bolt hole. He inserted the floorboard Allen bolt (arrow) and re-installed the floorboard.
10. He then slipped the flat brackets on the left side of the cooler plate over the left
11. Next, Rich loosely attached the remaining hose and fitting to the outer half of the adapter.
11. Next, Rich loosely attached the remaining hose and fitting to the outer half of the a
12. This hose (arrow) was fished under the regulator then Rich mated the adapter halves with the four Allen screws. The shorter Allen screws install in the bottom of the adapter. Rich alternately tightened each Allen screw to insure even alignment of the adapter halves.
12. This hose (arrow) was fished under the regulator then Rich mated the adapter halves w

13. Then Rich reinstalled the nuts on the regulator and tightened the hose fittings.
13. Then Rich reinstalled the nuts on the regulator and tightened the hose fittings.
14. Using thread sealant, Rich installed the temperature sender into the adapter port and reinstalled the oil filter and slipped the temperature sender wires up to the instrument panel.
14. Using thread sealant, Rich installed the temperature sender into the adapter port and
15. …reinstalled the oil filter and slipped the temperature sender wires up to the instrument panel.
15. …reinstalled the oil filter and slipped the temperature sender wires up to the instru

16. The outer fairing was then removed to gain access to the air temperature gauge.
16. The outer fairing was then removed to gain access to the air temperature gauge.
17. Rich then unplugged the stock air temperature gauge. The top black/orange wire plug is for illumination and not used on the Dakota Digital gauge. The bottom black/orange/blue wire plug contains ground, power, and ambient temperature in that order.
17. Rich then unplugged the stock air temperature gauge. The top black/orange wire plug i
18. To retain the stock wiring harness, Rich used short jumper wires with male spades to connect the gauge to the stock plug's power and ground female spades. Then he connected the oil temperature sender and ground wires to the gauge. Next he turned on the bike's accessory switch to verify the gauge worked. And it did-it was showing ambient temperature
18. To retain the stock wiring harness, Rich used short jumper wires with male spades to

19. Finally we reinstalled the batwing fairing cover and the lower fairings. Here's the easy to read Dakota Digital gauge showing our garage temperature before a test ride. As stated earlier, the Oil Bud did its job. After some test miles Rich stated he noticed the bike was running much cooler than before.
19. Finally we reinstalled the batwing fairing cover and the lower fairings. Here's the e