Your FL Harley-Davidson Can Run 10 To 30 Degrees Fahrenheit Cooler

When in 2007 Bert Baker rode a FL Harley-Davidson he noticed how hot was running the damn thing. In traffic have you also noticed the little heat wave coming off the motor? The Harley factory oil pan is the of the same capacity (4-qt) on all Harleys since year 1993 (when motor was 80″ making 49 hp) until 2008. Did you say inadequate for the latest 88″ motors? Bert Baker thinks so and designed a 5 qt capacity oil pan simply by going wider, not deeper. Taking a closer look at the stock pan he also discovered the stock pan has the oil pickup and return in the front of the pan within 2″ of each other.  So he put the pickup in the rear and the return in the front for better oil circulation. Hence the Baker Plus One Oil Pan (Baler +1) reducing oil temperature by 10-30 degrees. (see temperatures readings after the jump)

Features: – Cast oil pans are 1-piece design and made with A356-T6 aluminum. – Billet oil pans are 2-piece design and made with 6061-T6 aluminum. – BAKER pans have a feed in the back and return in the front for better oil circulation. – Reduces engine oil temperature by 10-30 degrees.  The longer and hotter the ride, the bigger the temperature differential as compared to stock. – Multiple integral baffles eliminate the stock spring loaded baffle. – Integral bosses for Alloy Art TXR and True Track stabilizers structurally located on the bottom. – True bolt on part, no modifications required. – Compatible with factory oil temperature sensor. Designed with 3D solid modeling to increase pan capacity by 1 quart. – Integral boss for True Track and Alloy Art TXR stabilizer structurally located in the rear of the pan. – True bolt on part, no modifications required. – Compatible with factory oil temperature sensor. Baker Drivetrain Oil Plus Pan.

15 Responses to “Your FL Harley-Davidson Can Run 10 To 30 Degrees Fahrenheit Cooler”


  1. 1 BigWave916 Jun 16th, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Cool….pun intended. I’m going to invest in one.

  2. 2 Doc Robinson Jun 16th, 2011 at 8:46 am

    I performed some extensive testing of the Baker Plus One Oil Pan a couple of years back. My test results were published in Heavy Duty magazine and showed between 8-10F degrees reduction, depending upon the speed the bike was being ridden at. This was on a 2004 FLHTCSE running a 103 cube engine and which already had a factory oil cooler fitted as stock. While ten degrees may not sound like much it does indeed make a noticeable difference to rider and pillion comfort. Testing was conducted with an ambient temperature of 95F.

  3. 3 Bud Jun 16th, 2011 at 9:18 am

    @ Doc, did you test the cast or billet pan? Wondering if there would be a difference in temp reduction between the two.

  4. 4 Richard Jun 16th, 2011 at 10:32 am

    It’s my understanding that temps in the 275 degree range should not be a problem. This is especially true when using HD blended oil or the full synthetic. Engine oil these days is very much superior to what was available even ten years ago. I’ve owned 80″,88″ and now 96″ Harleys and with few exceptions, not found engine heat to be an issue. Any oil engineers out there?

  5. 5 Mike Jun 16th, 2011 at 11:58 am

    It’s not about the oil breaking down, It’s about your balls cooking!

  6. 6 TRexSG Jun 16th, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    It looks really “cool”, however for about 1/3 the money you can buy a quality oil cooler and still have money in your pocket for whatever trips your trigger. More power, more chrome, more gas!

  7. 7 bigalyts Jun 16th, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    iI know that the 5 Qt. Capacity has made a huge diference on my 113 CU Inch motor. I can’t get past 240 degrees. I ride in at least 95 South Florida blistering degrees and those temps are a lower from 7 pm until 2 am it drops to around 88 degrees…..Icch !

  8. 8 Doc Robinson Jun 16th, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    Hey Bud it was the cast unit I tested.
    TRexSG – if you read my post you’d see that I already had a factory fitted oil cooler and that my results were on top of that. In my opinion, and I do a lot of miles each year both in the US and Australia, late model baggers with lowers run unpleasantly hot when the ambient temperature gets up.

  9. 9 ROGUE Jun 17th, 2011 at 10:07 am

    Like Doc I had the opportunity to install one of the Baker Cast Extra Quart Oil Pans.
    I did it on my 2004 FHLT with a modified 95 CI Engine. I also had a Harley oil cooler installed prior to installing the oil pan.
    I live in Florida with high temperatures as well as travel high mile days to cover motorcycle events around the country both things that normally increase oil temperature.
    I also use Spectro Semi Synthetic Oil.
    The combinations of these things I believe have been a factor in going over the 98,000 miles on the motorcycle.
    Add the comfort to me from less heat coming from the engine and it is a win win situation.
    If you are interested in seeing a step by step tech article you can find one on my website at http://bikerrogue.com/Articles/Tech_Articles/New_Baker_Oil_Pan/Baker_Oil_Pan.htm

  10. 10 Mark Pavlica Jun 17th, 2011 at 10:16 am

    Remember oil coolers only work when your moving. When you get caught in traffic you sit and cook more oil cooler motor.

  11. 11 10377586 Jun 17th, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I’m using Amsoil, and am at 64,000 miles now on a tweaked 103 incher in a softail, no cooler, no extra capacity and no troubles yet. It does get a tad uncomfortable on occasion though.

  12. 12 steveb Jun 17th, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    As of this season I am running a 107″ TC engine. This motor was built up from a 96″ – the work was basically from the cases up- and this setup is putting out a measured 110HP and 126ft lb of torque – a substantial upgrade from the stock configuration. This is a high speed touring vehicle, most of its time loaded up, hauling butt.

    I am running a BAKER+1, an Alloy Art TXR stabliizer (and a DD7), a Jagg 10 row oil cooler, Amsoil 2050 – and can report only good things, the bike runs great and heat seems to not be an issue with the added quart. Working with a talented tuner helps achieve optimal results insofar as performance and manners, including heat

    YMMV, but I am a happy camper and can only say good things about the BAKER products I have had experience with – they work well, look great and real people stand behind ’em

  13. 13 jim h. Jun 17th, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    …just wanted to stop by during this laconia weekend, and say thanks! for keeping the dream alive throughout the year… thank you cyril… !

  14. 14 Union Pipefitter Jul 10th, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Between Baker ,S&S ,and several others, these companies repeatedly out-engineer HD. I wonder if the original Indian surviving would have made HD up their game? The pick up and return right by each other!?!? that defies common sense. I’ll be in the market for a RK Classic soon, will wait until a nice used one with a Baker tranny shows up, maybe an S&S engine too. I’ve ridden a bone stock ’08 RK and loved it to be honest

  15. 15 suckerpunch sally motorcycles Sep 25th, 2011 at 3:15 am

    True bolt on part, no modifications required. .

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Cyril Huze