Rad Spacer....cooling assist (not a total cure but helps)

[stubb111]

so I made a spacer for the rad to move more forward to assist in cooling issues. I have only had light come on once with the stock gas tank and a few times after I installed the TRAIL TANK. anyways better safe than sorry so I installed some a plastic washers (1/4" ish was max available to be installed) to move the top of the rad away from the gas tank for some breathing room for the rad (room for hot air to escape). this seemed to help as I could fell more hot air escaping from under the hood. (pic 1)

over the next summer I added an OFT steering relocate and made the a larger spacer to push the rad out as far as possible towards relocated steer shaft (a steering re-locate is required as there's not a lot of room between the rad and the steering post stock) I also added a MOUNTAINTECH vented dash over the summer). the new rad spacer works well with out the vented dash (I put a windshield over the vented dash to test) but, it really works amazing with the vented dash. (pic 2).

I have talked to a few members here about the spacer I made so I figured I would post it, and gave a couple away that I had made (I made 6 sets originally 1", 1 1/8", 2 sets 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 1/2") the best fitting one was the 1 1/4" spacer.... I gave the 1" an 1 1/8" ones away and scrapped the other 2 sets) I have a quick drawing I made showing spacer (pic 3)


ps...shadow44 I am trying to find the other 1 1/4" set I made up in my shop, I will let you know this weekend if I find them. if not I hope the drawing and pics will help.

cheers

 

[herndonp]

I used an old cutting board and made spacers from that. I moved it out about 3/4". I have the trail tank,oft relocate and a Moflow top vent. Rode in low snow today in 35 degf for 170 miles no red light!!

Pete

 

[Sevey]

What did you use for the spacer and where did you find it?
Looks good.
I have always thought giving that rad more breathing room would be better.
Ms

 

[stubb111]

The material is plastic/nylon material I had laying around the shop (I believe it was shim material used for installing precast concrete panels) and I had a big enough piece I could cut it on an angle to move as far away as possible. You could probably use 2 layers of slide material (using just the bottom part)....I have used it on one of my race bikes as a rad spacer before and it held up well. This has been the setup I have used for over 5000 kms of varied riding conditions and never had the light come on (except for one time while towing broken RX1 7-8kms across lake through 10"-12" after an encounter with a tree.....).

All in all I believe the sum of all the small items have collectively provided a better setup (ps... doesn't have the MTX cooler installed). I would really like to remove the rad from my nytro....working on that next.

cheers

 

[Sevey]

Can you tell me what you did for fasteners. DId you just get new bolts that were the right length? I looked at the stock fastener and the bolt does not thread into a traditional nut. Any thoughts? Thanks
MS

 

[stubb111]

the fasteners are just longer metric bolts (top and bottom are different lengths)....the fastener on the stock bracket is a metric riv nut. Canadian tire fastener rack in automotive dept.

cheers