Radiator in RX-1

[bjniceguy]

For those of you who are wondering if you can add the Apex Radiator to yor RX-1, here is a little advise. It can be done, but you must have a lot of patience & be very mechanically inclined. I started the project, but have decided that it is not worth the trouble. The linkage on reverse models would have to have material removed to get ANY clearence to the face of the radiator. All the electrical stuff in the foot rest would need to be moved & care would need to be taken when remounted that you do not end up with a screw that will cut your boots. You would also need to fabricate a shroud to be sure air is sucked through the radiator, not around it. I found a temp gauge at Summit (CSI-1225) that can be programed to turn the fan on & off. You would need to loover the plastic to let the air out. Again, it can be done, because I had one mounted in there today, but I did not feel that I could get enough clearence to feel safe. On a NON reverse model, that clearence would not be an issue. For the record, the radiators are still on back order until atleast mid Nov & have been moved back twice already. The hoses & fan are/were availible.
Doug

 

[PAR III]

What about locating it elsewhere?

 

[Red2003]

Why would you want to? I ran my 03 last March all day long in 50 degree weather and very little to no snow without a problem. Just wondering?

 

[Bossrx1]

Well Red we can see by your avatar how you treat your sleds. Kidding of course just thought it was funny.

 

[LazyBastard]

Well the question remains... why would you want to? Just put on a rear heat exchanger.

 

[PAR III]

I'll tell you why. Last winter in -20 temperatures on a hardpacked trail, we overheated two RX-1's. One of the reasons I went to an Apex. I don't think the rear heat exchanger will help in hardpack conditions.

 

[Red2003]

Hey C'mon Bob,

Quit picking on me, and start picking on LazyBastard. Let's kick off the new season with a BOOM!

 

[Red2003]

Indy,

What year, and did you check to make sure the antifreeze wasn't 100 % from the factory. Common problem. At -20 they shouldn't overheat with no snow at all.

 

[Northslope]

I have special conditions that make a radiator appealing. I go out for days, hauling my camp gear, construction materials, drums of fuel and gas. In the spring the arctic snow is rock hard and also I am often out on the ocean pack ice, hunting. I have a rear heat xchanger I installed from a viper and run 60:40 propylene. Ice scratchers on the skiis are ok at 20 mph but try chasing wolves with them, they don't work at high speed or stand up to extreme cornering. I am considering replicating the Apex radiator setup but that monster radiator on the VK Professional has me thinking also. A guy I know has a RX-10M like me and runs it all the time in the summer out on the wet tundra. Told me he doesn't get too concerned about the engine temperature. But then he threw a rod this summer at 8000 miles. I like the information you provided here, something else to think about...

 

[redrx1rkt]

Northslope - what is riding like way up near the Arctic circle? Trails? Easy to get lost? Too cold and too dark to ride most of the winter? I am very curious...how about riding in other parts of the state?

 

[adirondac blue]

Why not mount the radiator on the back of tunnel, the hoses are there. I heard of a guy did this and rode around his yard all summer.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

Why not mount the radiator on the back of tunnel, the hoses are there. I heard of a guy did this and rode around his yard all summer.

One of the hardcore turbo guys put one on the 136" tunnel extension on his RX-1 for grass drags. He also rigged a fan to it and apparently he has no more summer racing temp concerns. Thought it was interesting...

You can see pics/threads about it in the Turbo/Supercharger section.

-JS

 

[Northslope]

Northslope - what is riding like way up near the Arctic circle? Trails? Easy to get lost? Too cold and too dark to ride most of the winter? I am very curious...how about riding in other parts of the state?

We're 400 miles north of the arctic circle at the edge of the ocean, 120 miles from the Brooks Range. The population slope-wide is maybe 7500. I married an eskimo girl up here years ago and her old man taught me how to stay alive and deal with things. This environment kills people who aren't prepared and even some who are. I trust my life to my snowmachine and GPS. I don't trust my eyes or the gas gauge. I wear fur and frostbite scars. I often wonder why more people don't come up here to experience the reality of it, but am glad few do. I am overcome with too many experiences to describe it further.

 

[bjniceguy]

only 8 months of winter?? I was in Barrow a few years ago on August 2. It was 30 degrees, light snow, Blowing wind, Ice floating in the bay, & these crazy people from pepie's go out & jump in the bay in their underware because the sun will set for 1st time in 60 days. Either winter starts August 1, or you may be a little short of 8 months! Did love Alaska & plan to go back again (except maybe Nome)
Doug

 

[DaveRX1]

I would just purchase an appropriate size heater core from an auto parts store. Mount the core in the same basic area as the apex and plumb it into the cooling loop, if this still isnt enough mount a 12v fan on the core.

My 2 cents