Radiator re-locate. No more steam and hot intake air.

[hibshman25]

Today I removed the radiator and fan from under the hood and relocated it on the tunnel behind the seat. I then routed feed and return lines to it as well as wires to the fan. I did not have to cut or modify any panels or the frame to run the coolant lines back.

With that radiator gone there is now a flow of fresh cold air in the front of the sled into the intake and also across the air box and engine. Under hood temps should remain cooler and intake temps will also remain cooler.

The re locate will also serve as a cure for the steam in the engine bay.

Using stock fan and radiator so still essentially same cooling capacity as factory. Used rubber hose to plumb the radiator just to do some testing, but intend to switch out to aluminum tubing so it will also help dissipate heat and improve cooling efficiency.

Snow is diminishing here, but we had a enough wet slushy snow to do some field riding and test the set up. Ambient air temp was around 50-55 degrees while riding today. If cruising 50-60 mph for several long runs air intake temps would cool down to 55 degrees. This was a very promising to see intake temps equal to or within 5 degrees of the ambient air temp! The best my warm air diversion did was approximately 20 degrees hotter than ambient while trail riding.

Snow was very heavy and slushy so engine really worked to move the sled. Rode around at various speeds and I never saw a temp over 205. Fan ran several times and easily kept temps under control.

Intend to do more testing and will likely opt to put together a relocate kit rather than pursue our warm air diversion.

 

[bleedyamaha]

You said you put the radiator behind the seat. I cant visualize where it is relocated. Under the tunnel or on top of tunnel????

 

[bleedyamaha]

You said you put the radiator behind the seat. I cant visualize where it is relocated. Under the tunnel or on top of tunnel????

sorry I re read it and you said you put it on the tunnel Duh!!!

 

[jpnytro240]

Today I removed the radiator and fan from under the hood and relocated it on the tunnel behind the seat. I then routed feed and return lines to it as well as wires to the fan. I did not have to cut or modify any panels or the frame to run the coolant lines back.

With that radiator gone there is now a flow of fresh cold air in the front of the sled into the intake and also across the air box and engine. Under hood temps should remain cooler and intake temps will also remain cooler.

The re locate will also serve as a cure for the steam in the engine bay.

Using stock fan and radiator so still essentially same cooling capacity as factory. Used rubber hose to plumb the radiator just to do some testing, but intend to switch out to aluminum tubing so it will also help dissipate heat and improve cooling efficiency.

Snow is diminishing here, but we had a enough wet slushy snow to do some field riding and test the set up. Ambient air temp was around 50-55 degrees while riding today. If cruising 50-60 mph for several long runs air intake temps would cool down to 55 degrees. This was a very promising to see intake temps equal to or within 5 degrees of the ambient air temp! The best my warm air diversion did was approximately 20 degrees hotter than ambient while trail riding.

Snow was very heavy and slushy so engine really worked to move the sled. Rode around at various speeds and I never saw a temp over 205. Fan ran several times and easily kept temps under control.

Intend to do more testing and will likely opt to put together a relocate kit rather than pursue our warm air diversion.

I was thinking about this and have been looking at the double pass heat exchanger that goes in the tunnel

 

[hibshman25]

Did 150 miles of testing this weekend on the trails. Worked very well. Intake air temps when moving were consistently equal to or within a few degrees of the ambient temp.

 

[cannondale27]

Did 150 miles of testing this weekend on the trails. Worked very well. Intake air temps when moving were consistently equal to or within a few degrees of the ambient temp.

Are you noticing any performance increase?

 

[hibshman25]

The sled did feel more crisp and responsive. Ambient temps were hovering around 38 degrees, so not even any real cold air to work with. Conditions were marginal at best as far as trails. Patchy ice base with around 3" of wet snow on top. I am not a top speed guy, but on the one long straight section of trail where we usually always pin it i was able to pull 98 mph. I didn't think this was too bad for an xtx considering its all stock clutching, gearing, exhaust etc.

 

[hibshman25]

Here some pics of the test setup.

 

[yamadoo]

Creative work. Glad you could keep the temps in 'normal range'.

Has anyone run this in DEEP snow to see if the steam issue is significantly changed as the snow to steam may becoming from other heat sources - exhaust, motor etc. ?

 

[jmd426]

Is this a joke?

 

[yamaha06]

Is this a joke?

I can't tell if it is? If its not I think I could live with the steam rather then mounting that on the back of my sled, takes away from the look of the sled IMO.

 

[bleedyamaha]

I can't tell if it is? If its not I think I could live with the steam rather then mounting that on the back of my sled, takes away from the look of the sled IMO.

No joke this guy is going to get #*$&@ figured out!!

 

[stingray719]

Creative work. Glad you could keep the temps in 'normal range'.

Has anyone run this in DEEP snow to see if the steam issue is significantly changed as the snow to steam may becoming from other heat sources - exhaust, motor etc. ?

I have removed my radiator all together so my sled might give what you are looking for, without a radiator under the hood I have no steam at all and have put it through some very deep powder snow.

 

[hibshman25]

Is this a joke?

It's R&D. Just testing the concept.

If we were to produce a kit we would supply aluminum piping where applicable. We would encase the radiator in a shroud to protect it and give the whole thing a clean finish and look.

 

[tapex_07]

If relocating to the rear? Why not just put a U cooler back there?? Replace the running board edge with coolers and gain capacity? I understand the issue of icing comes into play, but I would assume there would be some with a heat source on the tunnel anyways..