Cool Experts Race Oil Cooler Installation Issues...... Arrrgh

[watgra]

Hi All,
My name is Graeme, I live in Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia. 
I noticed a post from @Andre some years ago about Cool Experts Race Oil Coolers for the 14.
My oil cooler failed recently (usual cracked oil line connection point), so I ordered and received one of these Race Coolers, thinking that it would do a better cooling job than the standard sized one.  (at significant expense given the shipping to Aus and tax etc etc)
Their coolers are supposed to be a direct replacement for the original, however I have run into a number of issues now preventing installation (listed below).
I was wondering if you Andre, or anyone has fitted one of these, and if you might have any info of advice on mods required.  I am not getting any sensible support from Cool Experts as yet (they just keep saying they have fitted these many times with no problems...).  I'm getting to the point that I might have to return it, but that will incur more cost and is not my favoured option - yet. 

I have tried to mount the cooler and found a number of issues:
1. If I mount the cooler and fan using the original grommets at the top flange, the cooler is too far forward and is impacted by the fork leg on full right or left turn.
2. The only way I can get the cooler to fit behind the forks with clearance is with no grommets (ie: screwed directly to the frame points at the top flange), but I am concerned the fan and / or cooler will eventually be damaged by vibration etc.
3. The bottom flange on the cooler for the fan leg and pin is too short (see photos), so the fan leg wont locate in the hole where the grommet goes.  If I force it I will damage the core. I could modify the fan leg and pin to fit, or mount the fan bottom leg against the bike frame behind instead, but given the above issues, there may be no point.
Any info or advice anyone can give me would be much appreciated.
I have attached a couple of photos of the fan leg flange problem (as sent to Cool Experts), but don't have any yet of the top mount issues (although these are pretty self explanatory - won't fit behind the forks with the grommets in place).
Thanks in advance and cheers Graeme 

[KiwiCol]

Yep that is definitely too short, good pic's show that exactly.  Wonder if they've sent you the right component?


Just re-read you post, if the top is too far forward & the bottom is too short, it upsidedown?  Positioning it the other way would bring the top inward yeah?   Wonder is the hoses fit different on this cooler to the std cooler? 

Ask them if they have a pic of the fitted cooler, that should give you some ideas.

[Andre]

As Col said - too short.

Sorry, I can't help you with with own experience with the race cooler as I have the smaller (standard replacement) one from them. There were no problems with installation at all.

Maybe useful for some here:
I modified the top-brace that obscures some of the fan by cutting it out a bit.
The paint was not great. Maybe it needed to be baked but I put a coat of brake caliper paint on it and treated it in the oven.
The length of the cooler is a bit less than the original. I had to shim it (used the standard side covers) for my cooler cover to fit.
Cooling wise it's maybe slighlty less (for me preferable).

[SpongeBob]

G'day Watgra,

about your point 1 and 2, it seems that it is actually specified on coolex website for this very cooler that: "only require minor modification with the top bracket removing some of the depth of rubber bush".

As this cooler is thicker than the OEM one, and considering the tight space in this area, that makes sense that the top spacers may need to be shortened -- or use regular shorter ones designed for 'single' grommets -- and then use only one of the grommets pairs on each side. If you want to fit the 'half-moon' fan grille, you may fit it directly at the front of the top cooler bracket.

About 3 (the fan): I too have fitted a "race" cooler, also thicker, and smaller in overall size, although it has more 'elements'. It is from HEL (actually  from Mocal) and supposedly more efficient than the OEM one -- as the race Coolex one you have, I suppose.
OEM fan obviously doesn't fit, so... I've not even tried to fit it :-)
And that's never been an issue. And I live in the south of France, where it can get hot in the summer, as I can say I ride in a "demanding way" on the local mountain roads.
When I had a the OEM cooler and fan, I've never heard the fan kicking in anyway...

 

[Andre]

Will you even need a fan with that cooling monster? The fan for my cooler (oem and the standard from cooler experts) never came/comes on; but then I don't live in AUS. Without the fan you could shorten the grommets. Wouldn't use without grommets.

Found someone on German forum who put this cooler in. Unfortunately he hasn't been on the forum for 4 years, so I can't ask him. He didn't go much into detail.

Anyhow, the too-short flange is a no-go.

[watgra]

Yep that is definitely too short, good pic's show that exactly.  Wonder if they've sent you the right component?


Just re-read you post, if the top is too far forward & the bottom is too short, it upsidedown?  Positioning it the other way would bring the top inward yeah?   Wonder is the hoses fit different on this cooler to the std cooler? 

Ask them if they have a pic of the fitted cooler, that should give you some ideas.

Hey Col, yep the cooler is the same width top and bottom, and the flanges are made to fit only one way. Std hoses fit this model and the standard cooler.   cheers G 

[watgra]

Yep that is definitely too short, good pic's show that exactly.  Wonder if they've sent you the right component?


Just re-read you post, if the top is too far forward & the bottom is too short, it upsidedown?  Positioning it the other way would bring the top inward yeah?  Wonder is the hoses fit different on this cooler to the std cooler? 

Ask them if they have a pic of the fitted cooler, that should give you some ideas.

Hey Col, yep the cooler is the same width top and bottom, and the flanges are made to fit only one way. Std hoses fit this model and the standard cooler.  cheers G 

As Col said - too short.

Sorry, I can't help you with with own experience with the race cooler as I have the smaller (standard replacement) one from them. There were no problems with installation at all.

Maybe useful for some here:
I modified the top-brace that obscures some of the fan by cutting it out a bit.
The paint was not great. Maybe it needed to be baked but I put a coat of brake caliper paint on it and treated it in the oven.
The length of the cooler is a bit less than the original. I had to shim it (used the standard side covers) for my cooler cover to fit.
Cooling wise it's maybe slighlty less (for me preferable).

Thanks for the good info Andre, going back to their standard cooler may be the only solution.  Good to know it just works if I have to go there eventually. Will also consider drilling out the top flange for more air flow, though I am surprised its not already like that.  Cheers G

[watgra]

Yep that is definitely too short, good pic's show that exactly.  Wonder if they've sent you the right component?


Just re-read you post, if the top is too far forward & the bottom is too short, it upsidedown?  Positioning it the other way would bring the top inward yeah?  Wonder is the hoses fit different on this cooler to the std cooler? 

Ask them if they have a pic of the fitted cooler, that should give you some ideas.

Hey Col, yep the cooler is the same width top and bottom, and the flanges are made to fit only one way. Std hoses fit this model and the standard cooler.  cheers G 

As Col said - too short.

Sorry, I can't help you with with own experience with the race cooler as I have the smaller (standard replacement) one from them. There were no problems with installation at all.

Maybe useful for some here:
I modified the top-brace that obscures some of the fan by cutting it out a bit.
The paint was not great. Maybe it needed to be baked but I put a coat of brake caliper paint on it and treated it in the oven.
The length of the cooler is a bit less than the original. I had to shim it (used the standard side covers) for my cooler cover to fit.
Cooling wise it's maybe slighlty less (for me preferable).

Thanks for the good

G'day Watgra,

about your point 1 and 2, it seems that it is actually specified on coolex website for this very cooler that: "only require minor modification with the top bracket removing some of the depth of rubber bush".

As this cooler is thicker than the OEM one, and considering the tight space in this area, that makes sense that the top spacers may need to be shortened -- or use regular shorter ones designed for 'single' grommets -- and then use only one of the grommets pairs on each side. If you want to fit the 'half-moon' fan grille, you may fit it directly at the front of the top cooler bracket.

About 3 (the fan): I too have fitted a "race" cooler, also thicker, and smaller in overall size, although it has more 'elements'. It is from HEL (actually  from Mocal) and supposedly more efficient than the OEM one -- as the race Coolex one you have, I suppose.
OEM fan obviously doesn't fit, so... I've not even tried to fit it :-)
And that's never been an issue. And I live in the south of France, where it can get hot in the summer, as I can say I ride in a "demanding way" on the local mountain roads.
When I had a the OEM cooler and fan, I've never heard the fan kicking in anyway...

 

Will you even need a fan with that cooling monster? The fan for my cooler (oem and the standard from cooler experts) never came/comes on; but then I don't live in AUS. Without the fan you could shorten the grommets. Wouldn't use without grommets.

Found someone on German forum who put this cooler in. Unfortunately he hasn't been on the forum for 4 years, so I can't ask him. He didn't go much into detail.

Anyhow, the too-short flange is a no-go.

G'day Watgra,

about your point 1 and 2, it seems that it is actually specified on coolex website for this very cooler that: "only require minor modification with the top bracket removing some of the depth of rubber bush".

As this cooler is thicker than the OEM one, and considering the tight space in this area, that makes sense that the top spacers may need to be shortened -- or use regular shorter ones designed for 'single' grommets -- and then use only one of the grommets pairs on each side. If you want to fit the 'half-moon' fan grille, you may fit it directly at the front of the top cooler bracket.

About 3 (the fan): I too have fitted a "race" cooler, also thicker, and smaller in overall size, although it has more 'elements'. It is from HEL (actually  from Mocal) and supposedly more efficient than the OEM one -- as the race Coolex one you have, I suppose.
OEM fan obviously doesn't fit, so... I've not even tried to fit it :-)
And that's never been an issue. And I live in the south of France, where it can get hot in the summer, as I can say I ride in a "demanding way" on the local mountain roads.
When I had a the OEM cooler and fan, I've never heard the fan kicking in anyway...

 

Thanks for your response and info Spongebob, I have tried fitting the cooler with no fan and therefore only 1 set of grommets rather than 2 on each side, but the forks still tap the cooler on full steering extension either way.  Cutting off one side off the single grommets might work,but none of this solves the fan installation issue unfortunately.  It can get pretty hot here in summer, and sitting in traffic in 40+ degrees C with no fan might not be the best idea.   Not sure what the kick in temp for the fan is.  Cheers G   

[watgra]

Will you even need a fan with that cooling monster? The fan for my cooler (oem and the standard from cooler experts) never came/comes on; but then I don't live in AUS. Without the fan you could shorten the grommets. Wouldn't use without grommets.

Found someone on German forum who put this cooler in. Unfortunately he hasn't been on the forum for 4 years, so I can't ask him. He didn't go much into detail.

Anyhow, the too-short flange is a no-go.

Thanks Andre, nervous about no fan in the summer heat here.  Cheers G

[watgra]

Thanks all for your rapid replies!  Very helpful.   Dont think i've mastered the responses to each reply though, sorry about that.  Seems to work in mysterious ways.....G

[grog]

Graeme,no fan ?? No idea if mines ever been on, not sure how id tell.Our Summers in SE Qld get pretty warm, have ridden in over 40c, always runs amazingly cool.There are lots of cooling fans available, maybe look for a more compact to adapt.

[GSXKING]

Hi Grae
My two cents worth I had an oil cooler fail and was fortunate enough to get one from a dealer who'd changed it out for an aftermarket one.
In 24 years of ownership living in South East Queensland and travelling in the hottest 🥵🥵of summers I've never heard my fan go on. 😎

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Agree with that, here in WA, hottest days and "spirited" riding, fan does not come on, std cooler (22yo).  I'd do the single grommet idea.  Is there any way to modify the bottom lugs? Surely a welding shop could TIG weld two matching brackets onto these for you?  Cooler looks trick in my opinion.

[grog]

Graeme, just had another look.What if you cut bracket off old cooler, measured and cut for locating on top of new cooler bracket for correct distance.Glue it on with 24 hr Araldite or drill and bolt together🤷

[Andre]

We had the fan-does-not-come-on topic here a great many times. The tenor has always been: it doesn't come on.

Cooling fan thermo-switch operating temperature
Standard (OFF→ON): Approx. 120°C (248°F)
(ON→OFF): Approx. 108°C (226°F)

I "forced" it to come on. Running the engine in the garage for about 30 minutes the fan came on (can't remember outside temp). Screw-in temp gage at the clutch cover showed 105°C with the OEM cooler, 100° with the standard cooler expert cooler. That the temp is cooler at the top of the clutch cover compared to the location of the fan thermo-switch is logical.

I would go without the fan on the race cooler. The top-flange needs to be modified to ensure adequate air-flow to the cylinder head. The top-flange issue is seen with some other after-market coolers as well. I prefer cut-out over drilling holes. Without the fan and modified top-flange, the air-flow to the head will be even better.

If you can solve the issue of hitting the cooler with the stanchion when turning in by leaving the fan off and cutting the grommits in halve, I think you are good to go with that cooler...

Except: Your oil temp might be too low a lot of times!
My gripe with oil temp on the 14 is that it is too low at low outside temps. Depending on the outside, screw-in temp gauge didn't go above 60°(makes 75-80° at the oil switch) no matter how hard I pushed. Sixty ° at the screw-in is what I consider warmed up. Was considering installing a thermostat. Dropped that idea as I don't ride anymore below 15°C.