oil cooler installation

[professorfate]

Anyone put an oil cooler on an R65?  I'm wanting to do that this winter.
Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

Yes I installed one about 10 years ago. I bought the kit from BMW, and the cost was about $300 in 1997. I would suggest that if you do install one, see if you can get the parts by themselves instead of buying the OEM kit. Reason is, the most expensive part in the kit, the thermostatic bypass valve, won't fit on the R65 , the right exhaust header pipe doesn't have the clearance for the valve, a header pipe was available in 1997, but the cost was around $200. In place of the thermostatic valve, you can use the oil filter plate from a mid '90's R100 Mystic, cost is about $35-40. It's a quick install, not more than a few hours. In my case the cooler dropped the oil temps about 75 degrees F.. Definitely needed it in these temps that I operate the bike in here in Phoenix. If you do install the kit, you need to use the long hinged oil filters.

[professorfate]

Thanks for the reply.  Yes I was planning on using the newer style cover without the thermostat.  Do you need to change the tube in the oil filter housing?  It just screws in.  I plan on mounting the cooler more remotely than normal with two small axial flow fans and an oil temp switch to keep it regulated during slow moving/ high temps.  I will need banjo hose fittings so I will check with NAPA and see if I can get them or I will have to buy BMW lines and cut off one end and splice in longer lines.  Good to hear it brought the temps down quite a bit.
Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

Yes , you need the longer pipe that goes through the oil filter.

[Bob_Roller]

What kind of 12 vdc fans are you going to use, it's something I have been thinking about for a while now ? I was thinking in my particular circumstance, that I would just have the fans controlled by a switch on the instrument panel for a less complicated installation. How much power consumption will the fans have in watts ?

[professorfate]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?operator=keywordSearch&search_type=keyword&QueryString=dc+axial+flow+fans&submit.x=17&submit.y=7

Here's a link to Grainger that has the DC axial flow fans.

Re-long tube, thanks

[Bob_Roller]

Where do you plan to mount the oil cooler, on crash bars ? No mention is made on using the fan in wet conditions,any concern about this?

[professorfate]

The only place on my highly modified bike is to put is where the rt side cover is.  I would hav a duct with ram air from the front and fans on the back side sucking with a cover/deflector to keep excess crud out. I don't know how weatherproof these fans are.

[Bob_Roller]

Interesting bike, we need to know what you did, and other bike parts you used to create your dual purpose  R65. How does it handle the off pavement excursions ? I was kind of wondering why you would need an oil cooler, let alone fans, seeing as you reside in a cool climate, but now it becomes clear.

[professorfate]

It gets hot here in the summer, 8-) especially on long uphill runs to the top of mountain lookouts in first gear.  I go to places it is difficult to walk on.  Although I don't ride fast it does what I want it to do.  The knobbier the tire the more it wants to head shake at higher speeds, so Avon gripster tires are about the best compromise.  I think the hot running deteriorates my rings as I changed them a few years ago and now I'm smelling burning oil once in awhile again.  It uses about a quart in 2000 miles now which isn't bad.  It has Honda Cr500 front end and I made a fork brace. It has longer rear Hagon shocks which I don't care for.  Handlebars were widened a few inches.  two extra gas tanks in the tank fairing.  I've now gone to a single thrush car muffler and it is lighter, quieter and some more torgue, but less horsepower.  Most everything is hand built by me. The paniers are aluminum and are very strong and quickly removable to serve as a chair or table.  Underground storage under the pack board for tools, parts and air compressor.  Adjustable windshield.     Color matching hippo hands with a piece of fabric connecting them to the fairing for more cold weather/rain protection.  Crash pan, deflectors in front of footpegs keep branches rocks and rain off my feet.  Brush guards around grips.  They snip flowers and branches off very nicely.  Truck led tail/stop light.  Pia 1800 lights.

[Semper Gumby]

I scored a Lockhart R65 oil cooler kit off e-bay a couple of years ago.  It has the thermostat built into the cooler.  You need to have some kind of thermostat so the bike gets warm enough to burn out the moisture in the oil.  Otherwise....

I mounted the Lockhart cooler up under the steering head next to the down tubes.  I will put up some pics when I get home tomorrow.

TTFN,

[Bob_Roller]

Starting around 1991 or so, BMW did away with the thermostatic valves on the airhead bikes that came equipped from the factory with them. On my R65, the oil cooler is 80-85 degrees F. with air temps in the mid to upper 30's F. At highway speeds, the oil temp in the sump is around 220 F. with air temps in the 30's F, range. The oil itself has enough thickness to prevent any meaningful flow through the cooler. It usually takes about 15-20 miles at highway speeds to finally get any warm oil into the cooler. If it did create a problem in cold weather, you can put a piece of dense foam in front of the cooler.

[professorfate]

So do they have a bypass valve in there somewhere?   Is it a partial flow through the oil filter and radiator and not full oil flow from the pump?

[Bob_Roller]

There are no by-pass valves installed, flow through the cooler is totally dependent on the ability of the oil to get to the cooler. High resistance due to thick oil prevents oil from flowing through the oil cooler circuit. Eventually there is flow, but it usually isn't very much, as the temp of 80-85 F, at my cooler , and a temp of 220 F. in the sump would indicate. In my application, after 10 years, I don't even give it a thought anymore.

[professorfate]

http://pweb.jps.net/~snowbum/oilsketch.htm  this diagram shows a oil bypass valve and a pressure relief valve.   the engine would starve for oil if the oil was too thick without a bypass valve, IMHO